“Here are 20 lessons of student success that I learned in 2020.

Lesson 1: Given the number of nontraditional and first-generation college students, it’s more important than ever to make the path to graduation crystal clear.

Lesson 2: Help every student develop a sense of belonging.

Lesson 3: Figure out how to make quality advising available at scale.

Lesson 4: Take the pain out of course selection for first-year students.

Lesson 5: Empower advisers with actionable data.

Lesson 6: Be on the lookout for early warning signs of trouble.

Lesson 7: Recognize that advising and student support need not be delivered in person to be effective.

Lesson 8: Don’t ignore the low-hanging fruit.

Lesson 9: Recognize that poor academic performance is not the primary reason students fail to persist.

Lesson 10: Reach out proactively when students are at risk or off track or credit momentum flags.

Lesson 11: Encourage students with 12 credits a semester or less to take an additional course and to take advantage of intersession and summer classes.

Lesson 12: Embed career preparation across the undergraduate experience.

Lesson 13: Identify and address roadblock courses.

Lesson 14: Integrate academic support into high-DFW courses.

Lesson 15: Enlist faculty as partners in student success.

Lesson 16: Subject all campus and departmental policies and practices to an equity and student success audit.

Lesson 17: Make sure faculty are familiar with key insights from the science of learning.

Lesson 18: Familiarize faculty with the principles of backward design.

Lesson 19: Encourage faculty to integrate active learning into their classes.

Lesson 20: Promote universal design principles and frequent formative assessments as ways to enhance student learning.”