Hobsons recently named SUNY Broome as a finalist for its 2019 Educational Advances Award for the college’s use of the Starfish Student Success Network.
SUNY Broome was recognized in the Student Success and Advising category. Since implementing the Starfish platform in 2014, the college has seen significant improvements in student success.
As part of the Starfish system, students who are struggling in a class receive notices called flags, which connect them to the resources they need. In fall 2015, 24% of students who received a flag or early alert earned a grade of C or better in their course; by fall 2017, that number had grown to 44%, thanks to the use of interventions. During the same time period, course failures dropped from 28% to 19%.
“Our faculty and staff take retention seriously and use a wide range of measures to ensure that students have the help they need to succeed in the classroom,” said SUNY Broome President Kevin E. Drumm. “Starfish truly helps bridge the gap between students and the resources they need. Congratulations to our dedicated Starfish team, and all the faculty and staff who made this award possible.”
Hobsons recognized four K-12 schools and school districts and six colleges and universities as finalists for the award, which covers three categories: College, Career and Life Readiness; Match and Fit Admission; and Student Success and Advising.
Finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges and education leaders. The winners in each category will receive a donation of $2,500 to use in continuing their efforts in helping students succeed. Runners-up will receive a donation of $1,000 each.
“When we look at the numbers, students who received alerts were more likely to stay in class and finish successfully than those who didn’t use the Starfish system. That’s because academic success is so often a team effort, relying on communication not only between instructors and students, but with advisors and mentors of all kinds,” reflected Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Francis Battisti. “As they say in Starfish: Kudos on a job well done!”
The three winners will be announced July 30 at the Hobsons Summer Institute 2019 in Marco Island, Florida. The company develops education technology solutions for both K-12 and higher education institutions.
