What’s Working Outside the Classroom: New Insights on What’s Really Driving Success

When we talk about student success, it’s easy to focus on the classroom. But even the most capable students can struggle if they don’t have access to basic resources like quiet study spaces, reliable Wi-Fi, group meeting areas, and academic support services.

Findings from the 2025 Student Success Impact Report reinforce a powerful truth: supplemental instruction (SI), tutoring, and writing centers aren’t just add-ons—they’re foundational to a healthy student success model. Access to physical spaces like libraries and technology hubs also play a critical role. When students have the support they need beyond academics, they’re more likely to stay engaged, persist, and graduate.

While academic mentoring and coaching continued to show strong results, this year’s analysis from our partner institutions spotlighted notable gains in two key academic support areas:

• Academic Support Programs and Centers — 5.7 percentage point (PP) lift in persistence
• Library Resources — 5.3 percentage point (PP) lift in persistence

Here’s what we found as key takeaways:

Build a More Complete Student Experience 

Supporting student success means investing in more than academics. Institutions that prioritize supplemental instruction, hands-on learning, internships, campus housing, and meaningful engagement create a more well-rounded and impactful student experience. It also means identifying barriers to persistence and putting the right support structures in place to close those gaps.

For instance, sometimes just one course can significantly influence whether a student persists or falls behind. With course-level insights, institutions can identify where students are struggling and identify the right academic support. For example, one Civitas Learning partner used Course Insights to uncover that ENGL 1301 had a high drop, fail, withdraw (DFW) rate and was negatively impacting persistence. In response, they quickly implemented targeted interventions:

• Weekly check-ins with course instructors to align support with upcoming material
• APA and writing workshops tailored to ENGL 1301 students
• Referrals to additional academic resources to strengthen foundational skills

These efforts led to an impressive 11% surge in persistence for ENG 110 within just one term.

Additionally, when students also have opportunities to apply their learning in real-world settings, it reinforces their sense of purpose and better prepares them for life after graduation. At Slippery Rock University (SRU), leaders used adaptable analytics to identify undeclared business students and connect them with career services and alumni across industries. These targeted efforts helped students explore career options, clarify their goals, and make informed academic decisions.

Create Spaces That Support the Whole Student

It shouldn’t take a dip in retention or a crisis to recognize how vital spaces, like libraries and technology hubs, are to student success. Welcoming environments, both physical and virtual, where students can ask questions, build skills, and stay connected to campus life, play a critical role in keeping students engaged and on their way to graduating.

Yet when students encounter challenges, academics are rarely the only obstacle. Non-academic—or extra-academic—such as limited internet access, family responsibilities, and work commitments often compete for their time and attention. Both online and in-person students benefit from resources like reserve books, librarian support, and reliable access to Wi-Fi and computers.

Proactive Support in Action
At Austin Community College (ACC), support starts before students even set foot on campus. Staff proactively identify potential barriers, like a lack of internet access or challenges with technology, and provide early assistance so these issues don’t interfere with academic performance.

UNC Asheville also reimagined how to support students by integrating all student data into one centralized platform with real-time insights. Using the Civitas Learning Student Impact Platform, they provide proactive support in everyday situations and can respond quickly in times of crisis.
When Hurricane Helene struck, their digital communication system allowed the team to:

• Quickly identify affected students
• Send targeted text messages
• Receive real-time responses—all within one technology hub
  

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Across all this year’s findings, one theme is clear: students thrive when they feel supported and connected. Whether through targeted academic support or inclusive campus spaces, institutions that invest in the full student experience are seeing measurable gains in persistence and long-term success.

When support extends beyond classroom walls, it builds more than academic achievement—it builds belonging, momentum toward a degree, and confidence for what comes next.

Download the 2025 Student Success Impact Report to read more about what our partner institutions uncovered in 2024.