Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, institutions of higher education had started to rely heavily on digital tools to supplement the services they offered their at-promise students—that is, students from historically minoritized or low-income backgrounds (formerly referred to as “at-risk”). Texting platforms had gained popularity as a means to disseminate information and send reminders; websites had grown in significance as repositories of information and key tools for recruitment and student service provision; and learning management systems had assumed key roles in supporting students’ navigation through coursework and campus services.
Connections Are Everything: Putting Relationships at the Heart of Higher Ed
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