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How York Technical College Improved Grad Rate with TechEnabled Academic Planning and Streamlined Onboarding
York Technical College
About
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The Challenge
Faced with several years of stagnant persistence and completion rates, York Tech undertook a large-scale approach to improving student success utilizing a Guided Pathways framework. They focused on addressing their fragmented onboarding process and inconsistent advising experience that failed to provide adequate support to undecided students, a population with higher attrition.
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The Solution
York Tech partnered with EAB in 2017 and launched Navigate to empower and better guide students inside and outside the classroom. York Tech leveraged Navigate’s Academic Planning module to help students craft better plans. They also streamlined onboarding, implementing the Navigate Student app to engage students in their first year.
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The Results
The implementation of various improvement efforts to onboarding, major exploration and pathways, and academic planning in conjunction with other initiatives contributed to a 4.4% increase in the overall graduation rate across two years, as well as $1.39M in preserved tuition revenue.
Impact Highlights
4.4%
Increase in overall graduation rate in two years$1.39M
Estimated preserved tuition revenue from reenrolled studentsAcademic Planning Helps Students Maintain Momentum Toward Completion
Students Who Create Plans in Navigate Are More Than Twice as Likely to Reenroll
Navigate’s Academic Planning allows students to set a graduation goal, plan courses for each term, and collaborate with their advisor in a shared workspace
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Engaging Students
Students learn about Navigate’s Academic Planning during Orientation and receive push reminders to create a plan
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Engaging Advisors
The Advising Center leads trainings to teach advisors how to help students understand, craft, refine their academic plans
Fall-to-Spring Reenrollment Rate With and Without Academic Plans
91% – Students Who Created An Academic Plan In Navigate
41% – Students Who Didn’t Create An Academic Plan In Navigate
665 – Students who may not have reenrolled without a Navigate Academic Plan
$1.39M+ – Estimated preserved tuition revenue from reenrolled students
Navigate Improves Onboarding and for Undecided Students
BEFORE: Fragmented Process
- Undecided students filled out a confusing application that did not include options for exploring or finding a potential major
- All undecided students were tagged as general Associate of Arts seekers in the computer system, but staff couldn’t determine which students were truly seeking this degree and which were undecided
- Some students were referred to a counselor or advisor, but this wasn’t consistent for all students
AFTER: New Streamlined Process
- Student indicates potential meta-major of interest on the application, even if undecided
- Student accesses Navigate, which provides a clear list of next steps for enrollment
- Student’s FAFSA and high school transcript accessible through the Navigate Student Profile
- Admissions initiates contact in Navigate, using meta-major of interest to help students register
Addition of New Course Improves Major Exploration
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Direction
A new College 101-course section specifically for undecided students provides dedicated support as they transition to college and find their path
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A Plan
Student Success leadership added Navigate’s Program Explorer into the College 101 curriculum to help students identify programs and careers of interest
Grad Rate Up 4.4%, with Notable Increases in Course Completion Rates
Fall-to-Spring Reenrollment Rate With and Without Academic Plans
Key Outcomes Are at Their Highest in York Tech History
- 97%
Post-completion job placement rate - 66%
Fall-to-Fall persistence rate - 75.2%
Overall course pass rate - 18%
Graduation rate - $125K
Additional revenue from various initiatives to improve completion
"Navigate is entwined in both the classroom and structural changes we’ve made. It is the primary mechanism by which we will truly accomplish a streamlined, Guided Pathways approach for our students.
"Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affair, York Technical College