Tag Archives: student success

(#223) The Longest Movie of Your Life


It’s my challenge and duty to make the “movie” worth viewing. And it’s their job to be engaged with the movie. The first day of class brought a familiar lament. “Professor, I need you to understand that I work and … Continue reading

Posted in effective teaching, Student success | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

(#204) College Ready?


I think, more poignantly, the question for our colleges and universities comes down to “Once the students (college-ready or not) are admitted, what do we do to best serve them?” Preparing for my part of an online (virtual) conference this … Continue reading

Posted in college retention, developmental education, Student success | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

(#190) R.O.I. or R.O.R.


R.O.R. (Return on Relationships) trumps R.O.I. (Return on Investment). In fact, effective R.O.R. will build R.O.I. A little more than a year ago I wrote these words, “Our success—and that of our students, colleagues, and family members—will not be measured … Continue reading

Posted in Appreciation, Appropriate Behavior, leadership, Personal growth, Relationship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#179) Stop, Reflect, Evaluate


 Do you want someone else or something else to determine where you will end up? Is your growth intentional?  We just passed the halfway point of the semester on campus.  Midterm exams have come and gone. Although students receive continual … Continue reading

Posted in Choice, creating your future, Dreams, Life lessons, lifelong learning, reslience, Success | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#177) Caring Without Candor Should Raise Concerns


It’s one thing to say our students should raise themselves by their own bootstraps. It’s quite another to make sure we provide them with the boots and the straps. Yesterday, I reacquainted myself with an interview of leadership coach and … Continue reading

Posted in leadership, Motivation, Purpose, responsibility | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#166) It Takes More than Academics to Succeed in College


I address this week’s blog post directly to college students. If you know one—especially a first-year or first-generation college student— please, pass this along. Nearly two decades ago, a math colleague of mine (Florida State College at Jacksonville, Downtown Campus) … Continue reading

Posted in Student success | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#150) Connecting With Students: Principles of Student Success


Creating a conducive college classroom climate does not happen by accident. It happens on purpose.  “If only my students were motivated to learn!” Perhaps you have heard that lament. Sometimes the discussion devolves into a search for “techniques” to move … Continue reading

Posted in Student success, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#144) College Retention and Persistence: Ask the Correct Questions


Before we can solve a problem we have to ask the right questions. Today I facilitated a workshop session at the 32nd Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience.  We examined why students stay in college and why they might leave … Continue reading

Posted in college retention, customer service | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

(#134) Marshmallows, Teaching and Learning


This exercise allowed them to collaborate, actively search for, and apply (critically think about) concepts and principles in an engaging and memorable manner.  About a year ago I learned of the “Marshmallow Challenge.”  The video at the end of this … Continue reading

Posted in collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, effective teaching, Student success, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

(#133) Advice from My Scholars: How to Succeed in Life


The choices we make and do will create our lives. During the final class meeting before exam week begins I ask my students for feedback.  In this case, I ask them to consider advice they would like to pass along … Continue reading

Posted in Discipline, Dreams, Student advice, Student success, Success | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments