At Texarkana College, an institution Achieving the Dream recognized as a Leader College, 70% of students identify as first generation learners. The institution wanted to better support student success, particularly its first generation students, through a comprehensive Online Orientation Program. The goal was to create a holistic resource that centralized content for incoming students, while making students feel warmly welcomed.

To address these challenges, Texarkana College implemented a reimagined online orientation platform, creating a one-stop hub that delivered measurable benefits:

• The new platform offered all orientation content in one place, with an intuitive interface that clarified the process for students. This centralized approach reduced confusion and made it easier for students to navigate their college journey.
• Features like progress tracking with certificates and green checkmarks empowered students to visualize their achievements. For practitioners, the ability to monitor student progress reduced the uncertainty of onboarding and ensured no student was left behind.
• By creating a secure and straightforward system, Texarkana College alleviated the fears associated with starting college, making the process less daunting for first-generation students. This enhanced support fostered confidence and connection for students.

Using their new system, Texarkana reached an 84% completion rate for orientation, a significant improvement from their previous untracked system. The use of StudentLingo’s on-demand workshops and the comprehensive Go2Orientation platform has allowed Texarkana College to provide vital resources 24/7, meeting the diverse schedules and needs of their student body. This approach not only increased student engagement but also supported Texarkana College’s goal of providing equitable access and fostering a sense of belonging for all students, especially those who are first-generation or face barriers such as lack of technology access at home.