In the last issue of Academic Leader, I discussed the reasons student retention is important to colleges and universities and to the institutional individuals who are responsible for assuring that the issue is addressed. In this article, I present an outline of specific campus-level programs that have proven or have strong potential to be efficacious in increasing retention and other performance metrics of success (e.g., GPA) at an urban, public campus.

Ted Lasso’s Playbook for Academic Leadership: Rethinking Performance Reviews
The Emmy-winning Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso (2020–) has captured hearts with its charm, but it also offered a masterclass in leadership. Ted’s approach—rooted in humility, emotional intelligence, and belief