As academic leaders, we are under so much pressure to deliver—enrollment targets, strategic plans, graduation rates, AI policies, and on and on—that we can lose sight of what our students and institutions need to thrive. The good news is that this “secret ingredient” is free, nimble, and evidence based. Our research suggests that human relationships are key to students’ academic success and personal well-being. And the benefits extend to faculty and staff too.
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Why We Need to Fight for Our Students: The Example of Stephanie Land
It is a commonplace to say that our campuses need to be “student centered.” That we need to “meet students where they are” and recognize that our students are less