Mindset, Right to Fail, and Persistence: Academic Advising in Support of Student Success

60 min – February 1, 2017 (DW73 – Season 11)
Panelists: Noelle Moreland and Vanessa Correa (Northern Virginia Community College) and Comfort Sumida (University of Hawaii at Hilo)

Research suggests that many students are entering college environments lacking skill sets that are predictive of college persistence and success. In addition, today's students often have misleading perceptions regarding their abilities and the effort required to succeed in college. There are those who feel they lack the ‘natural’ acumen to do well in a course, and others who believe they have innate ability that transcends the need to study.  When these students encounter academic difficulties, many feel lost and lack the skills needed to manage these difficulties and “bounce back.”  How do these attitudes impact students’ lives and chances of academic success, and how can they be changed?  In this 60-minute videocast presentation, Noelle Moreland and Vanessa Correa (Northern Virginia Community College) and Comfort Sumida (University of Hawaii at Hilo) explore how advisors can help these students to cope, navigate, and thrive.  They discuss:

• the idea of mindsets, as defined in the research by Stanford Professor Carol Dweck, which provides increased understanding of how an individual can be successful, regardless of their natural skillset.
• the concept of “right to fail,” how it is relevant to student success, and how it can be applicable in a wide variety of institutional settings.
• how advisors can help students define (and sometimes redefine) their notions of “success.”
• practical application intervention strategies that can increase student motivation, encourage exploration of major and career options, support students experiencing academic difficulties, and encourage academic engagement and re-engagement.