Career centers used to be peripheral offices at most universities. A new generation of investments is transforming them into central institutions with measurable effects on student outcomes.
Withdrawal deadlines vary substantially across US universities. The differences have significant consequences for students who realize too late that a course is not working out.
Writing centers were peripheral institutions at most US universities for decades. A growing number of universities are investing in them as central pedagogical resources, with results that justify the investment.
College athletics provides genuine benefits, but the time commitment crowds out other developmental experiences. New data on athlete career outcomes reveals where the trade-offs land.
Two universities embedded tracking in their email systems to measure how quickly faculty and staff responded to student messages. The findings revealed inequities most administrators had not suspected.
Universities have used personality matching for roommates for over a decade. New evidence on what actually matters in roommate compatibility suggests most of the matching is irrelevant.
Gap years were once unusual at US universities. They are now a structured option at dozens of selective schools. Five years of outcome data shows clear effects, and a few surprises.
Universities have historically assigned faculty as primary academic advisers. A growing body of research suggests that professional advising staff often produce better outcomes for students, especially those who need the most support.
A multi-university study tracked sleep and grade outcomes for 2,200 undergraduates. The findings overturn several assumptions about how successful students manage their nights.
Universities have offered first-year seminars for decades with mixed results. A wave of redesigns starting in 2022 has finally produced clear improvements. The lessons are about structure, not content.
