Vice Provost & Dean of Undergraduate Education JoAnne Malatesta smiles and gestures as she walks and talks with four students on UAlbany's campus on a cloudy fall day. Vice Provost & Dean of Undergraduate Education JoAnne Malatesta smiles and gestures as she walks and talks with four students on UAlbany's campus on a cloudy fall day.

Academic Innovation & Student Success

Supporting Undergraduate Students' Success

Academic Innovation & Student Success (AISS) was created to align academic strategies and oversee the coordination and execution of the UAlbany Student Success Model.

Dedicated to advancing transformative, campus-wide student success efforts, AISS is a unique model designed to maximize resources and impact. The UAlbany Student Success Model focuses on holistic and comprehensive student support in six key areas:  
 

  • Academic support
  • Academic momentum
     
  • Well-being
  • Purpose and belonging
  • Campus collaboration
  • Financial support

Initiatives within these areas work together to address critical issues that impact retention, persistence and graduation. Please read the Five-year Report: Academic Momentum, Academic Support & Campus Collaboration for more information.

 

AISS Units

AISS oversees various offices that support the success of undergraduate students at UAlbany. Please visit the following UAlbany websites for more information on our work: 

units

Academic Advising 

Educational Opportunity Program 

First-Year Experience 

General Education 

Honors College 

Minerva Center for High-Impact Practices 

Writing and Critical Inquiry (WCI) Program 

Tutoring & Academic Support

Undergraduate Bulletin 

Undergraduate Education, Academic Progression & Success 

Undergraduate Majors & Minors

AISS Leadership

 

 

Eleven of the AISS leaders pose for a photo in front of a wall with a sign with the UAlbany logo and the words, "Academic Innovation and Student Success, University at Albany, State University of New York."

 

 

 

Latest News on UAlbany's Undergraduate Students

 

news
Poster of handprints left by first-gen students
UAlbany Celebrates National First-Generation Week
The University at Albany marked National First-Generation Week with two major events celebrating the experiences and achievements of its first-generation students: the opening of a new First-Generation Scholars Lounge on Nov. 4 and an evening program on Nov. 6.
A young man stands outside amid a row of columns wearing a blue blazer and a blue shirt with trees and a dome in the background outside.
Junior Earns Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service
UAlbany Junior Parmesh Thakoordial was recently named a recipient of the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, a prestigious national program created by former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky to support students committed to careers in the public sphere.
UAlbany's Academic Podium at sunset, with the carillon stark against a moody evening sky.
AISS Newsletter: July 2025
Read the latest updates from Academic Innovation & Student Success, including news about SUNY's ACE Program, available student success and support initiatives, annual employee awards, updated resources for faculty and staff, and our newest team member.
Statue of UAlbany's Minerva
StAR Grants Fund 17 Initiatives that Spotlight Research Excellence and Public Impact
The University at Albany will award $500,000 during the 2025-2026 academic year to 17 initiatives that reflect the University’s academic and research excellence and address real-world challenges. Designed to create opportunities that further enhance the strategic priorities of the University, the Strategic Allocation of Resources (StAR) program provides resources and funding to projects that drive innovation and make meaningful societal contributions.
CNSE PhD student Maria Paredes-Espinosa with Mentor and Associate Professor of Nanobioscience Janet Paluh
Showcase 2025: CNSE Student Gains Valuable Insight into Research and Innovation
CNSE Student Maria Paredes-Espinosa is on track to earning her PhD in nanobioscience in 2026 under the mentorship of CNSE Associate Professor Janet Paluh. This spring, she is preparing to present her research at UAlbany Showcase on April 30, where she will take part in the annual pitch competition.