Case Study
Removing Barriers to Student Success
Paritii partnered with five institutions and the EdTech vendors that support them as part of a consortium dedicated to overcoming obstacles that hinder effective advising solutions in lower-resourced institutions. As a strategic learning partner, Paritii facilitated the assessment of advising challenges, guided the implementation of data-driven interventions, and worked collaboratively to refine technology solutions that enhance student support and success.

Problem

Post-secondary institutions, particularly those with limited resources, often struggle to equip advisors with comprehensive student data needed to support student success effectively. A key challenge is the fragmented and inefficient prospect-to-enrollment process, which disproportionately affects student retention and enrollment rates. This issue is compounded by an EdTech market dominated by "point solutions"—specialized tools designed for specific student populations or administrative offices. These solutions frequently lack integration and interoperability, making it difficult for institutions to adopt holistic, student-centered advising systems that address broader institutional needs.

Solution

Five EdTech vendor/institution pairs collaborated to identify and test innovative solutions that help lower-resourced post-secondary institutions enhance advising support and streamline the student journey from enrollment to graduation. Paritii served as a strategic learning partner, guiding project leaders in refining their initiatives to create more effective and impactful student support systems. In this role, we:

  • Formulated actionable recommendations based on five foundational orientations for responsible and student-centered advising.
  • Developed an eight-domain framework for system transformation at post-secondary institutions.
  • Delivered customized alignment roadmaps and critical paths tailored to each project's unique context, resources, and goals.
  • Provided strategic guidance through consultation sessions, orientation materials, and structured listening and exploration meetings.
  • Identified five key themes that emerged across projects, highlighting shared challenges and opportunities.
  • Facilitated a final convening session to showcase progress, insights, and best practices from the demonstration projects.

Impact

The demonstration projects contributed significantly to advancing the advising and student technology ecosystem. By identifying and testing viable improvements in advising technology and processes, the initiative helped institutions document key learnings and share them with field stakeholders. Project participants gained valuable insights into responsible technology solutions, practical strategies for enhancing student support, and actionable steps to embed in their ongoing efforts. EdTech providers also benefited from a clearer understanding of how to enhance their platforms for greater impact. Additionally, this initiative introduced a new model for collaborative problem-solving, fostering stronger partnerships between vendors and institutions to drive meaningful change in student advising solutions.

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