The Crisis in College Readiness, Part II
Practical solutions for student preparedness and institutional stability
Robin Capehart
Nov 25
Colleges and universities across the country face a mounting crisis. Enrollment numbers are slipping, admissions standards have been relaxed, and K-12 schools are struggling with teacher shortages. As a result, many incoming students arrive on campus less prepared for the rigors of higher education than ever before.
Institutions are under pressure to respond not only to help these students succeed, but also to ensure their own survival in an increasingly competitive landscape. To meet these challenges, many institutions are embracing practical, student-focused solutions while other are implementing trendy strategies with serious drawbacks.
The Crucial Role of Academic and Faculty Advisors
As students arrive on campus with increasingly varied levels of academic preparation, the role of academic advisors and faculty advisors has become more important than ever.
Early alert systems are now a cornerstone of student support. These systems use data from attendance, test scores, and class engagement to flag students who may be struggling, often as early as the first few weeks of the semester. When a student is identified as at risk, advisors are notified and can reach out directly to offer support and guidance. This proactive approach gives institutions more time and resources to intervene before a student falls too far behind.
The challenge is that students are entering college with a wide range of subject matter proficiency and academic skills, especially in foundational subjects like math, science, and writing. Some may need only occasional check-ins, while others require intensive, ongoing support. Academic advisors play a crucial role in assessing each student’s needs and connecting them with the right resources, whether that’s tutoring, remedial classes, or study skills workshops.
Faculty advisors are equally important. They are often the first to notice when a student is disengaged or struggling with course material. By collaborating with academic advisors and support centers, faculty can ensure that students receive coordinated, holistic assistance. This partnership between faculty, advisors, and student support teams is essential for helping students navigate academic challenges and persist toward graduation.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these systems depends on timely, personalized intervention. The earlier a student’s needs are identified, the more likely it is that targeted support will make a difference. In today’s environment, where readiness gaps are common and stakes are high, academic and faculty advisors are not just helpful, they are indispensable to student success.
Retention Initiatives
Retention is a top priority for colleges and universities responding to concerns about student preparedness. Recognizing that many students arrive on campus without the academic habits or foundational skills necessary for immediate success, institutions are investing in a suite of programs designed to support students from their first day through to graduation. These retention strategies not only help students stay enrolled but also play a critical role in promoting college readiness by providing targeted guidance, academic support, and a sense of belonging.
A central component of these efforts is the first-year experience program. These initiatives often begin even before the first semester starts, with orientation sessions that introduce students to campus resources, academic expectations, and support networks.
Once the term begins, first-year students may be grouped into learning communities or assigned dedicated advisors and peer mentors. These structures help students form connections, navigate the transition from high school to college, and develop effective study habits. By demystifying the college environment and setting clear expectations, first-year experience programs lay a foundation for academic engagement and persistence.
Supplemental instruction is another proven strategy. Colleges identify courses with historically high failure or withdrawal rates—often introductory classes in subjects like math, biology, or writing—and provide additional support outside of regular class hours.
Supplemental instruction leaders, who are often advanced undergraduates or graduate students, facilitate group study sessions, review challenging concepts, and model effective learning strategies. This approach allows students to master difficult material in a collaborative and low-pressure setting, increasing their confidence and competence.
Study groups and academic workshops further reinforce these efforts. By encouraging students to work together, share notes, and discuss complex topics, colleges foster a culture of collaboration and mutual support.
Academic workshops may focus on a range of skills, from time management and note-taking to research methods and exam preparation. These resources are often open to all students but are especially valuable for those who may have arrived less prepared for college-level work.
The overall objective of these retention initiatives is to keep more students on track to graduation, but the benefits begin much earlier. By integrating academic and social support into the first-year experience and beyond, colleges help students develop the self-efficacy, resilience, and study skills that are essential for college readiness.
As students gain early wins in their coursework and build connections with peers and mentors, they are more likely to persist through challenges, complete their degrees, and thrive in their post-college lives.
By prioritizing retention through comprehensive first-year programs, supplemental instruction, and collaborative learning opportunities, colleges create an environment where students can acclimate, build critical academic skills, and ultimately succeed regardless of their initial level of preparedness. This strategic focus on retention is a direct response to the readiness crisis and is fundamental to improving both student outcomes and institutional stability.
