Hottest Resources | 034 | Year in Review
The most-used, most-loved resources of 2025, plus a few exciting updates.
Sit back, relax, and scroll practical and meaningful resources to help you get results.
Let’s start with Columbia University’s Community College Research Center (CCRC) feature of the Inquiry & Action model.
This piece explains how campuses improve morale by engaging in productive work, and what it really takes to move from planning to meaningful, measurable action that strengthens outcomes.
The model was also highlighted in CCRC authors’ latest book, More Essential than Ever: Community College Pathways to Educational and Career Success. I’m tremendously grateful to Dr. Davis Jenkins and his CCRC team for recognizing meaningful, culture-changing work.
I encourage my colleges currently using Inquiry & Action teams, especially those recently recognized in the Aspen Top 200 to showcase this work.
It could be a critical differentiator in award selection because it demonstrates:
Cross-functional collaboration
Measurable improvements
Sustained culture-building
Lessons from failure and success
Implementation discipline
In short: It shows the hard work, creativity, productive struggle, and learning behind the outcomes.
Ventura College didn’t just implement Inquiry & Action. They lived it.
Learn how faculty came together, supported one another, and pushed their craft, and the results showed in meaningful gains in student outcomes and equity.
I had the privilege of being alongside them in this work and saw firsthand the effort, collaboration, productive struggle, and skill it took to improve their craft together.
We also adopted the model for the Guided Pathways and student equity plan integration.
Riverside City College veteran reentry alumni feature.
Learn from my own student journey experience from community college to the Ivy League which reinforced the importance of mentorship and quality teaching at the community college. Returning to RCC to coach continuous improvement efforts is one of the greatest gifts of my career.
I launched the Continuous Learner Substack this summer with two focus areas:
Here are the popular organizational change pieces: practical, real-talk guidance on how to move from planning to implementation and improve campus culture.
Stop Blaming Everyone. Start Naming the Few. | 001 | Culture & Conflict
Silence isn’t strength. It’s complicity.
The “In Between” | 005 | Culture & Implementation
Attitudes and behaviors change through productive work.
Student Success Strategies | 018 | From Access to Completion
Practical, measurable actions that help students succeed.
Equity Impact vs Equity Intentionality | 002 | Equity Strategy
Why we need both. The unproductive fight is hurting students.
Culture of Dignity | 007 | Lead with Kindness with Diego Navarro
If the approach to equity feels like punishment, don’t expect progress.
Practitioner Insights | 017 | Lessons That Stick
Guidance for those building while flying.
Why Colleges Still Struggle to Implement Priorities | 022 | What to Do About It
Six persistent challenges, six actionable strategies.
Mentoring That Matters | 26 | The Lessons Still Hold
Mentorship, courage, and continuous improvement.
Students Told Us. We Just Need to Listen. | 008 | Student Success with Dr. Darla Cooper
Why the student voice matters.
Strategic Plans Don’t Fail Because They’re Flawed | 004 | Planning vs Doing
The daily grind is winning.
The 3-Month Rule, Revisited | 003 | Time & Execution
What we normalize is what we get, delays included.
Here are the most popular teaching & learning resources.
Learning That Matters | 019 | From Struggle to Student Success
What happens when educators have the time, process, and support to improve.
The Grading Crisis | 013 | Learning Over Points
Grading is a structural failure we’ve ignored far too long.
The 5E Learning Cycle | 012 | Practical Pedagogy
A flexible framework for effective teaching and learning.
Supporting Neurodivergent College Students | 011 | Teaching with Kindness with Dr. Liz Norell
Reconsider designing for the mythical average student.
Online Teaching & Learning | 015 | Humanize the Experience with Maritez Apigo
Effective online learning isn’t accidental.
Equitable Pedagogy | 014 | Beyond the Buzzword with Dr. Michel Estefan
Teaching that meets the moment.
Teaching with Heart | 020 | Brilliance in the Classroom with Kelly Spoon
Redefining rigor, elevating student brilliance, and making growth the goal.
Culturally Affirming & Meaningful Assignments | 016 | From Awareness to Action with Dr. Christine Harrington
Pragmatic strategies to engage, empower, and equip students.
Accessibility in Action | 028 | Beyond Compliance, Toward Care with Denise Maduli-Williams
Access as an everyday practice, not an afterthought.
Using the 5E Model to Teach STEM | 029 | Practical Ideas for Faculty
A framework that bridges curiosity and comprehension for your classroom, your lab, your students.
Most downloaded Student Success Podcast Episode:
Reengaging Students Lost Before the Census Date with Dr. Rita Karam
Dr. Rita Karam and her colleagues at RAND examined this often-overlooked group across 15 colleges in California, Texas, and Kentucky. The findings? More than 60% of students are lost between application and census date, with the majority leaving due to a mix of personal barriers and institutional processes. This episode unpacks the research and offers practical steps colleges can take to reduce these losses and re-engage students.
Grateful to have supported 50+ college teams and 1000+ retreat and training participants.
Student retention has always been my north star because retention leads to completion. That belief has guided my work for nearly 17 years as an embedded coach, showing up for colleges to help teams move from ambitious ideas to sustained practice. This year I had the privilege to partner with committed educators who managed projects clearly, collaborated across silos, and kept students at the center of every decision. Projects coached:
Campus-wide course success initiative
Strategic plan execution
Just-in-time student support
Registration improvement
Reimagining assessment
Instructional plan implementation & assessment
Student in-reach touchpoint campaign
Program map updates
Workforce & economic development team building
Board & president goal enhancement
Strategic plan & equity plan development
Education master plan upgrade
Executive team action planning
Classified professional PD project
Future teacher program improvement
Student Success Teams 2.0
Deans team building
Reconnecting with educators at conferences is always fun! I’m grateful for the shout out from one the most extraordinary and passionate educators I’ve had the privilege to know, Dr. Julianna Asperin Barnes.
I’m also thankful for all of the comments on her post.
Exciting updates!
I’ll be presenting at Louisiana’s higher education summit Meauxmentum 2026 at the Cajundome & Convention Center in Lafayette during the first week of February. My session is titled “Build the System, Keep Improving: Institutional Design for Teaching & Learning Excellence.”
In January, Catapult will release my masterclass! I’m grateful to Dr. Kevin Fleming for inviting me to join this meaningful platform and service.
After many requests, I’m bringing back mini-courses. This spring I’ll launch the first mini-course: From Strategy to Implementation: Achieving Clarity, Coherence, and Consensus. It’s a hands-on mini-course that cuts through planning noise with practical frameworks, tools, and templates. You’ll leave with tangible tools you can use on campus right away. Stay tuned for the launch announcement.
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.