Initiative will leverage InsideTrack coaches and engagement tools to bridge the gap between high school graduation and college start
SAN FRANCISCO AND WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 19, 2016) — InsideTrack, the student support innovator that has coached more than 1.3 million students across more than 1,600 higher education programs, announced today its partnership with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative and Better Make Room campaign to increase college access among first-generation college students.
Reach Higher and Better Make Room announced plans to provide students across the country with personalized information and encouragement about important college and financial aid resources and deadlines through an initiative called Up Next. The student support initiative was announced at the third annual White House Beating the Odds Summit, which celebrates college-bound students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education after high school.
Red tape requirements such as scheduling and financial aid can often prevent students from successfully enrolling in their first year of college. InsideTrack is helping partner institutions reach those incoming students at key moments through text messaging and mobile technology to ensure they complete college enrollment and financial aid tasks.
Through Up Next, students will receive timely messages and notifications from coaches and advisers, helping them to meet critical milestones relating to financial aid, enrollment and course registration.
“InsideTrack is proud to partner with the First Lady’s team and other student support organizations to improve access for first-generation college students,” said Brian Co, Vice President of Product and Platform Development at InsideTrack. “Communicating with students in the right way, at the right time can simplify the complex decisions and information that they have to navigate to successfully start college. The Up Next partnership will leverage innovative outreach tools and engagement pedagogy to strengthen the bridge between high school graduation and college enrollment.”
Over the past decade, InsideTrack has integrated professional coaching with social and mobile technology to empower institutions and engage students through a broad range of communication channels, including voice, video, email, text, mobile apps, and more. Their uCoach® platform is used by the company’s more than 200 coaches and student support teams at partner institutions nationwide to provide automated nudges, messaging and interactive coaching content, helping them to problem solve and develop the non-cognitive skills needed to succeed in college.
“For many college students, staying on top of academic, financial, social, and other responsibilities can be overwhelming at times. Having someone like an InsideTrack coach to support you and nudge you along can make all the difference,” said Ben Castleman, Assistant Professor of Education and Public Policy at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education and an expert on behavioral interventions in student success.
About InsideTrack
Society thrives when students succeed. Since 2001, InsideTrack has used a proven combination of coaching, analytics, consulting, and technology to unlock potential in 1 million+ students and 1,600+ academic programs. We invite you to join the leading colleges, universities, foundations, and others working with us to enhance the transformative power of higher education. Please visit us at www.insidetrack.com and follow us on Twitter @InsideTrack.
