The Opportunity

Ivy Tech Community College is a network of 32 campuses throughout the state of Indiana. Their challenge was to cost-effectively improve persistence and on-time completion for low-income, first-generation scholarship recipients known as 21st Century Scholars. Despite their potential, the historical average retention rate for this group was less than 37%.

Coaching to close the achievement gap at Ivy Tech Community College

The Opportunity

Ivy Tech Community College is a network of 32 campuses throughout the state of Indiana. Their challenge was to cost-effectively improve persistence and on-time completion for low-income, first-generation scholarship recipients known as 21st Century Scholars. Despite their potential, the historical average retention rate for this group was less than 37%.

Coaching to close the achievement gap at Ivy Tech Community College

The Solution

Beginning in 2014, a multiyear partnership with InsideTrack delivered professional coaching to all incoming freshmen 21st Century Scholars, including tailored process improvement, professional development and 60+ hours of training for faculty and student support personnel.

Proven Results

+
77
%
improvement in two-year completion rates
+
33
%
increase in first-year retention
+
61
%
increase in credits completed

The Impact

By 2015, first-year retention rates for 21st Century Scholars improved by more than 12 percentage points – a 33% increase compared to the three-year historic average. Students also made significantly more academic progress with a 46% increase in completion of credits attempted — resulting in an average of 61% more credits completed than the previous cohort. 

Over the next seven years, the partnership thrived as InsideTrack coaches continued to work with 21st Century Scholars and expanded coaching to groups outside of the program — specifically African-American, Latinx and multi-racial students. As a result of coaching, two-year completion rates for first-generation and low-income students improved by 77%. 

InsideTrack coaches also documented student trends and feedback to identify any policies and procedures that may unnecessarily hinder student success. This information was handed off to school administrators and, as a result, issues were addressed, helping all students move forward. Once improvements like these took hold, two-year completion rates rose 45% for coached and non-coached students alike.

Ivy Tech 21st Century Scholars Fall-to-Fall Retention Rates

Ivy Tech Two-Year Completion Rates

Cohorts listed by start term

The Impact

By 2015, first-year retention rates for 21st Century Scholars improved by more than 12 percentage points – a 33% increase compared to the three-year historic average. Students also made significantly more academic progress with a 46% increase in completion of credits attempted — resulting in an average of 61% more credits completed than the previous cohort. 

Over the next seven years, the partnership thrived as InsideTrack coaches continued to work with 21st Century Scholars and expanded coaching to groups outside of the program — specifically African-American, Latinx and multi-racial students. As a result of coaching, two-year completion rates for first-generation and low-income students improved by 77%. 

InsideTrack coaches also documented student trends and feedback to identify any policies and procedures that may unnecessarily hinder student success. This information was handed off to school administrators and, as a result, issues were addressed, helping all students move forward. Once improvements like these took hold, two-year completion rates rose 45% for coached and non-coached students alike.

Ivy Tech 21st Century Scholars Fall-to-Fall Retention Rates

Ivy Tech Two-Year Completion Rates

Cohorts listed by start term

Ivy Tech is committed to expanding opportunity for all individuals, irrespective of their socioeconomic background and through scholarships and coaching, we’ve been able to level the playing field and effectively eliminate persistence gaps.

Jeff Fanter

Senior Vice President of Student Experience, Ivy Tech Community College

There’s always more that can be done, but are the things you’re doing the right things? Our partnership with InsideTrack helped us focus on the things that make the biggest difference and complement our other efforts.

Tom Coley

Former Chancellor, Ivy Tech Community College

Our partnership with InsideTrack helps provide students with the support they need to reach their full potential. The results speak for themselves as we work toward closing the achievement gap and enabling all our students to reach even greater heights.

Cory Clasemann-Ryan

Former Assistant Vice President of Student Success, Ivy Tech Community College

Download the full case to see how Ivy Tech partnered with InsideTrack to empower freshmen 21st Century Scholars to succeed.

Coaching solutions proven to advance all learners

Whether you’re looking to help students persist through completion or to improve career outcomes for job seekers and employees, our holistic coaching solutions can help you achieve meaningful outcomes.

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