Waubonsee Community College: Illinois HSI uses Title V grant to better support Latine and adult learners
The Opportunity
As an HSI and one of the largest community colleges in Illinois, equitable degree attainment is at the forefront of Waubonsee Community College’s priorities. An opportunity that Waubonsee identified toward achieving that goal is to focus on how they serve their Hispanic population — which makes up over 31 percent of the student body — from enrollment through graduation. With the support of Title V grant funding, Waubonsee decided to embark on a journey to transform their student-support processes to be developmental and holistic — and they wanted a partner that could fuel scalable, sustainable change.
The Opportunity
As an HSI and one of the largest community colleges in Illinois, equitable degree attainment is at the forefront of Waubonsee Community College’s priorities. An opportunity that Waubonsee identified toward achieving that goal is to focus on how they serve their Hispanic population — which makes up over 31 percent of the student body — from enrollment through graduation. With the support of Title V grant funding, Waubonsee decided to embark on a journey to transform their student-support processes to be developmental and holistic — and they wanted a partner that could fuel scalable, sustainable change.
The Solution
The partnership between Waubonsee Community College and InsideTrack, which began in 2021 and will last for three years, started with a comprehensive review of student supporters' current practices, assessing for strengths and opportunities. The goal? To undergo a systemic shift that will give student supporters a stronghold on coaching to provide the best student experience possible. The program will weave coaching methodology throughout student-facing departments and includes manager training and mentoring, “train-the-trainer” certifications, and quality development to make the program truly sustainable.
The Solution
The partnership between Waubonsee Community College and InsideTrack, which began in 2021 and will last for three years, started with a comprehensive review of student supporters' current practices, assessing for strengths and opportunities. The goal? To undergo a systemic shift that will give student supporters a stronghold on coaching to provide the best student experience possible. The program will weave coaching methodology throughout student-facing departments and includes manager training and mentoring, “train-the-trainer” certifications, and quality development to make the program truly sustainable.
Proven Results
The Impact
Waubonsee Community College set out to partner with InsideTrack to build holistic, cross-departmental support for their Latine and adult learners. By doing so, they not only began closing achievement gaps, they also set their entire student body up for success. Collaborating with a trained coach who assesses their big-picture goals and connects with them authentically, students are more likely to share the real challenges that come up and be willing to work through them.
To fuel Waubonsee’s comprehensive culture shift, InsideTrack empowered student-facing staff through comprehensive coach training, as well as facilitating ongoing mentorship at the manager level. What’s more, Waubonsee staff members are being trained to observe quality interactions to help coaches build upon their skills, deepening the impact of the methodology for all in-house coaches. And by certifying five trainers and three coach observers, they will continue to fortify the program after the partnership with InsideTrack is formally complete.
The Impact
Waubonsee Community College set out to partner with InsideTrack to build holistic, cross-departmental support for their Latine and adult learners. By doing so, they not only began closing achievement gaps, they also set their entire student body up for success. Collaborating with a trained coach who assesses their big-picture goals and connects with them authentically, students are more likely to share the real challenges that come up and be willing to work through them.
To fuel Waubonsee’s comprehensive culture shift, InsideTrack empowered student-facing staff through comprehensive coach training, as well as facilitating ongoing mentorship at the manager level. What’s more, Waubonsee staff members are being trained to observe quality interactions to help coaches build upon their skills, deepening the impact of the methodology for all in-house coaches. And by certifying five trainers and three coach observers, they will continue to fortify the program after the partnership with InsideTrack is formally complete.
Dr. Stacey Randall
Executive Dean for Institutional Effectiveness and Title V Project Director, Waubonsee Community College
Waubonsee Advisor
See how Waubonsee Community College is transforming support across their student body by embedding InsideTrack coaching.
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