Rigor and Relief: Rebuilding Student Success in an AI-Driven World With Dr. Mitch Colver

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 resilienceFaculty feedback as rigor and supportRetention, advising and one-on-one learning relationshipsEthical and practical uses of AI in courseworkPrivacy, AI history and digital hygieneRebuilding learning systems in times of changeDr. 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.Remember to follow us on social media. You can find us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook @D2L. Check out our YouTube channel for the video version of this podcast and so much more. Please take a moment to rate, review and share the podcast, and reach out with comments and ideas for future episodes.For more content, please visit the Teaching & Learning Studio where you can listen to more podcast episodes, register for free D2L Master Classes and read articles written by educational leaders.To learn more about how D2L is transforming the way the world learns, visit our website at D2L.com  Class dismissed. Visit the Teaching & Learning Studio for more content for educators, by educators. Sign up for our newsletter today.