Practical Strategies for Student Success in Higher Education

Reading Time: 7 minutesWhy Routines Matter More Than Ever Students today are juggling academic demands, social pressures, and often significant stress outside school. In this context, unpredictable classrooms can feel overwhelming. Every transition, instruction, or assignment becomes a new puzzle to decode, adding to cognitive load and anxiety. Thoughtful classroom routines function like a roadmap. When students know […]

Reading Time: 6 minutesWhy Bridge Programs Matter for Incoming Students First-year students arrive with widely different levels of preparation. Some have taken advanced courses, attended  college-prep schools, or had extensive access to tutoring. Others may be first-generation college students, recent immigrants, returning adults, or learners from under-resourced schools. If institutions treat all of them as equally ready, the […]

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn busy classrooms — whether in-person, hybrid, or fully online — students can fall behind long before major assignments or exams reveal trouble. Educators often want to intervene earlier but lack fast, practical ways to identify who is quietly struggling. The good news: you don’t need complicated diagnostics or hours of grading. With a few […]

Reading Time: 7 minutesThere are days when your homework is sitting right in front of you, the deadline is getting closer, and you still can’t make yourself start. You know you “should” do it. You might even feel guilty for not starting. But knowing and doing are two very different things. The good news is that you don’t […]

Reading Time: 6 minutesFear of failure is one of the most powerful forces shaping student behavior. It can fuel procrastination, perfectionism, avoidance of challenging tasks, and even decisions to drop out. Often the problem is not a lack of ability, but a deep belief that mistakes are unacceptable and that failing at something academic means failing as a […]

Reading Time: 7 minutesColleges and universities have been investing in early-alert systems for more than a decade, hoping to identify at-risk students before they fail or drop out. Yet many of these systems generate more noise than impact: too many alerts, too little context, and no clear path to effective support. The result is frustration for faculty, “alert […]

Reading Time: 14 minutesReprinted from the Journal of Developmental Education, Volume 21, Issue 3, Spring, 1998. Abstract: The results of a national study suggest how technology can improve education for developmental students. Currently, much of college teaching is dominated by an ancient paradigm typified by the lecture method. Similarly, much of today’s technology presents information to students and reinforces […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesIntroduction Learning support programs are essential for helping students overcome academic, social, and emotional challenges. But how do we know these programs are actually working? Assessment is key. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of evaluating your support programs, what to measure, and how to use that data to make lasting improvements. What Are […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesIntroduction Every classroom has students who struggle—academically, emotionally, or socially. While major interventions are important, sometimes the smallest gestures make the biggest difference. Micro-motivationsare brief, purposeful actions or words that give students the extra push they need to keep going. In this article, we explore how to use these simple tools to build confidence, boost […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesDiscover how using growth mindset language can transform your teaching approach and empower students to embrace learning challenges with confidence. What Is a Growth Mindset? A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, practice, and learning. This concept, pioneered by psychologist Carol Dweck, contrasts with a fixed mindset, […]