Student Leadership Network’s (SLN) key program is CollegeBound Initiative (CBI), a high-touch college guidance and access program that places highly trained, full-time college counselors in partnering Title I New York City high schools.
We supported SLN in extending their high-tough, near-peer coaching model into the first year of college as a preventative measure to address common challenges and better set students up for success. The CollegeJourney program focuses on four key drivers for college persistence: 1) FAFSA renewal; 2) financial planning and problem solving, 3) strategic academic advisement; and, 4) campus connection and commitment. Our support piloted the program at two CUNY campuses – Hunter College and Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). The program has since expanded to multiple CUNY campuses and shows that students in the program persist to their second year at rates 9–13% higher than comparable non-participating CBI alumni at both two- and four-year colleges.