Proactive Student Support Moves Beyond Check-Ins to What Matters Most
Data-driven advising improves student retention by enabling proactive, personalized support throughout the student lifecycle. Beyond Check-Ins: Transforming Advising with Data and Automation is the second session in Ellucian's three-part webinar series on delivering a connected experience from recruitment to advancement. In this session, the focus shifts to a critical moment: what happens after students enroll.
Because enrollment is only the beginning. Keeping students engaged and progressing is what drives success.
Traditional advising models fall short in this phase. Ellucian Student's advising capability addresses this gap by unifying student data, automating workflows, and enabling advisors to identify and support at-risk students earlier.
Why Traditional Advising Isn't Enough
Many advising strategies still rely on periodic check-ins or reactive outreach. Today’s learners need advising that adapts to their evolving needs throughout the student journey.
The reality is stark:
- Nearly half of four-year students don't graduate on time
- Advisors spend hours each week on manual administrative tasks
When advising is fragmented or delayed, students lose direction. As highlighted in the session, student success depends on timely interventions, informed decision-making, and meaningful engagement at every stage.
From Reactive to Proactive: A New Advising Model
Modern advising emphasizes early intervention and continuous engagement. With a data-driven approach, institutions can:
- Identify at-risk students early
- Deliver personalized, timely outreach
- Address academic and non-academic needs
- Keep students on track to graduation
As one key takeaway from the webinar emphasized, proactive, data-driven advising significantly improves student retention and success by delivering continuous, personalized support.
When advising is proactive, personalized, and grounded in what's happening in a student's academic and personal journey, students are far more likely to persist, make confident choices, and graduate on time."
Turn Data Insights into Action
Connected data is the foundation of effective advising. By unifying data across systems — LMS, financial aid, and engagement signals — advisors gain a complete, real-time view of each student.
This enables teams to:
- Monitor real-time student performance and engagement
- Surface early risk indicators
- Prioritize outreach based on need
- Make more confident, data-informed decisions
With a unified view of student data, advisors can spend more time engaging with students and less time searching for information.
Use Automation to Scale Support
Administrative work often limits the time advisors can spend supporting students.
Automation reduces administrative burden by streamlining:
- Appointment scheduling and reminders
- Triggered communications
- Case management and follow-ups
AI-driven workflows further help prioritize outreach and manage large caseloads, freeing advisors to focus on high-impact interactions.
Support the Whole Student
Student success extends beyond academics. Financial, personal, and engagement challenges all impact persistence.
A holistic advising approach allows institutions to:
- Capture signals beyond grades (attendance, financial aid status, engagement)
- Coordinate support across departments
- Enable students to request help proactively
- Deliver personalized resources and interventions
This ensures that no student falls through the cracks and that support reaches them when it matters most.
Real-World Impact: What Leading Institutions Are Achieving
Institutions using a connected, data-driven advising model are already seeing measurable results:
- Delta College reduced advisor caseloads by 50% and improved retention rates
- University of New England empowered teams with real-time insights and stronger coordination
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University enhanced collaboration between faculty and advisors to drive student success
These examples highlight what's possible when advising becomes coordinated, insight-driven, and proactive.
Why a Connected Advising Experience Matters
When advising is unified, institutions can scale support without losing the human connection.
- Students gain clarity, timely support, and confidence
- Advisors gain visibility and efficiency
- Institutions improve retention and student outcomes
See What This Looks Like in Practice
Part Two of this webinar series demonstrates how institutions can transform advising into a proactive, data-driven engine for student success.