Expanding Career Readiness Initiatives
Career readiness has moved to the forefront of higher education’s mission, reflecting both the demands of a competitive job market and the expectations of students and families. Institutions have recognized that helping students transition smoothly from college to career is not only a measure of their effectiveness but also a compelling reason for students to enroll and persist in their studies.
To meet this need, colleges and universities are forging new partnerships with local and regional employers. These collaborations are resulting in a robust pipeline of internship, apprenticeship, and co-operative education opportunities. Students who participate in these programs gain hands-on experience and real-world skills that complement their classroom learning.
This exposure to actual workplace environments helps students build professional networks, clarify career goals, and increase their confidence as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Career centers are also evolving to become much more than job boards. Modern career services now offer personalized counseling that starts early in a student’s college journey and continues through graduation. Advisors work with students to identify career interests, develop résumés, practice interview skills, and map out pathways to meaningful employment.
Career centers host job fairs, networking events, and on-campus recruiting sessions, connecting students directly with potential employers. Alumni networks play a valuable role as well, offering mentorship, job shadowing, and informational interviews that help students learn about different professions and industries.
This comprehensive approach to career readiness is deeply motivating for students. When they see a clear connection between their coursework and future career opportunities, their engagement with academic material increases.
Knowing that what they are learning will be directly applicable to real-world challenges encourages students to persist through difficult subjects and strive for mastery. It also reassures them and their families that their investment in higher education will pay tangible dividends in the form of job prospects and professional advancement.
Ultimately, career readiness initiatives not only enhance student motivation and engagement but also boost institutional outcomes such as retention and graduation rates. By aligning academic programs with labor market needs and providing students with meaningful career preparation, colleges and universities help ensure their graduates are not just leaving with a degree, but with the skills, confidence, and connections needed to thrive in today’s workforce.
Curriculum Reform
A key strategy for addressing the crisis in college readiness is reforming curriculum to better reflect the workforce needs of the community. By aligning academic programs with real-world job requirements, colleges and universities can help ensure that students enter higher education with clearer goals, more motivation, and the foundational skills necessary to succeed in both their studies and future careers.
Colleges are actively reviewing and overhauling outdated programs that no longer serve students or employers. By phasing out degrees with limited job prospects and introducing new courses in high-demand fields such as technology, healthcare, skilled trades at community colleges, and data analytics, institutions provide students with relevant learning pathways.
This targeted approach makes the transition from high school to college more meaningful, as students can see a direct connection between their coursework and future employment opportunities.
Collaboration with local employers and community leaders is central to this process. Colleges are forming advisory boards and seeking regular feedback from industry partners to identify the skills and competencies most valued in the workforce.
Involving businesses in curriculum design ensures that students are exposed to up-to-date practices, technologies, and problem-solving methods. This direct input also helps high schools and colleges align their expectations, making it more likely that incoming students are prepared for college-level work.
Interdisciplinary programs are also playing a crucial role in improving college readiness. By blending subjects such as business and information technology or healthcare and management, these programs teach students to think critically, communicate effectively, and approach problems from multiple angles. Such skills are not only valued by employers but also help students navigate the demands of higher education itself.
Experiential learning is being embedded directly into curricula. Project-based assignments, internships, and partnerships with local organizations give students the chance to apply what they learn in practical settings. This hands-on approach helps students build confidence and competence before they even set foot in a college classroom, bridging gaps between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
By making curriculum reform a central strategy, colleges and universities can raise the bar for college readiness. Students are more likely to enroll in programs that match their interests and career goals, arrive on campus with stronger foundational skills, and persist through to graduation.
This commitment to relevant, community-focused education serves both students and the broader economy, ensuring that higher education remains a vital pathway to personal and professional success.
Technology and College Readiness
Technology is rapidly transforming the landscape of higher education, and its impact on college readiness is profound. As the academic preparedness of incoming students becomes more varied, colleges are turning to digital solutions to help both identify and address gaps in foundational skills.
Learning analytics are at the forefront of this transformation. Colleges now use sophisticated software platforms that track student engagement, performance, and progress in real time. These systems collect data from learning management systems, online quizzes, assignment submissions, and even patterns of attendance or participation.
