Connect to Succeed
Academic Success Through Intensive Engagement
About the Program
Connect to Succeed is Blue Ridge Community College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), aimed at reducing DFW (D, F, Withdrawal) rates and improving retention in five high-risk gateway courses: BIO 101, BIO 141, CHM 111, MTH 154, and MTH 161.
This five-year initiative combines personalized support and academic engagement to help students succeed through the use of Engagement Coaches and faculty-led Supplemental Instruction.
In the Connect to Succeed QEP, mid-semester intervention tactics are triggered by specific indicators of academic distress, identified primarily through the proactive monitoring efforts of Engagement Coaches (ECs) and faculty. These triggers allow the team to implement timely support before students reach a point of failure or withdrawal.
Key Strategies
Engagement Coaches (ECs)
Engagement Coaches track student performance using tools like EAB Navigate and Canvas, offer one-on-one coaching, and connect students to campus resources. They collaborate closely with faculty to implement timely academic interventions.
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Faculty-led sessions reinforce course concepts through collaborative, active learning. SI is available to all students in the gateway courses and is promoted through an incentive program and Engagement Coach intervention.
Assessment & Success Metrics
- Decrease in DFW rates in gateway courses
- Improved course retention and early assessment performance
- Increased student-faculty interaction and engagement
- Reduction in high-alert academic cases
- Feedback from student surveys, CCSSE, and SENSE
Resources
Download the full QEP (PDF) for detailed information.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact:
QEP Co-Directors:
Dr. Rebecca Evans Evansr@brcc.edu
Faison Nuckolls Nuckolls@brcc.edu