Student Success and Retention

Course sharing boosts retention and revenue for colleges, says new report

As colleges and universities grapple with declining enrollment and increasing financial pressure, a new report points to a collaborative solution: course sharing.

HBCU students are better off mentally than their peers

A new United Negro College Fund report highlights the mental health strengths of HBCUs—and the urgent need to close remaining service gaps.

Freshman class of 2024 is the most diverse yet, says new report

A new report explores the backgrounds, concerns and expectations of the 2024 freshman class, helping college leaders enhance student success.

60 colleges now face punishment over campus antisemitism claims

Some 60 colleges and universities now face "enforcement actions" over claims of campus antisemitism, the U.S. Department of Education warned just a few days after yanking $400 million in grants from Columbia University over alleged civil rights infractions.

Study: Direct college placement boosts student success, lowers cost

Students who bypassed developmental courses were more likely to pass and earn more credits, according to the Center for Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness.

Shorter academic terms: Here is guidance for better outcomes

Shortened academic terms—such as eight-week courses and winter break sessions—show varying rates of success at a group of colleges and universities examined in a new analysis. 

Best colleges for future leaders remains an exclusive club

Unlike some other lists, the best colleges and universities for future leaders rankings is still dominated by the elites.

Best for international students: Which colleges ranked the highest?

There are five key conditions that create more supportive environments for students trying to acclimate themselves to life on a U.S. campus, according to rankings posted by a college search firm.

Why a college degree is still a great return on investment

The cost of higher education, like the cost of everything in the current environment, will continue to be a concern. But a quick look over the data confirms there is still great value in higher education.

How to align higher ed with industry to foster social mobility

Universities that stay ahead of emerging trends, foster diverse collaboration and provide outreach to underrepresented groups will make a significant impact on their communities.

Why early decision can be a college access equalizer

As concerns about minority enrollment at elite universities like Harvard and MIT grow following the Supreme Court's ban on affirmative action in college admissions, applying early decision to college can be a vehicle to sustain or potentially even increase minority enrollment.

A look at several programs accelerating opportunities for students

In education, staying still is equivalent to moving backwards. Our world is changing far too quickly, and the traditional educational models just aren’t always sufficient.

Here are 5 keys for student success beyond high school

Recent history shows us that a concerted nationwide effort can improve students’ outcomes, such as the gains made in high school graduation rates over the past 20 years.

From Acceptance to Arrival: Practical Strategies to Address Summer Melt in Higher Education

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 23rd at 2 pm ET

In this 20-minute UB Ed Talk, leaders from California College of the Arts (CCA) delve into the trends they've observed with summer melt and their practical initiatives that any campus can emulate to mitigate this challenge, including forming a task force that connects academic and administrative leaders in addition to analyzing key indicators along the student enrollment journey.

How to turn bold student success ideas into bold actions

Despite institutions spending thousands annually per student on support services, students remain greatly underprepared and socially isolated, an edtech CEO asserts.

What college students worry about. Or do you already know?

Informed higher ed leaders aim to keep their fingers on the pulse of what's on college students' minds. In case additional insights are needed, a new survey is tracking students' feelings about cost, careers and safety.

Wanting to improve school culture? Look to these 3 resources

A sense of belonging is key to keeping students engaged and enrolled. Here's what research recommends for leaders ahead of 2024-25.

Best Value Colleges: Did your school make the 2024 rankings?

In these days of rising skepticism around higher education, what makes a "Best Value College?" Academics, cost, financial aid, career services, graduation rates, student debt and alumni support, among other factors measured by the Princeton Review.

Motivation Science and Outreach Strategies to Close Enrollment Gaps

Date & Time: Thursday, July 11th at 2 pm ET

In this 20-minute UB Ed Talk, a former professor of educational psychology at the University of Southern California will offer practical science-backed strategies for using digital channels to engage with, enroll, and retain more students for dual enrollment, workforce upskilling, and degree programs.   

How colleges can help restore what students lost during COVID

By following specific and proven strategies, the nation’s colleges and universities can reassure nervous students, families and policymakers and build pathways to completion of credentials of value that can lift up individuals and communities.

College degrees: See which ones have the highest ROI

Most campus leaders know some college degrees are more lucrative than others. What they may not know is how the ROI changes at different levels of college completion.

What higher ed leaders need to know about gender gaps in college and career confidence

Here's a number that should startle superintendents: 72% of female high school graduates lack confidence about their career path, a new survey has found.

These 30 colleges are the best of the best LGBTQ-friendly campuses

Most LGBTQ-friendly colleges support gender-affirming healthcare, LGBTQ+ peer mentorship programs and ally organizations.

Survey: Students and parents stress cost and career prep when picking a college

More respondents chose a "college with the best program for my (my child’s) career interests" (38%) than they did a "college with the best academic reputation" (11%) as the two top factors in the selection process, according to The Princeton Review's 2023 College Hopes & Worries Survey Report.

With tuition costs so high, a new minimum wage won’t help students

Students in all but three states would have to work more than 40 hours a week to pay for school and living expenses if minimum wage remains constant.

How your school can maintain a healthy environment for open dialogue

Free exchange of ideas on campus exposes its community to new ways of thinking and creates a more informed citizen, but too much of it can do the opposite. Here are ways to remedy those conflicts.

The new disruptor: Carnegie Mellon’s Cloud Lab ‘automates’ science

With more than 200 lab instruments available at a student's fingertips from CMU's revolutionary cloud lab, the only limit to what a scientist can do is dictated by their own ingenuity. "We are automating science," Dean Rebecca Doerge says.

Disabilities and edtech: How the pandemic sparked a revolution

Students with disabilities who are usually aided by specialists were forced online during the pandemic. Adapting has helped them forge ingenious ways to learn in an increasingly digital world.

Does your university need an app? There’s a student for that

Appy Pie, a no-code development platform, offers a free app development workshop designed for students to introduce them to the world of app development. Notable colleges around the world are utilizing the program, such as Texas Southern University and the University of Westminster.

Getting creative: How higher ed is finding solutions to post-pandemic problems

Young adults aren't as readily pulled toward a degree in higher education as they once were, and colleges need to stay on pace with them if they aren't looking to be left behind.

Why higher ed needs to get on board with micro-credentials

A new study focusing on employers' perspectives on micro-credentials reveals that while a vast majority believe they boost a prospective hire's value, not enough colleges and universities are capitalizing on them.

Plagiarism catcher Turnitin announces ‘state-of-the-art’ AI writing detector

The tool, expected to launch in April, is capable of detecting 97% of ChatGPT writing with a less than 1% false positive rate, according to the company.

Attention, please: How to ensure students are engaged in class

The report surveyed over 5,000 students and almost 2,500 college instructors and found that 53% of students are having trouble retaining class material, 55% of undergraduates are struggling to stay interested in their classes, and 66% of instructors find it challenging to keep students engaged.

Mentorship program bumps retention rates of minority male students, study finds

Leveraging a cost-effective, technology-based approach to guide minority male students, Watermark and NCCCS led the Minority Male Success Initiative (MMSI), and the results further proved how necessary it is to find innovative ways to reach students.

Emergency pandemic funds kept schools afloat, new report says

The final round of HEERF funding stabilized institutions of higher education, supporting students' needs and braking operational downturns.