Design academic support students will actually use

I didn’t set foot in my university’s tutoring center until junior year—and only because my Organic Chemistry professor offered extra credit for it. Like a lot of students, I didn’t think I was struggling enough to justify tutoring (though the fact that I was chasing extra credit probably should’ve been a clue). And as a transfer student, I wasn’t even sure where to go or how it worked.

I know now that my experience wasn’t unique, and years later, it still reflects the large disconnect between the support institutions offer and how students actually engage with it. In a recent episode of EAB’s Office Hours podcast, Ed Venit and Knack CEO Samyr Qureshi explored where current academic support models sometimes fall short and how institutions can rethink tutoring to meet students where they are. Below, I unpack their conversation about how technology can help campuses build support models students actually use.

Today, expanding access to academic support is vital

Students are arriving on campus less academically prepared than in years past. EAB’s latest research on the student readiness crisis found that among incoming college freshmen, two-thirds aren’t reading at grade level, math scores are at a 14-year low, and only one in three high school seniors meet college readiness benchmarks in core subjects. Faculty are seeing the effects firsthand in the form of extension requests, missed assignments, and growing classroom disengagement. This isn’t just a student problem, it’s an institutional one: if you want to keep students enrolled and on track, tutoring can’t be treated as a last resort. It needs to be accessible from day one and embedded proactively into the student experience.

Learn How Two EAB Partners Are Expanding Access to Academic Support

How technology expands access to tutoring

Qureshi and Venit’s conversation made it clear that the next generation of tutoring can’t be tied to a physical center or a 9-to-5 schedule. Platforms like Knack are reshaping how support is delivered, removing friction and helping students get help when, where, and how they need it. By combining a peer-to-peer model with on-demand technology, Knack helps institutions scale academic support without overextending staff.

“Campuses already spend heavily on academic support,” Qureshi noted. “We help them make that investment go further.”

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

On-demand access fits students’ lives

Students can book sessions online or in person, often at night or on weekends, and access tutoring through platforms they already use like the LMS or Navigate360. The easier tutoring is to access, the more impact it has.

Students who engaged weekly with Knack tutoring at the University of Florida had grades that on average were 18.5% higher than students who did not engage with Knack.

Course coverage goes beyond the basics

By filling in where traditional centers leave off, technology helps campuses offer support in more courses, especially upper-level and niche ones. By using Knack to match students with qualified peer tutors from their own campus, regardless of course size or subject, institutions bypass the staffing and scheduling limitations that often restrict traditional tutoring centers. With a larger tutoring pool and flexible session formats, institutions can offer help with a broader range of courses without needing to hire additional staff.

Tutors build skills while supporting their peers

Knack hires high-achieving students from the institution’s own campus and manages onboarding, training, and scheduling. Tutors are paid directly by the institution, not out of students’ pockets, and gain valuable experience in leadership, communication, and time management—skills that directly address the gaps nearly 40% of new graduates say they face when entering the workforce.

Peer tutors reduce stigma and increase a student’s sense of belonging

Students are more likely to seek help when it comes from a peer: someone who understands their experience and makes tutoring feel less intimidating. That comfort opens the door to deeper connection. Many Knack sessions grow into broader conversations about classes, clubs, and career goals, helping students feel more at home on campus.

Real-time data helps leaders make smarter decisions

Knack’s centralized dashboard shows who’s using tutoring, when, and for which courses—so schools can see where support is working and where it’s missing. This helps leaders improve not just peer tutoring, but also traditional support services by filling coverage gaps, adjusting hours, and focusing resources where students need them most. With better data, institutions can make tutoring more effective and accessible for everyone.

Peer tutoring can fill critical gaps in supporting today’s students

I avoided the tutoring center for my first two years of college. Unfortunately, my experience is still being repeated on campuses everywhere: too many students are opting out, not because they don’t need help but because what’s currently offered doesn’t match how they live, learn, or ask for support. A student-led tutoring model can help scale up your academic support infrastructure and reach more students before they fall behind.