Lessons from Forsyth Tech for Improving Student Success and Closing Equity Gaps

A recent case study released in June showcases Forsyth Technical Community College as a frontrunner in enhancing student success and bridging racial equity divides.

“The case study,” from the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California, chronicles the initiatives undertaken at Forsyth Tech under president Janet Spriggs’ guidance. Utilizing strategic planning, Forsyth Tech revamped the student onboarding process, leading to increased completion rates and reduced racial equity disparities.

Focused on enhancing the student journey, Spriggs emphasized the implementation of strategic adjustments in advising and support services to propel advancements in completion rates and equity bridging. Spriggs stated, “We are pleased with our achievements and are steadfast in our commitment to supporting all Forsyth Tech students.”

Upon assuming the presidency at Forsyth Tech in 2019, Spriggs encountered three-year completion rates lagging behind the national average, with only 12% of Hispanic/Latino and 6% of Black students graduating in that time frame. The case study aimed to heighten student success by transforming the onboarding, enrollment, and advising procedures through the “Student Experience of Onboarding” project.

Employing strategic planning, Forsyth Tech aligned onboarding modifications with overarching institutional objectives. Spriggs fostered a campus ethos receptive to change and data-driven decision-making, fostering support among stakeholders to implement these alterations.

In the continuum of case studies accompanying the change leadership toolkit, each instance spotlights “leader moves” conducive to systemic institutional transformation.

The Forsyth Tech case study reveals multiple pivotal actions taken by Spriggs to bolster student success, such as formulating a shared vision with defined expectations and timeline benchmarks.

Striving to cater to students’ diverse needs, Spriggs coalesced around the notion of preparing the college for the students instead of deeming students unprepared for college. This philosophy guided Forsyth Tech in restructuring student support services to proactively aid in enrollment and registration processes.

Emphasizing the significance of data-driven initiatives, Forsyth Tech expanded its data collection capabilities to monitor student performance and equity gaps effectively.

Delving into the leadership context, characterized by internal and external influencers shaping leaders’ change frameworks, Spriggs emphasized Forsyth Tech’s role as a community college dedicated to serving a broad student populace, securing faculty and staff buy-in for the project.

Identified within the case study were two levers enabling amplified change efforts: the strategic planning process and external partnerships. Leveraging these tools, Forsyth Tech collaborated with esteemed entities like the Aspen Institute, Achieving the Dream, and NACADA to validate their novel onboarding and advising strategies.

The project yielded a notable rise in Forsyth Tech’s overall completion rate to 31%. Additionally, the completion rate gap for Black students diminished by 15 percentage points, and Hispanic/Latino students now surpass white students in completion rates, signifying marked progress in equity bridging.