Moving the Needle: Student Success & Retention Program

Moving the Needle (MTN) is a partnership that engages your campus community in developing and implementing inclusive student success and retention outcomes. MTN ignites a sustainable culture transformation, improves student retention and graduation rates, and increases net revenue.

Focused on students, partnership, and community, MTN is delivered through a performance-based partnership. By completing this project, 100% of MTN partners experience continued increases in retention and graduation rates.

100%

MTN partners experienced continued increases in first-time full-time fall-to-fall retention after 5 years.

+1.3%

On average, percentage point increase for first-time full-time retention between the 1st and 2nd year of MTN participation.

100%

Partner institutions had increases in first-time full-time 4-year graduation rates after completing MTN.

+6%

On average, percentage point increase for 4-year graduation rate.

$2.3M

Average new annual tuition revenue generated by improved retention at the 5th year for partner institutions.

"Partnering with Credo allowed us to create effective cross-institutional success initiative teams and drive very real and important change for student success on our campus. We would not have moved as quickly and comprehensively without the Credo partnership."
Suzanne Blum Malley, PH.D. Provost, Methodist University

"Our team spent a long time discerning if MTN was the right thing, but don't wait. Now is the time. We owe it to our students to truly improve their experiences and provide opportunities to thrive."
Deanne H. D'Emilio, J.D President, Gwynedd Mercy University

"Credo helped us think about integrating student success and retention into everything we do; it's not work on top. Changing the culture and seeing the faculty and staff working together was new to the institution and the Moving the Needle journey with Credo helped us get to where we are today with openness and collaboration."
Dr. Lori Werth Provost, University of Pikeville

Program Features

Two-Year Project

Credo is committed to sustained culture change on your campus. Together we build and deliver on a strategic plan for student success tailored to your unique campus culture.

MTN Collaborative©

MTN invests in Talent Development, offering professional development through our Student Success Leadership Series, Learning Workshops, and Learning Communities.

Data-Informed Practices

We work with your campus to achieve accurate, accessible, and actionable data, all while building a data-informed culture through targeted interventions, persistence campaigns, data summits, and more. With MTN, campuses get the most useful data and support to enhance student outcomes.

Performance-Based Partnership

We design the partnership to yield a return on your investment! Credo is only fully compensated for our work when the needle moves from increased revenue from retained students.

The MTN Collaborative©

MTN Collaborative^© is a space for shared learning among Moving The Needle partner campuses. Each phase of the project comes with training, support, and professional development, all delivered through a collaborative model.

Talent Development

Available for Moving the Needle partnership campuses, the program builds personal leadership awareness and abilities, sets research-informed context for how students thrive in college, and exposes participants to the current realities and opportunities of higher education.

More About Talent Development ->
Learning Workshops
Credo’s Moving the Needle Learning Workshops are a component of the MTN Collaborative, a space for shared learning among MTN campuses. The goal of MTN Learning Workshops is to share knowledge, resources, and highlight best practices for student success.

As a result of participating in learning workshops, attendees will:
1. Learn solutions/strategies for a real-time issue in student success.
2. Be empowered to implement discussed solutions/strategies on their campus to improve the student experience and increase student retention.
These virtual workshops are open to all who work at our MTN campuses.

Recent MTN Learning Workshop Topics

June 2023 Pop-up Learning Workshop - Maximizing Retention Over the Summer

September 2023 Learning Workshop - Student Success Leadership: Managing Up, Managing Through, Managing Self

October 2023 Learning Workshop - Data Drives Retention: How to Use Data to Maximize Student Success

November 2023 Learning Workshop - Minimizing Melt, Maximizing Success

December 2023 Learning Workshop - Building Collaborative Clearance Partnerships

January 2024 Learning Workshop - Supporting Student-Athlete Success
Annual Learning Summit

For Project Leaders, Project Managers, and Student Success Champions from
all phases of MTN, this annual event will take place virtually on May 15, 2024.

Our topic is Meaning-making In Advising to Support Student Thriving with Dr. Laurie Schreiner.
Learning Communities

For Student Success Champions in Phase 2 of MTN, groups of campuses join together to build excitement and dialogue about wins and opportunities related to student thriving and retention.

Pharos Resources: Our Partners in Retention Intelligence through Technology

Through Moving the Needle, Credo will explore your retention and intervention strategies, systems, and processes. For campuses seeking additional support for their student success work through targeted technology, our partner, Pharos Resources, delivers proven outcomes in their ability to test, measure, and adjust retention strategies.

While not formally embedded in the project, Pharos Resources is strategically aligned with MTN and available for consideration.

Pharos Resources goes the extra mile to provide excellence in service and technology.

Student Success & Retention Team

Our team is our greatest resource. Each client project is connected intentionally with thoughtful professionals who utilize their combined experience in leadership, student success, advising, strategy, and client engagement to positively impact learning communities, delivering the highest level of integrity and service. Learn more about our dedicated team here.