$1.2 million donation designed to improve student success

Campus News | Monday, June 24, 2019

When Catholic Social Services recently received a $1.2 million award, the service organization announced it would partner with Columbus State Community College to improve degree completion. The funds will be used to replicate a program known as Stay the Course™. 

Initially developed by Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, Stay the Course™ helps students address personal, economic, and social barriers to college success through intensive case management and emergency financial assistance.

When paired with a case manager, students increase their success of graduating at a rate 4x higher than those who don’t receive these services. What’s more, 35 percent of female Stay the Course™ students graduated three years after enrollment compared to less than 1 percent in the comparison group.

Catholic Social Services (CSS) and Columbus State will now replicate Stay the Course™ and participate in a research study to find ways to match or exceed past results. CSS will add five employees to implement Stay the Course™ at the College. Three will work directly with students on the Columbus Campus. The grant includes resources for emergency financial assistance to Columbus State students.

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