A recent report from the "American Association of Community Colleges" indicates that about half of first-year students do not return for a second year, and 35% of students withdraw despite having an A or B average. These students may have particularly challenging circumstances, such as juggling family and work obligations along with school. The authors suggest that students' sense of "hopefulness" forecasts their academic success and persistence, and offer an account of their ongoing campus-wide efforts to create more hopeful classrooms and experiences for their students.