Student Success and Advocacy Initiative

The Student Success and Advocacy Initiative (SSAI) is a peer-based professional development and leadership program designed to help graduate and international students build community, develop leadership skills, navigate campus, and become confident advocates for themselves and others.

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Emmy Buonomo
SSAI Program Coordinator

The Four Areas of Student Success

SSAI focuses on four interconnected areas that support both your own success and your development as a peer leader. Through the program, you’ll build practical skills and have opportunities to apply what you learn by supporting, mentoring, and advocating for fellow students.

Academic Success

Develop skills and strategies that support your academic journey while learning how to help fellow students navigate academic challenges and resources.

Community Engagement and Belonging

Build meaningful connections and strengthen your sense of belonging while learning how to create welcoming and inclusive experiences for others.

Personal Wellbeing

Develop skills for navigating personal wellbeing, campus resources, and challenges while learning how to connect fellow students with support when they need it.

Advocacy

Develop the skills and confidence to navigate systems, advocate for yourself and others, and elevate the student voice.

The WARM Philosophy

At the heart of SSAI is the WARM Philosophy — a framework for creating welcoming, supportive, and meaningful interactions with fellow students.

Welcome

This is a warm and welcoming environment where everyone can feel comfortable and safe to engage in learning and friendships.

Accept

We accept everyone's unique personalities, learning styles and cultural backgrounds. We actively include others and are open to new perspectives.

Respect

We show respect for other people's thoughts and feelings by actively listening and acknowledging and valuing differents of opinion.

Mastery

We actively pursue excellence in all areas of our learning, and encourage one another to achieve our full potential.

Your SSAI Leadership Pathway

SSAI offers a three-level leadership pathway designed to help you grow your skills, strengthen your advocacy, and take on increasing leadership opportunities throughout your experience in the program.

Student Advocate

Develop leadership, communication, advocacy, and resource navigation skills. Everyone starts here as this acts as the training stage.

Lead Student Advocate

Expand your leadership by advocating for the student voice, supporting program initiatives, and contributing to student success efforts through peer mentorship.

Redbird Student Success Ambassador

Serve as a student leader who represents SSAI values, organizes SSAI events for new cohorts, elevates student voices, mentors others, and promotes belonging across campus.

Collect Your SSAI Pins

Throughout your SSAI journey, you’ll have opportunities to earn collectible pins that recognize your leadership, mentorship, participation, and accomplishments.

Earn Your Certificate of Leadership

Students who successfully complete the SSAI program (1 year minimum) will receive a Certificate of Leadership recognizing their commitment to the program and their development as a student leader and advocate. The certificate represents your completion of the SSAI experience and the time, effort, leadership, and growth you invested along the way.