NASPA Online Learning Community

UCD’s Live Engagement and Attendance Project (LEAP): Using Analytics to Support At-Risk Students

UCD’s Live Engagement and Attendance Project (LEAP): Using Analytics to Support At-Risk Students

Includes a Live Web Event on 11/07/2024 at 9:00 AM (EST)

John Wyatt

Project Manager and Research Analyst

University College Dublin

John Wyatt works in University College Dublin as a Project Manager & Research Analyst with experience delivering process improvement projects in areas of analytics, systems integration, and clinical research. He is currently involved in several UCD projects that focus on student success, engagement, partnership, and communication. John also attended University College Dublin, where he received a BA in Arts (English & Psychology) and an MSc (HR Management).

Niamh Nestor (Moderator)

Student Adviser

University College Dublin

Dr Niamh Nestor (she/her) is the Director of the University College Dublin Student Advisory Service. Niamh manages a team of advisers whose work is focused on student support, mental health and wellbeing among approximately 38,000 UCD students. Niamh’s background is in sociolinguistics, migration and integration, and her doctoral research focused on Polish children and teenagers who had migrated to Ireland since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. For ten years before coming into her current role, Niamh was the Student Adviser in UCD Veterinary Sciences, providing pastoral support to veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing students.

Niamh is an active member of the community life of UCD. She runs UCD Purl Jam, the university’s craft/creative group. She co-founded the UCD Veterinary Community Garden. She is an active member of the UCD Community Choir. Niamh is involved in the implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives in UCD. She co-chairs the UCD LGBT+ committee as well as the UCD LGBTI Staff Network. She is an active member of Athena SWAN in UCD. She is deeply committed to challenging injustice, intolerance and bigotry and in achieving equality, diversity and inclusion for all. She believes in active allyship and she is passionate about fighting against complacency. The work of Athena SWAN is vital in this regard, and Niamh is particularly interested in empowering and supporting students to continue the fight for equality into the future. Outside of work, Niamh loves to garden, travel, and be creative, recently taking up sewing. She also volunteers for Dublin Lesbian Line.

Kerrie Montgomery Orozco (Moderator)

Dr. Kerrie Montgomery Orozco boasts a 25-year career in higher education, specializing in international education, student programming, strategic planning, leadership, and teaching. She's held progressively responsible roles in academic advising, study abroad, and campus life at various institutions. Kerrie is also an accomplished writer, with publications in the peer-reviewed Journal of International Students. 

Kerrie has been an active member of NASPA for more than 20 years. She has held a number of volunteer leadership roles and currently serves as Professional Development Chair for the Global Division, Membership & Engagement Chair for the Mid-Level Administrators Steering Committee, and NASPA-FL Conference Chair. She is a past Chair for the International Symposium, and remains active on the planning committee for the 2024 International Symposium.

Kerrie holds a BA in Classical Studies, dual Masters degrees from the University of Florida in Art History and Higher Education, and a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Denver.

NASPA Global Division presents the "Global Hour", an event inviting colleagues from around the globe to meet and attend an interactive presentation about global changes and shifts in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Attendees will have the chance to explore professional development resources and engagement opportunities with NASPA's global members and receive information about the professional development opportunities.

The UCD LEAP project leverages VLE activity to provide real-time engagement insights, enabling Student Advisers to offer timely support to students who may be struggling, especially during their transition to university. By monitoring key engagement metrics, LEAP allows advisers to intervene proactively, improving equity of access and optimizing student support resources. The project has shown a positive correlation between disengagement and lower academic performance, leading to higher GPA outcomes for students who received early interventions. Its scalability and integration into UCD’s institutional framework have made it a valuable tool for supporting student wellbeing.

This session will explore the University College Dublin (UCD) LEAP project, which uses Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) data to monitor student engagement and provide proactive, personalized support. By analyzing key metrics such as login frequency and content access, LEAP enables Student Advisers to identify students at risk of disengagement and intervene early, improving academic outcomes and supporting student wellbeing. Attendees will learn how this innovative approach has enhanced equity of access to support resources, optimized interventions, and been scaled across UCD, contributing to a more inclusive and responsive student support framework.

Components visible upon registration.