Before I studied student success, I earned a PhD in evolutionary biology.
I often find myself thinking about how the two topics relate, and whether we can apply evolutionary thinking to student success challenges.
Lineages of species divide over time and give rise to descendants that resemble their forebearers but are also distinct in unique ways. To my (admittedly American) eyes, the major schools of thought on student success have evolved in the same way.
As these “lineages” have developed, so have the metrics we use to find opportunities and track progress. As you’ll see below, these metrics have become very complex over the span of just a few years. We are also in a moment of transition as we emerge from the pandemic and struggle to understand its ripple effects.
