We help institutions turn insight into action for student success and well-being.
At the Center for Higher Education Innovation, we bring together data, design, and partnership to identify barriers, surface solutions, and support implementation while developing and testing new approaches that strengthen student academic and well-being outcomes.
Our Approach
Our work is organized around two connected areas.
Insight and Action
We work with student support teams to clarify what is happening to elevate impact and strengthen processes. Our work enables leadership to make data-informed decisions that accelerate UCF toward its strategic goals.
Innovation and Scale
We design and test new student-facing approaches that support academic momentum, workforce readiness, and student thriving. This work helps us understand what is effective and how it can be scaled at UCF and beyond.
Data
We make data more accessible and actionable so leadership can clearly understand what is happening and where to focus.
Design
We translate insight into practical, scalable approaches that strengthen how support is delivered and improve the student experience.
Partnership
We work alongside leadership and staff to ensure solutions are aligned, implemented effectively, and positioned to scale.
Our Work in Practice
Our work takes shape through partnerships, initiatives, and innovations that strengthen how students are supported and how decisions are made. The examples below reflect current areas of focus.
Operation Insights
In partnership with campus teams, we co-design the integration of student touchpoint data to improve visibility, strengthen coordination, and enable more informed decision-making.
Innovation Leadership Program
A structured approach to training new talent and developing current professionals. The program builds data literacy and strategic capacity across student support teams.
AI-Enhanced Student Support
We design and test AI-enabled approaches such as chatbots and intelligent support tools that improve access to information, student engagement, and student thriving.
Our Impact
Our work is designed to strengthen how staff support students and leadership make decisions. We focus on building approaches that improve coordination, increase clarity, and help students move forward more effectively.
Earlier Visibility
Improved access to student touchpoint data allows teams to identify needs sooner and respond more effectively.
Stronger Coordination
Clearer data enables units to reduce duplication and ensures students receive consistent, individualized support.
Improved Student Progress
Coordinated, data-informed care helps students stay on track, thrive, and graduate career ready.
We are continuing to measure and refine this work, with a comprehensive impact dashboard in development.
Our Partnerships
We work closely with UCF student support teams, institutional leadership, and academic units along with the following national partners.
University Innovation Alliance
National Institute for Student Success
Arizona State University
EAB
Mainstay
DataKind
Steppingblocks
Genio
Our Team
Tyler Walsh, MA, MA
Director & Google+GSV Fellow
Kelsie Dawson, PhD
Assoc. Director, Research & Data
Justin Kingsland, PhD
Asst. Director, Research & Data
Maryann Orawczyk, PhD
Project Manager
Darwins Olcima, MA
Project Manager & UIA Fellow
Explore our work or connect with our team to learn more.