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St. Petersburg College

Challenge

St. Petersburg College (SPC) faced a decline in the completion rates for degrees, particularly among African-American and Hispanic male students. Swim was tasked with identifying the root causes and implementing strategies to improve the student experience and completion rates.

Solution

Swim initiated the project by conducting a digital assessment and providing a marketing prospectus to SPC. The recommendations focused on enhancing the student experience, including improving social media strategies, creating interactive engagement methods, and refining the website for better usability.

Following these recommendations, Swim partnered with the Student Services department to launch "The College Experience." This strategic initiative was aimed at addressing the low completion rates, especially for underrepresented groups. Swim’s responsibilities included overseeing strategic planning, brand development, and defining value propositions for "The College Experience."

Key Actions Taken:

  • Identified and addressed contributing factors for the low utilization of student support services.

  • Re-engineered communication strategies for engaging students from inquiry to enrollment.

  • Developed a college-wide cohesive process to ensure a seamless experience for students throughout their time at SPC.

Results

The implementation of "The College Experience" resulted in significant improvements:

  • African-American male student success rates increased by 16%.

  • Hispanic male student success rates increased by 15.8%.

  • National recognition from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for SPC’s commitment to student engagement and retention.

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