The Division of Student Success has appointed Patrick Biddix, professor in the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences, as the division’s inaugural faculty fellow. Professor Biddix will serve in this role for the 2021-2022 academic year and the summer 2022 semester. 

“Dr. Biddix is a respected member of the higher education community and an expert in assessment in student affairs,” Amber Williams, vice provost for Student Success, said. “His contribution and support within our division will transform UT’s student success initiatives and enhance the undergraduate academic experience for all our Volunteers.”  

As a faculty fellow for Student Success, Professor Biddix’s responsibilities will include coordinating the division’s data collection and assessment activities, leading efforts for publishing peer-reviewed articles and pulse-style surveys, and holding a leadership role within the UT Strengths Advisory Council. 

“Student success is an inclusive philosophy and practice that considers student development as the responsibility of all members of the campus community,” Professor Biddix said. “I look forward to helping capture and showcase the many ways our in- and out-of-classroom experiences support our future Volunteer graduates. As a proud UTK undergraduate alumnus and rural Tennessee native, I am especially grateful to be part of this exciting and transformative effort for my alma mater.” 

In addition to being a professor of higher education, Professor Biddix is also associate director of the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at UT. He teaches graduate courses in research, assessment and evaluation, and special topics in higher education and student affairs. In 2015-2016, he served as a Fulbright Scholar in Montreal, Canada, where he studied student success and engagement in the classroom and alternative learning spaces. 

“Dr. Biddix’s research and writing has focused on student success and is nationally recognized for his expertise in this area,” Jimmy Cheek, director of PERC, said. “The college completion agenda is a primary focus of our center, and I am delighted that Biddix has been named Faculty Fellow and given this important responsibility.”

Contact:

Lacey Wood (laceywood@utk.edu)