Wesleyan College: 2020–2021
Timing is everything, but there’s never a bad time to solve a problem.
Our project began with in-person sessions and quickly adapted to virtual ones as COVID-19 hit. The focus: immediately improving the performance of students on academic probation. While the pandemic changed how we met, it didn’t change the efficacy of the work.
The outcome?
A remarkable 35% increase in students achieving solid academic standing—many of whom rose to high performance levels. For some, it was literally a journey from the bottom to the top.
What Turned the Tide?
The ThinkWell–LearnWell Diagram was the key to victory. This tool helped students escape the Pseudowork Trap and find immediate academic success. That single breakthrough sparked a chain reaction: better thinking, better learning, better grades.
The Pseudowork Trap is one of the many hidden dilemmas I reveal in my book:
How to Successfully Transition Students into College: From Traps to Triumph, published by Routledge Press (available December 4, 2023).
What I Loved About This Project
My first collaboration with an all-women’s college was filled with receptiveness and enthusiasm. The students thrived—many experiencing academic life off probation for the first time.
Also: shoutout to Fountain of Juice—a favorite local spot! Great food, great fuel.
Three Lessons for Other Institutions
- Never wait for perfect conditions to act.
The leadership could have delayed the work due to the pandemic. Instead, they pushed forward and exceeded their academic and financial goals. - The difference between success and failure is often small.
These students weren’t failing—they were close to succeeding. They just needed the right tools and direction. - Address the root of the problem—not just the symptoms.
Teaching students how to learn for themselves equips them to overcome even the toughest challenges.
The Receipts
The message below shows how transformative the right strategy can be.
Using my Textbook Navigation Strategy, a probationary student—who started late—was able to turn a potential disaster into a major academic win.
