Building Bridges Between 2-Year and 4-Year Institutions

Improve academic outcomes and support seamless educational transitions through peer tutoring.

Knack partners with dozens of 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education to increase engagement with course-specific peer tutoring. Now, you can enable students at your 2-year institution to connect with relevant peer tutors from neighboring universities, creating cross-institutional peer learning communities.

The Vital Role of Community Colleges

At Knack, we believe community colleges are essential gateways to higher education, especially for students from underrepresented and non-traditional backgrounds. Yet, the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings reports that fewer than 40% of these students earn a degree or certificate within six years, and only about 33% successfully transfer to a four-year institution.

This gap underscores the critical need for robust peer support systems. By providing personalized, peer tutoring, Knack is committed to transforming these statistics, helping more students complete their degrees and successfully transfer to four-year institutions. Join us in transforming student outcomes and unlocking the full potential of community colleges!

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PARTNER SUCCESS STORY

How Hillsborough Community College Strengthened Pathways for Transfer Students

Knack partnered with HCC’s FUSE program, an initiative to create a seamless pathway for students transferring from Hillsborough Community College (HCC) to the University of South Florida (USF). Through this partnership, HCC students were connected with USF peer tutors to provide free access to course-specific tutoring.

Knack’s peer-to-peer tutoring was a perfect fit for FUSE. The peer tutor not only coaches mastery of the course, but connects the courses to degree completion and transfer in a way that makes sense to the tutee. Knack continues forward at USF, in which the bond with HCC is further cemented. The peer tutors present a new way of ‘giving back’ to their peers, and their alma mater, while earning money and enhancing their own career readiness.

Dr. Paul Nagy
Vice President for Strategic Planning and Analysis, Hillsborough Community College

Comprehensive Support For Your Students

Ensure no student is left unserved by working with Knack to build upon your existing learning support foundation. Connect students with peers who have successfully navigated the exact course or a similar course at a neighboring institution. Professional tutors are made available to fill in gaps that can’t be met by peer tutors.

Exact Match Peer Tutoring

Students can connect with peers who have successfully navigated their exact course at their institution.

Close Match Peer Tutoring

Students can connect with peers from their associated 4-year institutions who have taken similar courses.

General Subject Matter Experts

Finally, students have 24/7 access to on-demand and asynchronous support from our network of professional tutors.

Building Foundations for Success

By connecting students from 2-year institutions with peer tutors who are currently attending neighboring 4-year universities, we can not only improve academic outcomes, persistence, and graduation, but also empower more students to believe in their ability to continue their education after earning their 2-year degree and reduce transfer shock for those who choose to do so.

Improve Academic Outcomes

Peer tutors offer targeted help in tough courses, aiding students in understanding complex concepts, improving grades, and building a solid academic foundation. This support boosts current course success, promotes better study habits, and prepares students for more challenging academic environments.

Reduce Transfer Shock

Transferring from a 2-year to a 4-year institution can cause transfer shock, impacting academics and social life. Peer tutors at associated 4-year institutions can share experiences, offer advice, and help manage the new workload and social environment, easing anxiety and ensuring a smoother transition.

Support Continued Education

Seeing tutors who have transitioned to 4-year institutions inspires 2-year students to believe in their success. This motivation encourages them to set higher goals, pursue bachelor’s degrees, and consider advanced studies. Peer tutoring supports immediate academic needs and inspires students to aim for a brighter future.