Role at Solent
Tania is responsible for the strategic leadership, organisation, and management of the Student Success directorate, and plays a pivotal role in support of the University’s strategic priorities for Student Success.
Tania is responsible for developing and implementing an integrated, innovative, and user-focussed student success plan, supporting the University’s strategic plan.
The Student Success Directorate comprises the provision of confidential, high-quality counselling and student well-being services; student advice and guidance on matters concerning university life; student achievement activities which improve retention, engagement and satisfaction; careers advice and guidance; graduate outcomes; safeguarding and Prevent; support for students with disabilities and learning differences; reasonable adjustments; and welcome activities.
Tania is also the institutional lead for the Access and Participation Plan and lead contact for the Students’ Union.
Experience
Prior to joining Solent, Tania held roles at the University of Greenwich and Middlesex University focused on student engagement from quality enhancement, learning and teaching, and student services perspectives. At Greenwich, Tania also taught students at all levels and was a Personal Tutor as part of the Greenwich Business School.
Having started her professional career in students’ unions, Tania has a strong interest in working collaboratively with students and Students’ Unions and how to meaningfully embed co-creation with students in the day-to-day operations. Tania is particularly interested in the lived experiences of underrepresented students having previously led a research project on inclusive student engagement.
Tania is currently an external trustee at a Students’ Union and has previously held roles on the QAA Student Strategic Advisory Committee and the RAISE Committee.
Publications
Struetzel, T., Mackey, C. (2024), To Attend or Not to Attend: Why Student Attendance Has Dropped Since the Pandemic and What We Can Do About It
Struetzel, T, Down, J. (2024), Moving the Dial: Reframing Student Support
Struetzel, T., Mackey, C., Meeting students where they are at. How a pandemic response became best practice for student retention (2023), IMPact Journal of Higher Education Research Volume 6 (Issue 3)
Struetzel, T., Mackey, C. (2023), The Cost-of-Living Crisis is Here to Stay – What Can We Do Long-Term to Support our Students?
Struetzel, T., Baker-Brown, C. (2023), University of Greenwich and Vygo: a practical application of a Theory of ChangeÂ
Struetzel, T., Mackey, C. (2022), How a pandemic response became best practice for student retention
Struetzel, T., Lowe, T. (2019), Let’s make student engagement work more inclusive
Struetzel, T., Lewis, J. (2019), It’s time to bring the student voice into debates about race
External bodies
- Trustee Bedfordshire Students’ Union
Committee memberships
- Academic Board
- Education Committee
- Student Experience Committee
- Equality & Wellbeing Committee
- Joint Executive Committee
- Financial Aid and Fees Group
- Safeguarding Committee
- Risk Management Group
- Health & Safety Committee
- Capital Investment Development Committee
