University of Phoenix College of General Studies Leadership Publishes White Paper on Student Retention and Success

By: University of Phoenix via Business Wire

July 10, 2025 at 12:13 PM EDT

Dean Brianna Houlihan and Associate Dean Dr. Jacquelyn Kelly detail positive outcome of testing course succession selections that improve first year student progression

University of Phoenix College of General Studies Dean Briana Houlihan, MBA, and Associate Dean Jacquelyn Kelly, Ph.D., have published a new white paper, “How an Undergraduate Health and Wellness Course Improved First Year Student Success and Retention,” detailing the success of testing new course sequences to support first year student progression.

“Our working adult learners bring varied experiences and circumstances to their educational journey,” shares Houlihan. “Serving them where they are in their journey, with all the associated work and life demands on their time, means we assess constantly to identify successes and opportunities to best support them. This is especially critical in the first year when they really need to experience progress as motivation.”

In the white paper, Houlihan and Kelly detail the College study that moved a high-pass-rate health and wellness course earlier in the student journey in order to improve second course pass rates, all while maintaining or improving progression and pass rates in the two subsequent courses. The positive outcomes of the testing led the College to change the first-year course sequence, and the white paper describes how, six months post-change, improved outcomes persist.

“An innovative design for one of our 100-level health and wellness courses led to a hypothesis that the course content and design, focused on improved well-being practices and increased understanding of accommodations options, could contribute to student preparation and course outcomes,” shares Kelly. “Our tests show that it is possible to improve first-year student outcomes by closely assessing their experience and making informed, strategic decisions about which courses students take and in what order.”

The College of General Studies provides courses that emphasize the development of durable, career-relevant skills that are essential for academic and professional success, including the “Phoenix Success Series,” a group of general education courses that help prepare students for college and career with foundational learning in balancing time across high priorities, writing with purpose, critical thinking, and academic ethics.

As Dean for the College of General Studies at University of Phoenix, Houlihan is responsible for all academic operations impacting students, including curriculum, programs, faculty, student support and resources, and academic policies. She has served non-traditional online learners in higher education for over 22 years, holding positions in Student Services, Academic Affairs, and College Operations. Houlihan recently presented at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment Conference on the effective mapping of General Education curriculum to learning outcomes to allow maximum flexibility in course selection. Houlihan holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from University of Phoenix. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Kelly is Associate Dean of the College of General Studies where she translates STEM education research into best practices for curriculum design in science and math courses. With more than 15 years of experience in science and math education, Kelly has served as principal investigator and co-principal investigator of multiple federal grant projects to develop science education support for rural area K-12 teachers and to develop student government science officer roles in K-12. Kelly’s previous positions include science teaching, teacher evaluator for the county education service agency, and program director for professional development programs for science and math educators. Kelly earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Science Education and her master's degree is in Materials Science and Engineering from Arizona State University. Her undergraduate degree is in Physics and Chemistry from California State University, San Marcos.

Learn more and access the white paper here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250710265562/en/

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sharla Hooper

University of Phoenix sharla.hooper@phoenix.edu

About Us

About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Contact Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Editorial

Advertising and Sponsorship Sales

Subscriptions and Memberships

Feedback/Problems

University of Phoenix College of General Studies Leadership Publishes White Paper on Student Retention and Success

Contacts

More News