Higher education faces a critical challenge in fostering not just academic success but also supporting students' personal development, resilience, and readiness for life beyond the classroom. According to EAB’s recent report on the “Student Readiness Crisis,” a majority of today’s students are arriving on campus with lower levels of resilience, time management skills, and self-efficacy than previous generations. Issues such as stress management, resilience, and interpersonal skills have taken center stage as essential for student development, yet many students arrive on campus underprepared.
The EAB report dives into the barriers facing students, revealing that over 60percent of higher education professionals observe a decline in students' socio-emotional skills and life-readiness. This deficit impacts a range of critical areas—academic performance, mental health, and interpersonal communication—which are essential for overall student success and personal growth.
The call to action for higher education institutions is clear: they must integrate skill-building into the student experience while enhancing access to mental health and wellness resources. Colleges and universities are encouraged to implement early alert systems, peer mentoring, and personalized support, and to create programs that make students feel more connected to their community. This holistic approach ensures that student growth goes beyond academics, setting them up for both personal and professional success.
Building Mental Health and Wellness Support
The readiness crisis includes a significant mental health component. The demands of modern college life can be daunting for students already grappling with mental health challenges. EAB’s findings indicate that many students experience anxiety, stress, and burnout at higher rates than previous generations, prompting colleges to prioritize mental health resources and wellness programs. However, the report underscores the need for these resources to be accessible, comprehensive, and embedded into daily campus life to have a meaningful impact.
To meet this need, institutions are encouraged to implement early alert systems that proactively identify students showing signs of distress or academic struggle. By tracking behavioral patterns and feedback from faculty and peers, institutions can intervene early, offering students the support they need before issues escalate. Peer mentorship programs also contribute positively by allowing students to connect with others who have overcome similar challenges, creating a sense of community that can alleviate feelings of isolation.
Fostering Resilience and Self-Directed Growth
A key takeaway from the EAB report is that students benefit from opportunities to build resilience and take ownership of their personal growth. The report recommends creating an environment where students are encouraged to set goals, reflect on their progress, and work through challenges with support rather than avoidance. Engaging students in experiential learning, such as internships or hands-on projects, reinforces life skills, boosts confidence, and prepares them for future careers.
EAB also emphasizes the role of structured goal-setting and self-reflection in helping students develop self-efficacy. Institutions are encouraged to introduce programs that empower students to set realistic goals, receive feedback, and adjust their strategies as they progress. This approach promotes adaptability, teaching students how to manage setbacks and persist in the face of adversity.
Advocate and CSM: A Holistic Resilience Solution
Tools like Symplicity’s Advocate and CSM align with EAB’s recommendations, offering campuses a scalable way to provide personalized support, track student progress, and intervene proactively. Each platforms make it easier for institutions to monitor students’ wellbeing and career readiness, ensuring that resources are accessible, coordinated, and responsive to individual needs. Tools like Symplicity’s Advocate and CSM provide a multifaceted approach to addressing these readiness gaps.
Advocate supports students' mental health and wellbeing by giving institutions a streamlined platform to monitor behavioral concerns and track mental health interventions. Through case management and pulse surveys, Advocate allows institutions to identify students in need of extra support early on, creating a system where students feel seen, supported, and equipped to face challenges. In fact, with Advocate Flex institutions have the capability to build custom workflows to manage cases for conduct, well-being, complaints, sexual misconduct, and more with easy reporting on key metrics and critical programs.
CSM, on the other hand, connects students with resources that build resilience and career-readiness. By focusing on career counseling and practical skill development, CSM helps students gain confidence, explore potential careers, and establish a sense of purpose and direction—all of which contribute to their personal development. The EAB report emphasizes the importance of “real-world applications” for skill-building, and CSM supports this approach by helping students secure internships, apprenticeships, and other experiential learning opportunities that reinforce life skills in professional contexts.
With such solutions, colleges can better prepare students to thrive academically, emotionally, and professionally, equipping them to succeed not just in college but well beyond. To learn more visit us at https://www.symplicity.com/higher-ed or email us at info@symplicity.com.