Every institution is different, so educators should explore the concept of spatial cues at their institutions. Without serious consideration of space, many students' needs (and desires) will remain unknown and unaddressed. More than any time before, campuses must develop strategies to better understand students' diverse experiences and…

In this interview, Rogan Kersh describes his evolution from a lecturer behind a podium to a facilitator of hands-on exercises and role-playing. Instead of resisting generational change, Kersh has embraced the charge to evolve to meet current students' needs by asking his students how they experience his classes, and really listening to their…

In this engaging interview, John D. Inazu identifies confident pluralism as the way for us to thrive in connection even when divided by deep differences. Since our differences are not just going to go away, we need to learn to live with others with whom we do not agree. Inazu explains that tolerance, humility, and patience are the foundational…

When Case Willoughby took his first community college job, he started by applying student development and student engagement theory to advising. He refocused advising to support students in exploring academic and career goals and teach them the intellectual and practical skills they need to learn. This experience led Willoughby to notice that…

With some creative thought and effort, teachers can intentionally turn their diplomas into effective environmental cues. By creating a diploma wall, teachers can encourage student engagement and motivation. Diplomas on display become more than part the office decor as they connect students to thoughts and behaviors needed for college success.…

Peter Felten is executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning and assistant provost for teaching and learning at Elon University, where he also serves as a professor of history. Charles C. Schroeder is the past president of ACPA--College Student Educators International and founding coexecutive editor of "About Campus." Felten and…

This article describes how the authors, determined to actualize their dedication to student learning, looked to American College Personnel Association (ACPA)'s seminal work from 1994, "The Student Learning Imperative," which redirected those who work in student affairs, where student services and development had traditionally been the…

Everybody on campus is responsible for recognizing and responding to students in crisis. Sometimes the difficulty is knowing when to intervene. Being alert to students' mental health and wellness needs is an essential part of work life on today's campuses--even when it means stepping out of one's own narrow professional roles or risking leaving…

In an age of accountability, numbers matter. Therefore, the accountability movement has led to the assessment movement. Higher education should be held accountable, and colleges themselves should take the lead in making sure colleges are meeting goals. Assessment was originally meant to improve higher education. Instead, assessment quickly became…

The University of California (UC) is a research-intensive institution that is widely considered to be the best public university system in the United States. A total of 147 years of sustained academic distinction has made admission to UC's nine undergraduate campuses among the most competitive in the nation. More students apply to UC than any…

Mollison Ryan served as the undergraduate intern for "About Campus" during the 2016-2017 academic year. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2017 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in Creative Writing and Professional and Technical Writing. She also holds a 2016 United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year title…

The author met Jerome when he was a senior in a psychology class taught by the author. He stood out from the rest of the class not only in his academic performance, but also in the ways he approached class--always prepared, asking good questions, going above and beyond in his assignments. He was the dream student--hard working, curious, passionate…

In this wide-ranging interview, Krista Tippett, a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and the New York Times bestselling author of "Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living" (Penguin Press, 2016) shares her perspective on wisdom, the reemergence of hope, and the need to talk about values.

Author Anne Lamott wrote "This is a difficult country to look different in...and if you are too skinny or too tall or dark or weird or short or frizzy or homely or poor or nearsighted, you get crucified." Lamott's comment speaks to what happens when people do not fit into neat social categories. Such experiences of not fitting, of being…

The media keeps equating college degrees with salary levels, and parents want evidence that the investment they make over four years will pay off down the road. In this article, the author argues for the inclusion of "soul metrics" in alumni surveys in order to tell a well-rounded story of higher education.