Celebrating the Good | 056 | In Higher Ed
Thirteen meaningful improvements in higher ed, especially at community colleges.
If we don’t pause to recognize what’s working, it becomes easy to get pulled into the constant drumbeat of negativity surrounding higher education. And while there is always room for improvement (and it’s why I do what I do) that work requires energy.
Energy comes, in part, from seeing progress. Since March 2020, colleges have faced disruption, uncertainty, and sustained pressure. Out of that disruption, however, came real shifts in practice, many driven by necessity, but now embedded in how colleges operate.
Before pushing forward again, it’s worth naming what’s improved at many institutions. Not as a victory lap, but as fuel for the work ahead.
Here are 13 shifts I’ve observed across institutions, in no particular order.
1. Accessibility is no longer an afterthought
There’s been a noticeable, faculty-led push to make learning more accessible; from consistent use of alt text to deeper awareness of how to support neurodivergent students. This is no longer niche work; it’s becoming part of everyday practice.
2. Grading reform is gaining traction
More faculty are rethinking grading, not as a compliance exercise, but as a tool for learning. The shift away from point accumulation toward meaningful demonstration of learning is one of the more promising developments in teaching and learning.
3. Student onboarding is more coherent
Many colleges have reduced the “ping-ponging” students used to experience.
We’re seeing:
Fewer unnecessary steps (e.g., elimination of wet signatures)
Clearer program maps for the first two years
Career & Academic Pathways (meta-majors ) to support exploration
More intentional outreach and check-ins
It’s not perfect, but it’s more navigable than it used to be.
4. Developmental education reform is delivering results
When implemented well, reforms are working. More disproportionately impacted students are completing transfer-level English and math than ever before. Some people complain about initial decreases in course success rates, but they don’t consider the throughput rate. More students are moving through math and English sequences.
This is one of the clearest examples of policy, practice, and persistence aligning to produce better outcomes.
5. Mental health is being taken seriously
Colleges have expanded services and normalized conversations around mental health, for both students and employees. This shift acknowledges a simple reality: people cannot perform at their best when they are not well.
6. Basic needs support has expanded
From food pantries to career-readiness supports like free professional headshots, colleges are addressing barriers that exist outside the classroom, but directly impact success inside it.
7. Digital literacy has improved across the board
Students, faculty, and staff are more comfortable using digital tools.
More importantly, the conversation around A.I. is shifting from fear to application at many institutions. The focus is increasingly on how to use these tools to improve teaching, learning, and operations.
8. Open Educational Resources (OER) continue to grow
The momentum behind OER has accelerated. More faculty are adopting and creating free resources, reducing costs for students while maintaining control over instructional materials.
9. Community partnerships are stronger
Colleges are deepening relationships with K–12 systems and industry partners. Dual enrollment and internship pathways are expanding, creating clearer connections between education and opportunity.
10. Technology is a better pedagogical ally
The rapid shift to online learning forced faculty to experiment. Many of those tools and approaches are now enhancing in-person instruction, not replacing it, but strengthening it.
11. Professional development is more intentional
There’s been a stronger focus on addressing disparities through teaching and student support. More educators are engaging in professional learning tied directly to improving outcomes for disproportionately impacted students.
12. Leadership and culture shifts are happening
A wave of retirements has, in some cases, removed long-standing barriers to change. New voices and perspectives are stepping in, often more aligned with student-centered work.
13. Rethinking how we measure student success
For too long, colleges have relied on traditional metrics such as IPEDS that don’t fully reflect how community college students actually move through higher education.
That’s starting to change. As I highlighted in a recent Student Success Podcast conversation, more colleges are adopting broader, more accurate ways to measure outcomes. These approaches that better align with the realities of today’s students.
Final thought
None of this means the work is done. It isn’t. But it does mean this: Not all colleges are standing still. There are real improvements happening across institutions, many of them led by educators who continue to show up, adapt, and push forward despite the noise.
Take a moment to recognize that.
Let’s connect on LinkedIn.
Onward…
Dr. Al Solano
Founder, Continuous Learning Institute | About
Host, Student Success Podcast
A meaningful test of success is how helpful we are in contributing to our fellow human being’s happiness.
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