Maha Migdadi New Mexico State University Global Challenge: When a student starts falling behind, the instructor is often the last to know, especially when teaching multiple courses at once. Without visibility into engagement, support arrives too late, after students have already disengaged, fallen behind, or quietly decided to leave.  The human moment Maha has seen […]

Nicholas DeMayo American University Challenge: Faculty adoption of new tools and platforms is often slowed by fatigue, too many platforms, too little time, and a lack of a clear path from tool to outcome. The question isn’t just which tool to choose. It’s about keeping faculty at the center of learning and using technology to […]

Dr. Heidi Blair Augusta University Challenge: Many institutions wait until orientation, or even the first class session to begin building connections with students. But as Dr. Blair shared, “What about when they get admitted? How do we let them know right away that they belong?” The challenge isn’t just onboarding students. It’s helping them feel […]

Nan Nicholls Slippery Rock University Challenge: Student disengagement has become more visible. As Nan shared: “In the classroom, it seems that students are disengaged… people being distracted by their phones… that’s what I’ve observed.” Participation drops, attention shifts, and meaningful interaction becomes harder to sustain. The human moment Nan described seeing a growing shift from […]

Dr Heather Young University of Florida   Challenge: In large online courses, students often feel like just a “face on a screen” or a number. Traditional discussion boards often result in “compliance” posts, posting once and replying twice just to check a box,which lack originality and real connection. The human moment Dr. Young shared a […]

LaToya Devezin Penn West University Challenge: Faculty burnout is no longer just about time. It’s the pressure of large classes, constant grading, and trying to support every student—often all at once. The human moment LaToya described what burnout actually feels like behind the scenes. It’s not just the volume of work; it’s the expectation to […]

Jill AndersonNC State University   Challenge: Online course discussions lack real conversation. Students participate out of obligation, and faculty must grade every interaction. Engagement becomes routine, not meaningful. The human moment Jill described a frustration many instructors recognize immediately. Discussion boards, meant for interaction, often fail. Instead of real dialogue, students simply complete assignments. As […]

John BellottiUniversity of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Challenge: In asynchronous courses, students often feel isolated. Discussion boards are structured. Interactions are required. But a real connection? Rare. The human moment John shared a moment from an online accounting course that changed how he viewed engagement. The conversation started normally and stayed focused on the topic. Then it drifted. […]

I was in a conversation with one of our partners, a senior administrator responsible for institutional effectiveness. There is significant focus on retention, and as a result, on student belonging. They are doing an amazing job, but even a 1% lift is sizable—both for student success and the financial bottom line. What got me thinking […]