The Student Success Strategy We're Still Overlooking, with Peter Felten

What helps students feel like they belong and thrive in higher education? For the Season 5 premiere of Teach & Learn, Dr. Cristi Ford, Chief Learning Officer at D2L, is joined by Peter Felten, Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University, for a conversation about one of the most overlooked drivers of student success: meaningful relationships. Drawing on years of research and interviews with hundreds of students, Peter explains why transformational learning experiences are rooted not only in curriculum and content, but also in human connection. Together, Cristi and Peter explore what distinguishes transactional experiences from transformational ones, why students need a sense of belonging at every stage of their educational journey, and how institutions can intentionally foster relationship-rich learning environments. This episode is especially relevant for faculty, instructional designers, academic leaders and anyone interested in student engagement, belonging and success. Peter and Cristi talk about: Relationship-rich education and student success The difference between transactional and transformational learning Creating a culture of "relentless welcome" Mentorship, peer relationships and support networks Designing learning experiences that foster connection Building institutional cultures where students feel seen, challenged and supported Peter Felten is Assistant Provost for Teaching and Learning, Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Learning, and Professor of History at Elon University. An internationally recognized scholar of teaching and learning, his work focuses on student engagement, flourishing, belonging and relationship-rich education. He is the author and co-author of numerous books and articles on improving the student experience and advancing meaningful learning in higher education. 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 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, 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 D2L.com. Class dismissed. Visit the Teaching & Learning Studio for more content for educators, by educators. Sign up for our newsletter today.