Roar 2 Success expansion strengthens student support

Roar 2 Success, an admissions-based student support program, has had noticeable impact on Buffalo State students since it began in 2017. From fall 2024 to spring 2025, Buffalo State’s campus-wide student persistence rate was 83.4%, up 7 percentage points from the previous year and the strongest rate the campus has seen since 2017. Roar 2 Success alone had a persistence rate of 89.7%—up 22 percentage points from 2023-24.

Historically a program for students in their first year at Buffalo State, Roar 2 Success is now expanding into a two-year program, allowing it to both extend its longevity and provide greater levels of support. 

“College is a transition, no matter how a student performed in high school,” said Shawnte Wilson, director of student success and retention. “This is a physically new space—you have to make new friends, get in new circles, and the academic rigor is different. Support during a transitional period is super important to success.”

Along with the expansion to two years, Roar 2 Success is implementing additional supports and enhancing those already in place. Here’s a look at the exciting changes taking place for Roar 2 Success this fall.

Extended advisor support 

Upon acceptance to Buffalo State, students who fall into target population groups, typically based on high school grade point average, are automatically sent an invitation to opt in to Roar 2 Success. The program provides every enrolled student with a success navigator, a guide-advocate who helps them navigate academics, financial aid, and more. (Academic support services are also available weekly, and the office remains open until 9:00 p.m. to accommodate various schedules.)

Now, students will have support from their success navigators through their first two years before transitioning to a faculty advisor in their academic department in their third year. The timing makes sense, Wilson said, because by junior and senior year, students are acclimated and more focused on major-specific opportunities like internships. 

“Over the years, we’ve seen our students circle back because of the relationships we have built,” Wilson said. “We’ve had informal relationships with students past the first year, but formalizing it lets them know they still have this identifiable person and can continue communication.”

Because the program will now support 500-plus students over two years (almost double its former capacity), Roar 2 Success is welcoming two new success navigators to its team.

“Roar 2 Success is more than just a program; it’s my home away from home,” said Lauryn Hamm, a sophomore who will benefit from the extended support. “I can get support, advice, or just know that I have a physical space on campus where I can relax and be me.”

A new way of living

This year, Roar 2 Success will have “The Den,” its first-ever living community. Located in Bengal Hall—the same building that houses the Roar 2 Success offices—the Den is open to any first-year Roar 2 Success student. 

Wilson said one of goals is to help students build habits for ongoing academic success. Roar 2 Success has been working closely with Residence Life to build a connection between the residential floor and the office floor.

“We’re incentivizing proactive student success,” Wilson said. “Students living on that floor will be able to earn points for things like studying, meeting with peer mentors, and having other academic achievements, that they can then cash in for prizes. This will hopefully encourage them to be proactive and make time to be successful.”

Stronger start before the semester begins

Even before classes begin, Roar 2 Success provides support through the Bengal Bound Summer Bridge Program (formerly known as the Countdown to College Program). Now in its second year, this weeklong in-person program allows students to move in early, acclimate, discuss topics relevant to college transition, engage with peers, and more. 

This year, the Summer Bridge Program will not only include new academic elements like math and writing support but will also expose students to professional development surrounding soft skills and emotional intelligence.

“This is a great opportunity to immerse students in the physical space of Buff State,” said Wilson, “but also get them mentally prepared for the rigor.”

On the weekends during the program, R2S offers “Explore Buffalo,” a segment that highlights local happenings to encourage students to take advantage of all Western New York has to offer. Student transport and admission is provided to events and places like the Erie County Fair and Buffalo RiverWorks.

Innovative academic offerings

In addition to living in a shared space, first-year students can attend classes with R2S peers by enrolling in specific “cohort courses,” allowing them to build community. A big focus is on courses that aren’t necessarily major-specific, but teach soft skills like public speaking, writing, and critical thinking, that students need for successful careers.

Cohort courses include UNC 100: Mastering the Academic Environment, a class designed to support academic performance, social development, and persistence of first-year students; and CWP 101: College Writing I, an introduction to academic discourse practices and conventions, including the development of composing processes and skills that prepare students for success.

“Students benefit from the holistic support and care they receive in cohort courses,” said Daniel Blum, who teaches UNC 100 and supervises all UNC and BSC courses as a lecturer for Academic Affairs. “UNC 100 instructors can address, quickly and comprehensively, typical and persisting Roar 2 Success student challenges, so those students are then better prepared to succeed. Students in this cohort are being retained and are persisting at higher levels than just a few years ago.”

Expanded commuter resources

The Roar 2 Success expansion involves increased emphasis on support for non-residential students. The new “Commuter Club” takes an incentivized approach to engaging non-residential students. 

Programs include:

Speed Friending: designed to help commuters make connections

Pack & Snack: provides commuters with a quick midday bite

Walk in Wednesdays: increases scheduling options for meeting with Success Navigators by allowing walk-ins for students on the go

“We know their lives and outside obligations can restrict how much time they spend on campus, but we see that those who spend more time on campus tend to adjust better and do academically better,” Wilson said. “We want them to know, ‘You may not live here, but you’re just as much a part of this program. We see you and value you just as much.’” 

Part of what makes Roar 2 Success so special, Wilson said, is that it is not just about academic support.

“The way we build relationships with our students is not just based on how they do in the classroom,” she said. “We are here for anything. We create a safe space, and I really value that. Students need more safe spaces.”

Photos by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.