Leadership - A discussion of traits, characteristics, and current news of leaders.

New research shows leaders why higher education isn’t working for many students – and brain based approaches offers a response that could prevent students from dropping out.

The best jobs require at least an undergraduate degree and increasingly – employers look for at least a master degree of proficiency.

The core reason for such high drop-out rates … according to Yvonne Raley’s report in Scientific American … is a lack of student integration into the college community.

What are the economic ramifications?

1. College graduates earn close to double what a high school graduate earns in a year.
2. The gap between high school graduates and college graduate has widened considerably in the past 30 years.
3. The more selective the college … the higher percentage of graduates … with lowest graduates rates from four year public open colleges.

In spite of the gap between public and private schools – nearly one half of students drop out – even in private schools.

Interestingly – when students engaged more intelligences through immersion in clubs or activities – they fared far better. Build a community that offers meaningful connections between students, faculty, and programs – and you have a surefire offering that students with flock to and where retention is part of the package offered.

Related tips for brain based learning circles

1. Shift facts into tools for solving real world problems that interest and engage students.
2. Prevent boredom by sidestepping lectures that work against the brain.
3. Apply mind-bending research such as the call to stick a neuron in your head and laugh.
4. Ask for meaningful contributions through two footed question that draw more students onboard.
5. Improve community building tactics through regular tests for Tone IQ that promotes deep understanding and prevent alienation.

Students come to class with more than enough intelligences to gradate at the peaks – and research shows that a jump start can propel them there. That involves showing them the neuron pathways that offer dendrites for the competitive edges that attracted them to campus in the first place.

What would you suggest college leaders do to turn the statistics around in the interest of more graduations for the coming term?