What helps students persist when learning gets hard?

In this episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Emma Zone is joined by Dr. Mitch Colver, Associate Provost for Engagement and Retention at the American Public University System, for a wide-ranging conversation about student success, faculty practice and AI in higher education.

Together, they explore the idea of rigor and relief as a paired learning experience, why human connection remains the strongest driver of retention and how faculty feedback, mentoring and institutional culture shape student confidence. Mitch also shares what he learned by returning to school as a student in the age of generative AI, offering a grounded perspective on ethical AI use, digital hygiene and teaching students how to navigate ambiguity.

This episode is especially relevant for faculty, instructional designers, academic leaders and anyone thinking deeply about learning science, student wellbeing and the future of higher education.

Mitch and Emma talk about:

Productive struggle and student resilience
Faculty feedback as rigor and support
Retention, advising and one-on-one learning relationships
Ethical and practical uses of AI in coursework
Privacy, AI history and digital hygiene
Rebuilding learning systems in times of change

Dr. Mitch Colver is Associate Provost and Vice President at American Public University System. He began working in higher education in 2007, and his early experiences with students taught him to focus on the value of human diversity and human potential. As a thought leader in the field of analytics and intelligent systems, he is frequently invited to champion the idea that student success can best be fostered through increased intentionality amongst faculty, staff, and executives. Mitchell has degrees in Psychology, Music, and Experimental Research, as well as a Ph.D. emphasizing research in Higher Education. His research has appeared in Popular Science, Discover, Slate, Smithsonian, New York Magazine and internationally on Radio BBC.

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Class dismissed.

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