I had the pleasure of attending a picnic with the late Jon Westling about a decade after his tenure as president of Boston University. Our conversation naturally turned to student persistence, and he shared how students who withdrew from BU overwhelmingly cited finances as the reason. Yet, he always suspected that money, while likely an issue, served as an unassailable excuse to cover up a deeper need that was going unmet by the university.

My agreement with Mr. Westling has only strengthened in the years since our paths crossed. The discussion of needs in higher education usually centers on resources (e.g., money, a computer, a car, childcare) and aptitudes (e.g., basic algebra, time management, computer skills). Rarely do we discuss how college can and must fulfill students’ psychological needs, if we expect them to persist and flourish.

Read on to learn how you can listen for the unmet needs hiding behind students’ behaviors and complaints.

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