North Carolina HBCU Boosts Student Persistence and Academic Outcomes Through Student Success Coaching Program

In collaboration with nonprofit InsideTrack, Johnson C. Smith University reports a 3% lift in first-year student persistence from Fall 2023 to Spring 2024 after implementing a success coaching program 

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), a private non-profit Historically Black University ranked as one of the top HBCUs in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report that serves over 1,000 students, 78% of which identify as Black or African American, today announced initial results from a new holistic student support initiative designed to boost first-year retention and persistence. Through a collaboration with national student success nonprofit InsideTrack and UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the university provided a dedicated success coach to every member of the first-year class, leading to a 3% jump in persistence among those who had a student success coach from Fall 2023 to Spring 2024.

"Despite the current challenging economic environment for higher education, HBCUs are experiencing a period of growth and renewal: a growing number of students are choosing HBCUs because of the rich educational experiences, lifelong bonds, and deep sense of community and belonging that they provide," said Dr. Valerie Kinloch, president of Johnson C. Smith University, which recently observed its 151st commencement exercises. "This work is reflective of our commitment to ensuring that students not only have the opportunity to access higher education, but also the high-touch support needed to achieve their education and career goals."

While HBCUs account for just 3% of all four-year nonprofit colleges and universities, they enroll 10% of all Black college students and produce almost 20% of all African American graduates. In the last few years, there has been a resurgence in interest from donors, prospective students, employers, and communities in HBCUs. HBCU graduates can expect to earn an additional $927,000 in their lifetime, or 56% more than they could expect to earn without a degree or certificate from an HBCU.

JCSU's student success coaching initiative is an extension of an ambitious multi-year effort designed to improve student enrollment and retention rates through a focus on creating seamless student pathways from enrollment to career entry.  

To help achieve this impressive improvement in student success and persistence among its diverse first-year class, JCSU engaged InsideTrack, whose innovative methods have been proven to increase student persistence and graduation, to provide one-on-one success coaching to all of its first-year students. The university was the first of ten campuses to receive Coaching Development & Training from InsideTrack, which will enable JCSU to build an in-house coaching program over time. The coaching partnership was made possible with support from the HBCU Transformation Project, a collaboration between UNCF (United Negro College Fund), Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), and Partnership for Education Advancement (Ed Advancement) for both public and private HBCUs.

Throughout the initial partnership, which began in June of 2023, 95% of first-year students met with a student success coach at least once, and 80% of students met with success coaches at least twice. First-year students who received success coaching also maintained strong GPAs, with 47% of freshmen engaged in coaching earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher, while 80% earned a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Six coaches were trained in the initial stage of the partnership during the summer of 2023, and four additional coaches were trained during the fall semester.

Through one-on-one meetings and multichannel outreach that meets learners where they are and when they need support, the coaching program empowers JCSU students to clarify their academic, career, and personal goals and create a plan for achieving them, as well as identify potential obstacles and ways to overcome them.

"Today's HBCU leaders are proving that these engines of economic mobility are in many ways uniquely equipped to provide the kind of highly-personalized support that their students are often seeking," said Malika Clinkscales, senior associate vice president at InsideTrack. "The program's impressive success in just its first year is a testament to the comprehensive and forward-looking approach of the JCSU leadership team."

The success coaching initiative is an extension of the university's commitment to utilizing a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to improving student outcomes. Leaders from the university are using data from a range of sources to derive a better understanding of the complex factors that influence student success.

This partnership was an extension of a long-running initiative between InsideTrack and UNCF, which is now in the third year of a multi-year, multi-campus partnership that is focused on boosting HBCU student enrollment and success through the power of coaching.

For more information on JCSU and its efforts to improve student success, visit jcsu.edu.

About InsideTrack: InsideTrack is a mission-driven nonprofit that fuels positive change by empowering and advancing all learners to achieve their educational and career goals through the transformative power of coaching. We help people get the education they need to enhance well-being, create opportunity and secure meaningful employment — ultimately facilitating economic and social mobility. Since 2001, we have served over 3.5 million learners, partnering with more than 380 institutions and organizations to directly improve enrollment, retention, completion, and career advancement – tailoring our coaching outcomes to fit the needs of our partners and the learners they support. Our coaching methodology is evidence-based and research-confirmed, supporting all types of learners at every stage of their journey — especially those who face systemic barriers to postsecondary success. We are a catalyst for transformational impact, ultimately empowering learners and the organizations who serve them. To learn more, visit www.insidetrack.org and follow us on LinkedIn @InsideTrack and X @InsideTrack.

About Johnson C. Smith University: Johnson C. Smith University is the number one private HBCU in North Carolina. Founded in 1867, JCSU is a private, close-knit, urban, historically Black university located in Charlotte, N.C. Our university's Latin motto, Sit Lux or "Let There Be Light," encourages our students, faculty and staff to shine the lights of learning and service. With a growing national reputation for integrating the liberal arts with business, the sciences and technology, JCSU offers several fields of study, including a master's degree in social work, to students from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds. The university's excellent academic programs focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global responsibility to produce students who share in the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information about JCSU, visit www.jcsu.edu or follow the university on social media sites Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

About UNCF: UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. During its 80-year existence, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion and helped more than 500,000 students not just attend college, but thrive, graduate and become leaders. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelor's degrees, 5% of master's degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste."® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

SOURCE InsideTrack