Report says students in Tennessee’s Navigate Reconnect program are more likely to gain post-secondary credentials

A new report from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) says students in Tennessee’s primary college coaching and advising program are more likely than others to gain post-secondary credentials.

According to THEC’s inaugural report on Navigate Reconnect, the state’s advising program for adults over 25, students who worked with Navigate Reconnect coaches known as “Navigators” stayed in school or completed a technical certificate or degree at higher rates (11 percentage points) than those who did not work with a Navigator.

The report noted that the program helps adult students, or “Reconnectors,” explore college options and navigate the application process. It also provides free services such as academic coaching and financial aid assistance, as well as access to child care and transportation for adult learners.

“An 11-percentage point difference is huge for Tennessee,” THEC’s Chief College Access Officer Brett Gipson said in a news release. “Every state in the nation is wrestling with how to support adult learners in their journey to reconnect with training that will enhance their careers, prepare for new jobs coming into their region, and build a brighter future for their families. Navigate Reconnect is an important tool in this fight.”

According to the report, between 33 percent and 43 percent of Reconnectors enrolled in college within one year of engaging with a Navigator. The number of new participants also surged during Spring and Summer 2020, with this cohort showing higher enrollment rates than other groups. 

The report noted that 87 percent of Reconnectors who enrolled in Tennessee institutions chose community colleges, while 6 percent enrolled in Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) and 7 percent enrolled in four-year universities.

In addition, the report said, Reconnectors showed “significantly higher persistence rates compared to other nontraditional students.” For example, analysts said, 55 percent of Reconnectors who enrolled in community colleges were still enrolled or had attained a credential two years later, compared to just 44 percent of other nontraditional students. What’s more, nearly 80 percent of Reconnectors were employed, compared to about 65 percent of other non-traditional students.

"High school students have guidance counselors, and college students have advisers. But what about people in between?” Dr. Celeste Carruthers, a Fox Distinguished Professor at BCBER and author of the report, said in a public statement. “It's challenging to think about going to college when you've been out of school for a while and you're juggling family and work. That's the population that Navigate Reconnect serves. We’re studying Navigate Reconnect because there aren't many programs like this out there, and we want to understand more about how they work.”

According to the news release about the report, Tennessee was the first state to implement such services on a statewide scale for adults.

“I witness daily how our Reconnect Navigators are looking out for adult college students: helping them find solutions, offering information and guidance, and providing encouragement and support,” said Jessica Gibson, THEC Senior Director of Adult Learner Initiatives. “We personally know their stories, their struggles, and their successes. We know how impactful our Navigators are with adult students’ trajectories and this report backs that up.”

For more information on Navigate Reconnect, visit tnreconnect.gov.