Policy optimization, a variant of The Input-Environment-Output's (I-E-O's) environmental optimization, has found traction on the edges of and outside of the discipline of higher education. It has spawned an entire industry of vendors (e.g., EAB, Starfish, and the myriad vendors specific to functional areas) selling student success solutions, and…

The Strategic Retention Initiative is an administrative practice which involves calling all first-year students. The initiative is guided by an institutional commitment to the well-being of students and represents an institutional investment in student persistence. The development and implementation of the Strategic Retention Initiative was…

Three decades of research and practice have demonstrated the power and importance of the experience of students who are making the transition from high school to college. Student persistence to the sophomore year and, ultimately, persistence to graduation are at stake. This recognition of the critical nature of the first year has motivated…

College support staff members often have an important, if sometimes unrecognized, impact on students' lives. Regardless of their job responsibilities, these individuals generally care deeply about the academic environment and the institution in general. When these individuals demonstrate to others how much they care, they are helping to build a…

Relates a chaplain's experience with college students' behavior and values. Argues that the current generation of students has been abandoned by society and that it is essential that adults be involved in students' lives. Advocates that the classical ideals of higher education be recovered and that campuses foster friendship between generations.…

In order to improve the enrollment and retention statistics of Latino students, colleges and universities need to evaluate their approach toward Latino students and use culturally sensitive methods to asses how well students' needs are being met. This research focused on the relationship between ethnic identity and acculturation, which illustrates…

As society becomes more and more complex, students' understanding about their place and purpose in life becomes increasingly unclear. Sharon Parks talks with Tony Chambers about how colleges and universities can become mentoring environments that help students find their way. (Author)

In an effort to become more sensitive to the heritages of students, colleges have begun making assumptions that attempt to easily define what is heritage. This paper suggests that many students have backgrounds which are a blend of many races and ethnicities, and which cannot easily be categorized. It terms this "the diversity within," and…

By the time students graduate from college, most still have not achieved the kind of self-authorship that would allow them to think independently, make choices, and pursue their dreams. What can be done to help them develop this capacity and make the most of their college experience? One way, says the author, is to be better company. (Author)

Incoming college students often find themselves overwhelmed by their coursework. Campus programs, such as cultural education and leadership training, are intended to aid students in their transition to the academic setting but can instead lead to further stress. Without unprogrammed time, students do not have a chance to analyze their thoughts…

As campuses become more diverse, the racial dynamics become more complex. The evolution of and particularly the structure of student organizations have been both remarkably sensitive to enrollment shifts and instrumental in shaping campus racial dynamics. The author outlines these shifts along with possibilities for the future. (Author)

Many in education want to work better with their colleagues in order to create a dynamic and exciting environment in which students can learn. Along with this, educators also want to help students learn how to work together better. According to the author educators need to learn how to engage in productive dialogue and beyond either-or thinking.…

Facilitation is a good thing, but too much can be a problem. What can happen when parents and educators overfacilitate? One way to avoid this common pitfall is for administrators and faculty to work in partnership with parents to maintain a healthy balance in facilitating the education of the students. (Author)

More economically disadvantaged students are attending college than ever before, yet only a small percentage of them actually graduate. As the author points out, helping students get into college is only half the battle. Along with financial support, these students need academic and social support, as well as supportive relationships. (BF)

We need, says the author, to stop pretending that class doesn't exist and begin to critically consider it as rigorously as we do race and gender. Because social class can play a significant role in explaining the college experiences of women and students of color from working-class backgrounds, it must play a significant role in defining…