With the growth of online learning, many colleges are now taking steps to build online programs. Even before the pandemic, face-to-face attendance was decreasing. Meanwhile, the enrollment for online courses indicated a positive gain. Yet again, college enrollment has dropped. Some causes have been students dropping out because of mental stress. High tuition costs create another barrier for students not to enroll in a college program because they fear student loan debt. Higher-ed leaders can review these 4 critical considerations when creating online college programs.

Students enter college from different backgrounds and situations. They might be fully college-ready; meanwhile, others need help. Besides that, college students might not know how to effectively study and attend classes. Thus, colleges have created first-year courses to help guide these students. The What Works Intervention Report produced by the Department of Education shows that students who attend first-year courses did better in college. With more online learning, first-year college courses become a valuable tool for retention and college-career guidance. They can be embedded in core courses like biology and offer various components such as socialization and learning support. Higher-ed leaders can include these five elements for these first-year college courses.

Sixty percent of prospective college students say mental health services are very important when deciding the school to attend. Before the pandemic, that same outlook was only shared half that amount by students. With this issue, increasing mental health disorders affect students’ academic achievement. Therefore, colleges and universities need to invest in, advocate for, and address the mental health needs of college students. Addressing mental health helps increase student outcomes, raise enrollment and retention rates, prevent suicide, and meet a school’s mission goals and economic needs. Higher-ed leaders consider the following five strategies to improve mental health for both students and institutions.

College leaders adeptly balance the competing needs of their institution. For years, colleges have held a dual mission: Prep workers for employers and equip students to transfer to four-year institutions for degree obtainment. Nevertheless, these dual missions split into two distinct tracks creating bureaucratic barriers. These walls make moving between obtaining a career-centric certification and a traditional degree difficult for students. Sadly, students of color and at-risk have the most to lose. Still, higher-ed leaders can take steps to bridge the gap between non-credential and credit courses to improve credentialing.