After their first semester, many college students are not failing, in crisis, or visibly disengaged. Instead, they describe themselves as “fine,” “okay,” or “getting by.” Emerging national research suggests this neutral sentiment may be one of the strongest early indicators of long-term retention risk, especially among students who appear academically stable and never trigger alerts.
In this GenZtressed webinar, Joshua Bay, Student Success Reporter from Inside Higher Ed, leads higher education leaders in a candid conversation about what students are quietly experiencing beneath the surface. Drawing on new data and institutional insight, the panel explores how early erosion in belonging, emotional capacity, and sense of direction often precedes the “murky middle.”
Participants examine why traditional success metrics miss this population and what proactive, scalable strategies can help institutions identify and support students before disengagement escalates, reshaping persistence, wellbeing, and success outcomes.
Moderator: Joshua Bay, Reporter, Student Success, Inside Higher Ed
Panelists:
- Dr. Leroy A. Durant, Vice President for Student Development and Services, Claflin University
- Karen McGregor, Executive Director of Student Success, Purdue University Global
