Michigan's Plan to Give Students Time to Land

The first semester of college asks students to master far more than academics alone. What if giving them a little room to land could ultimately prepare them to reach even higher? Corey Alderdice, a national voice on talent and transformation, explores the University of Michigan’s decision to cover first-semester grades for students in its largest college. Drawing on two decades of working with talented learners in demanding residential environments, he considers how the pilot might support tightly wound high achievers, first-generation students, and others learning the unwritten curriculum of college. The goal should not be permission to do less, but permission not to have everything figured out from the moment students arrive. For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com. You can also follow him on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.