# Empowering HSIs to Increase Student Retention

With personalized, tech-driven solutions, Upswing helps HSIs provide students with the academic support, mentorship, and resources they need to succeed. Our holistic platform strengthens engagement, boosts retention, and drives academic achievement. Students–regardless of their background–have the tools to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

# Working together to improve student retention

###### Featured HSI Partners:

## Upswing helps Houston Community College increase student achievement

Houston Community College is one of the largest and most diverse community colleges in the U.S. At the time of this case study, HCC served a population of over 55,000 minority students, with over 28% of those students being Hispanic. Serving such a large and diverse student population, meant that HCC needed a partner to provide tutoring support that was accessible, easy-to-use, and scalable. After analyzing Upswing’s tutoring data from HCC, Rice University found that:

- Using Upswing had a demonstrable impact on academic performance
- If students use Upswing at least once per semester, their GPA may increase by approximately 0.05 points
- This impact is consistent across all students, even those who are considered disadvantaged and those with lower levels of college readiness

## Hear from Upswing’s HSI partners

Upswing is proud to partner with 29 HSIs. Despite recent enrollment growth, the completion rate of Hispanic students is still much lower than that of White students. Through our work together, nearly **1.2 million students** at HSIs have received access to Upswing and over **22,000 HSI** **students** have been retained.

> “To conclude, the Upswing service is effective at increasing student achievement, has a substantive impact on student grades, and significantly improves the GPA’s of disadvantaged students… In short, Upswing works, and it works well.  
> This is not to say that the Upswing system will turn D students into honor roll students by itself. Instead, students motivated to use the system will find their overall grades improving and even moderate usage, approximately 3-4 times a semester, is enough to improve students’ letter grades, from high B’s or C’s, to A’s or B’s.”  
> 
> \- Rice University Researchers on Houston Community College case study

## Are you ready to improve retention and graduation rates?

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