Student Affairs & College Success: Dr. Tierney Bates on Campus Support Systems
By Lana Reid | March 22, 2023
As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Dr. Tierney Bates, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of South Carolina Upstate, to discuss student affairs and the role campus support systems play in college success. Dr. Bates shares how student success extends beyond the classroom and why holistic support is essential to academic achievement, retention, and long-term career readiness. The conversation highlights how intentional guidance and institutional resources help students navigate college and life beyond graduation.
In this episode of The Male Perspective, Dr. Tierney Bates offers an in-depth look at student affairs and its impact on student development.
Dr. Bates explains how student affairs professionals support students academically, socially, and personally throughout their college experience. He discusses how access to resources such as advising, mentoring, counseling, and leadership development helps students persist through challenges and stay on track toward graduation.
Throughout the conversation, Lana Reid and Dr. Bates explore the importance of holistic support systems. Dr. Bates emphasizes that student success is influenced by a student’s sense of belonging, mental well-being, and access to guidance outside of the classroom. He explains how institutions that prioritize comprehensive support structures are better positioned to foster achievement and retention.
The discussion also highlights mentorship and preparation for life after college. Dr. Bates shares how student affairs professionals help students develop leadership skills, career readiness, and confidence, ensuring they are prepared not only to graduate, but to thrive in their next chapter.
This episode underscores the critical role of student affairs in shaping equitable, supportive educational environments and creating pathways for student success beyond college.
About the Guest
Dr. Tierney Bates is the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of South Carolina Upstate. His work focuses on student development, leadership, retention, and creating institutional support systems that promote academic success and long-term student outcomes.
For more information on Dr. Tierney Bates:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tierney-bates/
https://www.instagram.com/tbates1914/
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➡️ For Booking Info: http://ultimateconnexion.com/
About the Series
This episode is part of the Black Men Matter Series, highlighting Black men who are higher education leaders, administrators, and advocates supporting student success, institutional equity, and holistic development.
About the Host & Organization
The Male Perspective is hosted by Lana Reid, founder of Conversations in Color, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community-building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.
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