S2 - E24 - Associate degree pushes (Nudges)

ASCEND Podcast

As we all know, many students start school to get a bachelor’s degree. However, as life happens, that dream can get interrupted for many students. We found that by using information gathered by our withdrawal coordinator and academic advisors, we could identify students who might be considering leaving our institution, but who are close to getting an associate's degree. Nudging them to finish their associate's degree, even though getting a bachelor's degree was their original goal, helps ensure they do not walk away from our institution empty-handed. To do this nudge, we first identified our target students. We then provided personalized outreach to these students to let them know how close they are and what needs to occur to finish up their associate's degree. During this process, academic plans should be created that are tailored to each student's unique situation, focusing on the specific courses they need to complete. Also, discovering what their current barriers are (and what can be done to remove these barriers) is critical. For example, advisors can assess the financial situation of each student and provide information about available financial aid or scholarship opportunities to ease any financial burdens that might be preventing them from graduating. Another important part is ensuring that the students have access to the necessary courses to complete their degree. The advisors need to be knowledgeable of various resources so they can connect students with relevant support services, such as tutoring, counseling, or career services, as needed.