SIUE START Program Highlighted for Bringing College Advising Directly to High Schools
Posted June 8, 2026
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's innovative student outreach initiative is receiving recognition for its proactive approach to college readiness, with SIUE START — Students Taking Action for Registration and Transition — featured in the Edwardsville Intelligencer for its hands-on enrollment support model.
Throughout April, SIUE staff visited 10 local high schools to provide placement testing, academic advising, and course registration directly on-site, meeting students in familiar environments before summer orientation. The pilot program advised and registered 280 students and completed 149 placement tests for 91 students before they ever set foot on campus. Kevin Wathen, interim vice chancellor of enrollment management, underscored the broader institutional value of the initiative, citing its role in improving student preparedness, increasing confidence, and helping students feel connected before their first day on campus. "We continue preparing for larger incoming classes and the opportunities that come with that growth," Wathen said.
Following the success of the pilot, SIUE hopes to expand the START program in future years to reach more schools and support more students across the region.
