Stay the Course study

Stay the Course is intended to help students overcome individual barriers to completing their community college program by offering comprehensive case management services through a social service agency. Each student in the program is paired with a social worker who offers mentoring, coaching, and referrals to other supports both within and outside the college. These services are more intensive than what community college academic counselors typically provide. In addition, the program provides emergency financial aid that helps students with short-term, non-academic expenses that might affect college success, such as the need for a car repair.
Featured study. Evans and colleagues (2017) conducted a study that examined the initial effects of Stay the Course on college enrollment, credit hours earned, GPA, and degree attainment. Students were randomly assigned to receive either the Stay the Course program, emergency financial assistance only, or business as usual support. Outcomes were assessed after two, four, and six semesters.
Study findings. The study found that the Stay the Course intervention did not have statistically significant positive impacts on outcomes for the full sample. There were, however, statistically significant impacts among female students on college enrollment and degree attainment after six semesters. The lack of statistically significant findings may be attributable to take-up rates: Among the 430 students assigned to Stay the Course, only 94 enrolled in the program.
WWC study rating. The study used a randomized controlled trial design and meets WWC standards without reservations. Access the full study review here, in the WWC’s review of individual studies database.