A recent study shows Tennessee's Navigate Reconnect, the state’s principal college coaching program for adults over 25, is making significant strides in increasing college enrollment and completion. According to the inaugural report released by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), adult students who engage with a Navigate Reconnect coach see their educational outcomes improve substantially compared to those who go it alone. Among the findings, there's an 11 percentage point difference in the rate at which these students remain in school or complete a technical certificate or degree, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
The program, designed to assist adults and termed “Reconnectors,” offers comprehensive support, including academic coaching, financial aid assistance, and resources like childcare and transportation. Brett Gipson, Chief College Access Officer at THEC, emphasized the success of the program: “An 11-percentage point difference is huge for Tennessee. Navigate Reconnect is an important tool in this fight," he told THEC. With around two-thirds of participants being female and more likely to come from lower-income households, the program appears to be reaching a demographic reflective of a diverse student population.
Data further indicates that between 33% and 43% of Reconnectors enrolled in college within a year of working with a Navigator, showcasing the traction gained particularly during the Spring and Summer of 2020. Notably, these students gravitated towards community colleges, with 87% of those who enrolled in Tennessee institutions choosing this path. Indeed, completion rates for those who chose community colleges and remained enrolled or attained a credential within two years were 55%, markedly higher than the 44% observed for other nontraditional students.
A further testament to Navigate Reconnect's efficacy, 78% of Reconnectors were employed upon enrollment, outpacing the employment rates of other nontraditional students by 13 percentage points. The report, penned by Dr. Celeste Carruthers of the Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research, also notes that the program supports a cosmopolitan mix of adult learners across various demographics, including gender, race, ethnicity, and income.
