One way to help ensure student success, says Philip Lee, Lone Star College-University Park professor of business, is to customize the way a course is taught to each student in the class. While this may sound impossible to achieve, Lee incorporates innovative techniques to make sure it happens. And he points to the positive comments of his students – and their increased interest in finishing what they start – as proof that it works.

Lee’s novel methods in two of his classes, Project Management and Introduction to Computers for Business Majors, get to the heart of the college’s ambitious goal, known as GradUP, to increase the first-time-in-college student graduation rate to 50 percent within three years. Lee employs a pre- and post-semester survey of his students’ understanding of the course content, as well as perceived weaknesses they want to focus on and improve. These documents are designed specifically for each class. 

Upon completion of the survey, Lee communicates with each student, either personally or via email, with a customized message stating his commitment to them in their efforts to be successful in his course and ultimately graduate. This communication also establishes an agreement on the areas of improvement the student has identified. Additionally, by possessing this information, Lee can design and teach the course content, as well as provide focused attention to specific issues, bolstering the probability that students will be successful in his classes. 

Lee, who is a project management professional (PMP) also uses innovative study techniques to give students unique and fun ways to learn. Through aids like StudyMate, Lee teaches with different activities such as matching, crosswords, quizzes and other challenges.

In the Project Management class, Lee uses a GradUP erasable whiteboard, which is provided by the college, to capture and rewrite the student’s identified areas of weakness that they want to strengthen. Lee also uses the Project Management survey to create teams for class projects. The purpose is to direct the student’s focus, upon success, to that of graduation. The survey for the Introduction to Computers for Business Majors class is even called “GradUP Initiative.” 

Lee is dedicated to helping students reach their goals and graduate. When a student approached Lee showing interest in GradUP, he guided them to visit with an advisor to make sure they were taking the appropriate courses to graduate on time.

“I know that students are now more focused on graduation,” said Lee. “They can be seen wearing buttons printed with their proposed graduation year. To me, that demonstrates we’re making progress with LSC-University Park’s GradUP initiative.”