MOSAIC

MOSAIC is a student success initiative of the MU Office of Academic Access & Leadership Development (AALD) designed to help students thrive academically, personally, and professionally through individualized coaching, skill development, and community and resource connections.

Combining a holistic approach that views students as whole individuals with appreciative advising and career readiness frameworks, MOSAIC integrates academic guidance, personal development, and career exploration with mentorship and evidence-based tools to help students develop core competencies related to their identity, well-being, sense of belonging, and aspirations that contribute to their success. Students will build confidence in their ability to make informed decisions, set and achieve ambitious goals, practice self-advocacy and, ultimately, take ownership of their own success during and after college

Goals

MOSAIC is designed to promote student engagement, well-being, retention, and career success in alignment with the following strategic priorities of the university:

  • Student Success Goal #4: Increase undergraduate first-year retention rate.
  • Student Success Goal #5: Increase four-year undergraduate graduation rate.
  • Student Success Goal #7: Increase participation rate in high-impact practices.
  • Student Success Goal #8: Improve career success rate.

Guiding Pillars

MOSAIC focuses on four pillars:

  • Self-Exploration: Students will engage in experiences that help define their purpose, explore their strengths, and create a clear roadmap for achieving academic, personal, and professional goals.
  • Career Development: Students will prepare to launch an impactful career by building essential professional skills, exploring career paths, and learning how to develop a professional network.
  • Community Building: Students will develop a sense of belonging through collaborative events and meaningful connections with campus and community members.
  • Resource Connections: Students will learn to identify their social capital and effectively navigate campus, community, and career resources that support their success.

Programs

MOSAIC includes two core components:

  • Focusing on You Workshop Series: Group-based, interactive workshops and community-building experiences that help students develop core competencies necessary for academic, personal, and professional success. Workshop topics include (but are not limited to) exploring majors and careers, decision-making and goal setting, personal and professional boundaries, professional image and branding, high-impact practices and leadership skills, and career preparation. There will be a minimum of six 75-minute (max) workshops per semester.
  • One-on-One Student Success Coaching: Personalized guidance from trained student success coaches to help students identify their strengths, define meaningful goals (academic, personal, and/or professional) and develop actionable plans to achieve them, connection to resources tailored towards their individual needs, and develop a strategic roadmap for their success at the university and beyond into a career. Students will engage in an intake process, a 60-minute session to establish a success plan, and at least one 30-minute progress check-in per semester.

To inquire about MOSAIC, contact Velma Buckner: bucknerv@umsystem.edu