InsideTrack

It's hard for support staff to give their all when they're stretched thin and facing constant burnout. But when campus teams get practical coaching skills and ongoing backing, the positive ripple effect reaches everyone.

Investing in your staff creates real, measurable outcomes for your institution:

⬆️ 21.4% higher retention rate for coached Pell-eligible students at The University of Utah
⬆️ 30 percentage point increase in coaching staff retention at University of Maryland Global Campus
⬆️ 14.7 percentage point bump in overall student satisfaction at Illinois Central College

See how customizable, stackable training programs can help strengthen your support model: https://www.insidetrack.org/solutions/coaching-development-training

When students start running into mid-term hurdles, it's easy for momentum to slip away. The natural response is often to throw quick fixes at the problem, but lasting progress comes down to giving campus teams the support they need to succeed.

The next issue of the Advancer newsletter breaks down how institutions are driving real, measurable outcomes on campus:

👉 Boosting re-enrollment rates (including a 6.8% average jump across 39 HBCUs)
👉 Mitigating the high cost of advisor turnover with 1:1 staff development
👉 Combining AI tools with human connection so fewer students slip through the cracks

Join our community of higher ed leaders and get these practical resources sent right to your inbox every month.

Sign up here: https://www.insidetrack.org/advancer-newsletter

Higher ed teams are facing a tough challenge: boost student enrollment and retention without burning out staff or stretching budgets past their limit. The solution isn't replacing advisors with tech — it's pairing smart tools with genuine human empathy to support learners right when they need it most.

On October 14 at 2 p.m. ET, join a live session hosted with The Chronicle of Higher Education to explore how a hybrid approach expands team capacity and drives a clear return on investment for your campus.

Speakers:
• Julia Freeland Fisher (Clayton Christensen Institute) — Moderator
• Ruth Bauer, InsideTrack
• Tony Frey, Mainstay
• Dr. Nicole Cippoletti, Union College
• Kindle Holderby, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Reserve your spot today: https://www.insidetrack.org/webinars/the-promise-of-hybrid-ai-human-student-support

Your student support staff didn't get into this meaningful work to feel overwhelmed. Yet in higher education today, staff burnout has become a rising challenge.

True institutional resilience starts with supporting the people on the front lines of student success. Equipping your team with a proven framework gives them the tools they need to navigate complex challenges without burning out.

Learn how to build internal capacity and help your staff reconnect with the purpose that drives their work every day.

🔗 Learn more about Coaching Development and Training programs: https://www.insidetrack.org/solutions/coaching-development-training

Hispanic and Latine learners represent one of the fastest-growing demographics in higher education today. For many students, earning a college degree is more than a personal milestone. It’s a shared investment that transforms entire families and communities.

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins (Sept 15 – Oct 15), we are reflecting on what it takes to help learners navigate life hurdles so they can reach graduation day.

Consider Nanci. Like millions of stopped-out learners, her path back to school required balancing work, family obligations and financial stress. Having a dedicated coach in her corner gave her the tools to break through self-doubt, stay on track and achieve her goals.

When institutions invest in high-touch, personalized coaching, the return on investment is clear:

👉 Higher term-to-term persistence and retention
👉 Lower stopout rates and recovered tuition revenue
👉 Expanded support capacity for busy campus advising teams
👉 Stronger long-term economic mobility for graduates

Read Nanci’s full story and see how intentional support creates lasting impact: https://www.insidetrack.org/learner-stories/meet-nanci

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) educate nearly 20% of all Black college graduates while representing just 3% of postsecondary institutions. That outsized impact is built on a foundation of community, culture and deep commitment to student success.

As HBCU Week begins (Sept. 13 — 19), we are sharing new data on what happens when dedicated campus teams get the added support they need to offer students personal, one-on-one coaching.

A five-year study tracking results across 39 HBCUs shows how targeted coaching helps students facing complex challenges create solutions and sustained academic momentum:

1️⃣ 2.5x higher re-enrollment rates for stopped-out students compared to national averages
2️⃣ 83.8% fall-to-spring retention for actively enrolled learners
3️⃣ 15.1% re-enrollment rate for Black men who met with a coach — a 10.8 percentage point increase over non-coached peers

Meeting students where they are delivers a double win: students earn life-changing degrees, and institutions build long-term enrollment stability and tuition recovery.

Read the full findings in the new HBCU impact report: https://www.insidetrack.org/reports/empowering-student-momentum-at-hbcus

When you're dedicated to helping learners reach their goals, having the right tools and insights matters.

The Advancer is a free monthly resource created for student supporter, and advocates who want to turn intentional support into measurable student outcomes.

In each issue, you'll find:

• Actionable coaching tips you can use right away
• Real-world learner stories and success insights
• Data-driven strategies for boosting retention and campus ROI
• Key industry trends shaping higher education and workforce development

Keep the conversation going and stay ahead of the curve. Subscribe today: https://www.insidetrack.org/advancer-newsletter

When a college student steps away from school, it's rarely because they lack the ability to succeed. More often, it's because life got heavy, costs stacked up, or they felt like they were navigating the system all on their own.

HBCUs across the country are working to reverse declining enrollment among Black male students by building deeper, more intentional support networks. In a featured article, Henri LaSane points out why basic academic advising only touches the surface. Personal coaching helps students process real-world obstacles, build confidence and keep moving toward graduation.

When institutions wrap personalized support around learners, everybody wins. Persistence rates rise, staff capacity expands and enrollment stays strong.

Explore the full story on Capital B News to see how these models are making a lasting impact:

HBCUs Are Building New Support Systems for Black Male Students The enrollment of Black men has declined for years, raising questions about what schools can do to turn the tide.