Student Retention
Empowering University Transitions: Connecting UNC Charlotte’s UTOP with Raftr
Discover how UNC Charlotte supported their University Transitions Opportunity Program (UTOP) with Raftr, and achieved an impressive 98% adoption rate among participants within the first six weeks, with 12% more underrepresented students graduating within 6 years than those who did not participate in the program.
151
Participants
98%
Adoption
290+
Session/User
12% Inc.
6 Year Grad Rates
Institution:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
UNC Charlotte initially sought out Raftr to help give their UTOP participants a way to connect with staff, helpful resources, and one another. Since partnering with Raftr 4 years ago, UNC Charlotte continues to experience exceptional retention rates among first year students.
Solution:
Key Features Used:
- Direct Messaging
- Resource Hub
- Insights & Analytics
Webinar
UTOP Unleashed:
UNC Charlotte’s Community Driven Approach to Underrepresented Student Retention
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) takes immense pride in its University Transitions Opportunity Program (UTOP), which is specially designed to support and empower new and underrepresented students as they embark on their academic journey.
Enter Raftr.
With a strong commitment to student success, UNC Charlotte’s UTOP program leveraged Raftr to provide comprehensive resources, mentorship, and a nurturing community to new students to encourage a smooth transition into university life.
Quick Navigation:
The Task
During the transition from high school to college, incoming students often face a range of challenges, such as adjusting to campus life, finding available resources, and building a sense of belonging – challenges that can be particularly overwhelming for underrepresented students.
UNC Charlotte’s UTOP program was designed to facilitate the successful transition of underrepresented students from high school to college, and provide incoming first year students with an early start to their college experience, offering them the opportunity to earn credit hours towards their degree and gain essential skills and support for a smoother academic journey.
It became evident there was a need to leverage technology to connect students of the program with each other, critical resources, and staff to achieve UTOP’s goals.
We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on our incredible Raftr administrator, Jahtoya Means, Program Director of UTOP, for her outstanding work as the driving force behind the program’s success.
The impact it has had on students is truly remarkable, and Raftr is proud to be UTOP’s official platform bringing this important program to light.
Jahtoya Means,
UTOP Program Director,
UNC Charlotte
Implementation
The most recent cohort (2023) under Jahtoya’s guidance had the largest participant count since the program’s inception with an impressive 151 students.
Within the first six weeks of the program, UNC Charlotte saw an outstanding 98% user adoption of Raftr, and a phenomenal 44,000+ user sessions on the Raftr platform.
This unprecedented level of engagement reflects the effectiveness of Raftr in fostering connections and providing valuable resources to UTOP students.
With the help of Raftr, the UTOP team was able to enhance their initiative by:
- Facilitating seamless connections between UTOP faculty, mentors, and peers for easier communication and collaboration
- Increasing awareness of the diverse range of campus resources, providing support, and helping students access valuable information
- Creating a more connected and successful start to academic and social experiences
Results
151
Participants
98%
User Adoption
44K+
Sessions
290+
Sessions/User
73%
Students who earned a 4.0 GPA
3.227
Average GPA of UTOP participants
Final Thoughts
This year, the UTOP program achieved a graduation milestone, with 12% more underrepresented students graduating within 6 years than those who did not participate in the program, and a 7% increase in graduation rates compared to all first-time, full-time freshmen. Additionally, UNC Charlotte saw an 87.1% retention rate of UTOP students 1 year after participating in the program – 3% higher than underrepresented students who did not participate in the program.
Notably, 110 participants (73%) earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the second summer term, contributing to an outstanding 3.7 cohort cumulative GPA, showcasing the program’s commitment to academic success.
Jahtoya Means and the UTOP program continue to make a lasting impact on the academic success and personal growth of underrepresented students. We are proud to be the technology of choice with such a transformative initiative, and we look forward to witnessing the continued success and expansion of UTOP under Jahtoya’s leadership.