A Strategic Approach
Since the consolidation of Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College in January 2016, associate degree graduation rates at Perimeter College have increased by 60% as of 2018, to the highest levels in the college’s history.
Since consolidation, Georgia State officials have begun analytics tracking for Perimeter students, expanded the university’s successful Panther Retention Grant program to hundreds of students enrolled in Perimeter’s two-year programs and hired 30 advisers to help students and continue the upward trajectory. Georgia State has redirected more than $6.5 million in administrative cost-savings from the consolidation into student-focused initiatives and academic programs.
With the support of State Farm, the Learning, Income and Family Transformation (LIFT) program was created to continue improving these outcomes by combining data-driven academic advisement with scholarships, employment opportunities, leadership training and more to help students from every background stay on track for graduation. LIFT forms an integrated suite of student success programs to take students from high school to college graduation.
Two of Georgia State LIFT’s highlighted programs include:
State Farm Scholars – A scholarship, leadership and job mentoring experience for qualified Perimeter applicants.
Perimeter Academy – A three-semester, invitation-only extended learning community in which new Perimeter students learn to make the most of their college education.
Source:
GSU Office of Institutional Research
How It Works
Georgia State LIFT tracks student progress to provide the help needed to overcome a variety of educational obstacles. Progress is monitored across hundreds of indicators to identify potential issues and implement proactive solutions to keep students on track to graduation.
Once participating students earn a two-year degree, they will transition to either a four-year degree program or a career. Graduation rates for Georgia State’s minority and low-income students have more than doubled in recent years, and the university graduates students from all racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds at comparable rates.
These programs are offered in cooperation with DeKalb Public Schools and State Farm™.