In an effort to support students in their journey to complete higher education, Northern Arizona University (NAU) is reaching out to former students who left college without graduating. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to foster student success and empower graduates to make significant contributions to the world.
NAU participates in the Arizona Board of Regents’ AZ Comeback Initiative, a program designed to assist Arizonans with partial college credits in returning to school to complete their degrees. A substantial grant nearing $4 million from the U.S. Department of Education supports this initiative, facilitating collaboration among Arizona’s three universities to employ data-centric programs that help students graduate.
According to ABOR Chair Doug Goodyear, “Life doesn’t always follow a straight line. Many Arizonans stepped away from college to care for family, support themselves or manage the cost of school, not because they lacked the drive to finish. They’ve already done much of the hard work, and we owe it to them to make the path back as clear as possible so they can earn a degree.”
NAU’s Jacks on Track program was launched in 2022 to support former students who have completed at least 90 college credits and paused their education for two or more years. This program provides advisors who assess past coursework, identify outstanding requirements, and guide students toward graduation. Over four years, 663 students have re-enrolled, with 448 successfully graduating. This semester alone sees a record enrollment of 196 students.
As part of the AZ Comeback Initiative, NAU introduced $1,000 Comeback Awards for returning students and gathered data to enhance strategies for student success. Recognizing the diverse reasons students leave college, the initiative emphasizes personalized and comprehensive support to facilitate their return and completion of their degrees.
Christopher Mott, associate vice president in Strategic Enrollment and Marketing, noted, “College can be complicated, and students often face academic, financial, personal or wellness-related obstacles along the way. Jacks on Track creates a way for the university to reach out early, connect students with support and help them stay focused on their goals. It’s a reminder to students that they have a team of people who care about their success and are ready to help them when needed.”
For more insight, read about a military veteran who returned to complete the one class standing between him and graduation.
Former NAU students interested in completing their degrees are encouraged to reach out via email at JacksOnTrack@nau.edu.
Heidi Toth | NAU Communications
(928) 523-8737 | heidi.toth@nau.edu
Read More Here
Comments are closed.