The University of Illinois at Chicago integrates noncognitive assets – such as academic mindsets, learning strategies and help-seeking behaviors – into its advising practices based on research by the Office for Research on Student Success that demonstrates the importance of these factors to student academic performance and retention. Incoming students complete an inventory prematriculation to assess their noncognitive assets and growth opportunities, and based on results, advisors receive a noncognitive profile tool for each of their first-year students. Advisors utilize the profile tool to tailor support to each student’s unique needs and intervene as necessary and as early as possible on noncognitive risk factors.

The project has been supported by two grant providers, the Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, and an anonymous foundation. Consultation was provided by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. For inquiries about the project please contact Dr. Lindsey Back at lback2@uic.edu.