Partnerships between universities and nonprofit transition coaching organizations to increase student success

This study aims to understand the motivations and benefits for universities and nonprofit college access and success organizations to develop formal partnerships.

Participants in this study were staff from a major urban research university (n = 22) and four nonprofit organizations (n = 17) that promote college access and success among underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation college students. Participants engaged in an audio-recorded interview that was transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Data suggested that staff from the universities and nonprofit organizations were both holistic in their understanding of college student success. In addition, they were both motivated to form partnerships in an effort to reduce barriers to success, although they, at times, identified different barriers that they wanted the partnership to address. Both university and nonprofit staff saw increased effectiveness of their practice as a result of partnering and university staff gained a better understanding of the greater nonprofit college access and success community.

Given the intense support that nonprofit organizations are able to provide with their level of funding, partnerships with universities can increase the success of underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation college students.