New Provost Robert Holub announced in spring 2007 a Light the Torch Campaign to increase freshman retention. He appointed a committee to study the issue but moved forward with implementation of some elements. He increased the academic emphasis during Welcome Week by adding to the Life of the Mind program a Passport to Success program through which incoming freshmen were issued “passports” to be used to go to classrooms in which their classes would be held, meet instructors, and get the passports stamped. The passports were then placed in a drawing for various prizes. The initial Welcome Week additions also included open houses in colleges.
More than one hundred freshman seminars were scheduled for fall, and the role of the Student Success Center was expanded to assisting all students to succeed, not just those identified as being at risk.