Professors report incoming Gen Z students display weaker reading skills, prompting instructors to alter pedagogy and assessment to rebuild basic literacy. National surveys show reading habits have dropped markedly, forcing faculty to redesign assignments and classroom techniques to restore critical reading and comprehension. Colleges are pursuing evidence‑based interventions to lift retention and completion: a roundup of five proven strategies outlines targeted advising, intrusive support, curriculum alignment, summer‑bridge programs and data‑driven early alerts. Institutions balancing remediation with degree momentum are testing programmatic shifts to prevent learning gaps from becoming completion barriers.