Federal funding for institutional transformation and sustainable impact at North Central Texas College
The Opportunity
North Central Texas College (NCTC), a community college serving 8,000 students across six campuses, knew that they wanted to level up their student support and shift their advising from a transactional to a transformational approach. And with the use of braided federal funding sources, they wanted to implement a solution that would last — not just a one-time fix, but a sustainable evolution across multiple departments. That’s when they began their partnership with InsideTrack.
The Opportunity
North Central Texas College (NCTC), a community college serving 8,000 students across six campuses, knew that they wanted to level up their student support and shift their advising from a transactional to a transformational approach. And with the use of braided federal funding sources, they wanted to implement a solution that would last — not just a one-time fix, but a sustainable evolution across multiple departments. That’s when they began their partnership with InsideTrack.
The Solution
Over the past 8+ years, NCTC has worked with InsideTrack to embed coaching methodology throughout their institution. They began with training and certification for their advisors, but they soon realized that they wanted ALL student-facing support staff across their institution to receive training in order to provide a continuity of care. The partnership has equipped staff, leadership and faculty with an evidence-based methodology — expanding coaching even into the workforce and local high schools.
The Solution
Over the past 8+ years, NCTC has worked with InsideTrack to embed coaching methodology throughout their institution. They began with training and certification for their advisors, but they soon realized that they wanted ALL student-facing support staff across their institution to receive training in order to provide a continuity of care. The partnership has equipped staff, leadership and faculty with an evidence-based methodology — expanding coaching even into the workforce and local high schools.
Proven Results
The Impact
How coaching enhanced advising
When NCTC’s advising department layered coaching into their existing processes, advisors deepened their interactions with students and moved beyond just helping them with registration. Learning about a student's goals, dreams and aspirations grounded every next step in a student’s purpose and core values, encouraging them to connect with their “why” for attending school. When students can develop the relationship between the small and sometimes difficult steps they make in school to their long-term career objectives, it builds the motivation and resilience to manage everything from distractions to substantial life challenges.
The student response
What happened when NCTC began to integrate coaching across advising and beyond? The students noticed. When asked about the impact of services available to the NCTC student community, students reported that coaching made the biggest impact on their success, even beyond financial support. For example, one student said, “It was coaching that got me through.” Additionally, the skills they developed in coaching will continue to be vital to their success beyond graduation.
Making a systemic, sustainable change
Now, after more than eight years of weaving coaching into everything they do, NCTC has become a coaching-powered institution. Every student-facing department — including admissions, financial aid, business offices and leadership across departments — has integrated coaching into their support practices, creating a consistency of care so that “any student who interacts with anyone in the institution will get the same type of support,” according to Bekah Sanchez, NCTC Student Services Grant Manager.
And this culture shift has expanded beyond NCTC, into their work with rural high school students who now have access to coaching that can help them start on a path toward a desired career. Local businesses partnering with NCTC to enhance employment opportunities for graduates have embraced coaching as well — using a holistic approach to support students even beyond graduation.
The Impact
How coaching enhanced advising
When NCTC’s advising department layered coaching into their existing processes, advisors deepened their interactions with students and moved beyond just helping them with registration. Learning about a student's goals, dreams and aspirations grounded every next step in a student’s purpose and core values, encouraging them to connect with their “why” for attending school. When students can develop the relationship between the small and sometimes difficult steps they make in school to their long-term career objectives, it builds the motivation and resilience to manage everything from distractions to substantial life challenges.
The student response
What happened when NCTC began to integrate coaching across advising and beyond? The students noticed. When asked about the impact of services available to the NCTC student community, students reported that coaching made the biggest impact on their success, even beyond financial support. For example, one student said, “It was coaching that got me through.” Additionally, the skills they developed in coaching will continue to be vital to their success beyond graduation.
Making a systemic, sustainable change
Now, after more than eight years of weaving coaching into everything they do, NCTC has become a coaching-powered institution. Every student-facing department — including admissions, financial aid, business offices and leadership across departments — has integrated coaching into their support practices, creating a consistency of care so that “any student who interacts with anyone in the institution will get the same type of support,” according to Bekah Sanchez, NCTC Student Services Grant Manager.
And this culture shift has expanded beyond NCTC, into their work with rural high school students who now have access to coaching that can help them start on a path toward a desired career. Local businesses partnering with NCTC to enhance employment opportunities for graduates have embraced coaching as well — using a holistic approach to support students even beyond graduation.
Bekah Sanchez
Student Services Grant Manager at North Central Texas College
Rani Smith
TechHire Grant participant
Read more about how a federally funded coaching program transformed the student experience at NCTC.
Coaching solutions proven to advance all learners
Whether you’re looking to help students persist through completion or to improve career outcomes for job seekers and employees, our holistic coaching solutions can help you achieve meaningful outcomes.