By analyzing these data points, the software can quickly flag students who are struggling with particular concepts or falling behind in their coursework. Academic advisors and instructors are then notified, enabling timely interventions before small issues become major obstacles.
For students who may have entered college without strong study skills or a solid grounding in core subjects, these early alerts can be the difference between falling through the cracks and receiving just-in-time support.
Additionally, technology empowers students by giving them centralized access to digital resources. Colleges now maintain online portals or resource hubs where students can find a wide range of academic materials—such as e-textbooks, recorded lectures, practice problem sets, and interactive tutorials—at any time.
This is particularly beneficial for students who need to revisit foundational concepts outside of standard class hours or who benefit from a self-paced approach. Centralized digital libraries also include access to writing support, math labs, and research guides, helping students strengthen skills that are critical for college-level work.
Many institutions also integrate virtual tutoring and academic coaching into their digital platforms. Students can schedule sessions with tutors, participate in virtual study groups, or access on-demand help for challenging assignments. These services are especially valuable for students who are balancing school with work or family obligations and cannot always attend in-person support sessions.
Adaptive learning technologies are another innovative tool. These platforms personalize instruction by adjusting the difficulty and sequence of content based on a student’s responses and learning progress.
For example, if a student demonstrates gaps in algebraic reasoning, the system will provide additional practice and targeted feedback in that area. This tailored approach is particularly effective for addressing readiness gaps in math, science, and reading comprehension.
Finally, colleges are using technology to foster communication and community. Discussion boards, messaging platforms, and virtual office hours make it easy for students to reach out to faculty, advisors, and peers, ensuring that academic questions or concerns are addressed promptly. This connectivity helps students stay engaged and feel supported, even if they are studying remotely or have limited opportunities for face-to-face interaction.
Technology provides colleges with powerful tools to monitor readiness, deliver personalized support, and ensure that academic resources are accessible to all students. By leveraging these digital solutions, institutions are better equipped to help underprepared students build the skills they need for college success and to respond quickly when challenges arise.
The Reality of Online Education: A Risky Move for Colleges
In response to mounting challenges, colleges are increasingly turning to online and hybrid education, touting these flexible options as solutions for struggling students and institutions alike. The promise is appealing: students can balance work and study, rural communities gain access to higher education, and accelerated, modular courses let learners move at their own pace. However, the reality is far more complicated, especially for high-demand STEM fields like healthcare and engineering.
While online education is often presented as a panacea, it is far from a “magic bullet.” Many of the most critical and fastest-growing fields—such as nursing, laboratory sciences, and engineering—are simply not conducive to remote learning. These disciplines require hands-on experience, in-person labs, and real-time collaboration that virtual platforms cannot fully replicate.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the limitations of online instruction. Widespread remote learning led to measurable declines in student engagement and preparedness, particularly in fields that depend on practical skills and face-to-face mentorship. The quality gap between online and in-person education became impossible to ignore, with students and employers alike expressing concerns about readiness for the workforce.
Adding to the challenge, the online education marketplace is crowded and fiercely competitive. Well-resourced universities and private providers dominate, leveraging cutting-edge technology and extensive marketing budgets. Small, struggling colleges simply lack the infrastructure and scale to compete effectively in this arena. For them, shifting resources to build out online programs may be more of a gamble than a strategy.
Just because “everyone is doing it” does not mean it will work for every institution—or every student. The rush to online learning risks undermining educational quality, particularly in the very fields where rigorous, hands-on training matters most. Colleges must carefully weigh these realities as they chart their path forward, resisting the urge to follow trends at the expense of real student learning and long-term institutional stability.
And so . . .
In all these ways, colleges are working hard to adapt. The future of higher education may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: By focusing on academic rigor, student support, and operational resilience, institutions can rise to the challenge—improving outcomes for students and securing their own place in a rapidly changing world.
Capehart served as the president of two universities over a 13-year period where his institutions experienced historic enrollment increases and record fundraising. Today, he serves as a Senior Consultant for Collegiate Consulting, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Capehart primarily focuses on leadership, academic alignment with community needs, enrollment management and financial issues.