BOSTON - May 14, 2021 - There are many reasons why students don't succeed. The factors that the public often blames for this -- academic unpreparedness and disengagement among students and misplaced priorities among faculty -- however, turn out to be far less important than non-academic factors. These include cost, including opportunity costs, competing demands on students' time, wasted credits (when students transfer or shift majors), various life issues, and a lack of a sense of belonging.

Lynn Bentley, President of Knobull announced, "Our research shows that there are common sense student success strategies that can make a big difference in the success achieved by many students."

The simplest way to reduce higher education's cost is to accelerate time to completion. Certainly not all students can take a full course load. But facilitating earlier graduation can greatly cut the total cost of enrollment. Improved course availability can be a way to overcome this challenge.

At a time when nearly 40 percent of students transfer, it is imperative to reduce the number of lost credit hours and ensure that these students develop a genuine connection to the institution, its faculty, and its departments. A sense of belonging turns out to be among the factors most closely correlated with student success.

Bentley continued, "A skills and mastery focus that utilizes performance- and project-based assessments to evaluate and validate student learning is critical. We promote the next generation online learning opportunities that emphasize Instructor presence, offer multimedia content, simulations, interaction with other students, and regular, substantive feedback. Our Message Board facilitates these techniques."

At institutions where most students possess several risk factors, the challenge is to deliver support services at scale. Strategies that work include:

▪ Working with faculty to identify students at risk of failure.

▪ Incorporating time management and study skills strategies into lower division courses.

▪ Reaching out to students who shift majors or transfer in.

▪ Creating one-stop access assistance with finances, registration, and other support services.

A key to persistence lies in students' perception that their courses have a clear value proposition. Knobull provides exposure to labor market realities and career options which encourage students to persist and help them construct a realistic path forward toward a fulfilling career.

Bentley concluded, "Student success isn't a mission impossible. It's a moral and political imperative. Institutions may not be able to address every barrier to graduation, but colleges and universities have a responsibility to tackle those matters they can control. We continue to provide support programs to help overcome existing barriers!"