College administrators, leaders, faculty, and staff are faced with a major challenge: declining enrollment. As a result, colleges are closing, and others are struggling to remain open. This environment has caused colleges to look at enrollment differently and think about ways to impact it in a strategic and effective manner.

One of the most effective ways to strategically approach enrollment management is to identify ways to grow student population. Two ways to accomplish this is through improving the number of new enrollments who start classes (start rate) and through improving persistence rates for all students. American College of Education (ACE) has averaged approximately 14% enrollment growth rates over the past four years. One of the main ways ACE has accomplished this is through reducing the percentage of students who enroll and do not start classes and through increasing persistence (term-to-term retention) rates.

Where many strategic initiatives have helped ACE grow, the improvements in start rate and persistence can be attributed to the implementation of the Student Success Coach model. ACE introduced the Student Success Coach model in mid-2017 and since that time, ACE has experienced a 4% increase in the number of new enrollments who start classes and an approximate 2% increase in persistence rates. In this model, the Student Success Coach cultivates and maintains a personal relationship with students from time of admission until graduation. The Student Success Coach uses data and technology resources to identify and support at-risk students.

This presentation explores the key components of the Student Success Coach model. Attendees of the session will receive a “blueprint” of this model and will leave with tangible steps on how to implement this model at their institution. To accomplish this, four specific areas will be explored.

First, this presentation will discuss who a Student Success Coach is through exploring the job description and attributes associated with a successful Student Success Coach. Second, the session will talk about how a student success coach is assigned during the enrollment process using graduation teams and how Student Success Coaches connect immediately with their students to form a personal connection. Third, the session will address the tools used to support the Student Success Coach model, so it is scalable. These tools include a data-driven early warning alert system for at-risk students, reports used to monitor engagement activities before starting classes, and self-service resources available to students via the learning management system (LMS). These resources include “virtual” toolboxes, a writing center, online tutoring, and a self-paced orientation. Finally, the session will explore how the Student Success Coach model works in tandem with faculty through discussing faculty expectations and engagement.

Submission ID:

7727

Presenter(s):

Stephanie Hinshaw American College of Education

Bob Ernst American College of Education