community colleges. Partnering with Uversity, grant researchers tracked student-generated, real-time data in Schools App
San Jacinto College Case Study
My staff and I love Schools App. We find that the platform works to address student needs. Further, users active in the app are more likely to enroll year over year. Scylla Lopez, Social Media Coordinator
CHALLENGE San Jacinto College is a multi-campus community college spanning across East Houston, Texas and serving approximately 30,000 students. Community colleges typically educate non-traditional, low-income and underprepared students, and success rates are considerably lower for these students. One strategy to increase student outcomes includes improving student engagement - students' contact and communication with peers, faculty, and community - through the use of social media and mobile technology. Percentage of Students Who Joined Schools User Type
User Percentage
Active
Students who spend time on app posting and commenting
18%
Passive
Students who spend time on the app observing conversations
28%
Inactive
Students who have joined, but have not spent time on app
54%
APPROACH In Fall 2011, San Jacinto College was selected to participate in a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant-funded initiative to increase student engagement and success in community colleges. Partnering with Uversity, grant researchers tracked student-generated, real-time data in Schools App over five semesters, investigating the impact of technology on student engagement and success.
Uversity.com/Research
San Jacinto College Case Study RESULTS Higher persistence rates semester over semester Longitudinal results reveal that • active users are 11% more likely • passive users are 32% more likely to re-enroll for the next semester compared to students who never join Schools App. Student engagement soars since implementing Schools App Scylla Lopez, Social Media Coordinator, actively promotes the app at campus events such as orientation and welcome week, emphasizing how they can engage with the community anytime, anywhere from their mobile device. From Fall 2011 to Fall 2013, • student conversations increased by 333% • student time on app (in minutes) increased by 168% Students describe extensive academic and emotional support using Schools App Most students leverage Schools App as a support community to ease their transition to college as well as motivate them academically throughout the semester. Below are a few student testimonials.
The most popular part of the Schools App is the School Feed, a free-flowing format in which any student can reach out to others across the three campuses. It helps each of us realize that we're all going through the education process together.
Navigating through it [Schools App], I realized it was a world of its own where students could chat, plan meetings and discuss particular activities and events. At that moment, I didn’t feel lost. I felt a sense of belonging; a part of a community where my opinions mattered.
Uversity.com/Research
