In Fall 2019, the Say Yes Scholars Program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) — managed by College Now — launched as a lifeline for qualifying students who may need additional support on campus. With retention rates – the process of keeping students enrolled at postsecondary education institutions — hitting historic lows just prior to the pandemic, De’Antae Ware, director of the Say Yes Scholars Program, recognized the urgent need to not only meet but exceed retention and graduation targets.
“Understanding that Tri-C students often require additional support compared to their counterparts at four-year institutions, our objective was not only to elevate them to the expected standard but to surpass it. We strive for our students to not just meet expectations but to leave our program as our ‘colleagues,’ as we like to say,” Ware says. The Say Yes Scholars Program works to ensure the success of each student who attends Tri-C with a Say Yes Cleveland scholarship by providing comprehensive services including one-on-one coaching, priority registration, FAFSA assistance, campus workshops and events. Beyond the tangible benefits, the most valuable aspect is the relationships students form with their success coaches on campus.
While the Say Yes Scholars Retention programs extend to Kent State University and The Ohio State University and new next year will be the University of Akron, Tri-C’s program is notably robust due to its larger first-generation student population. Success coaches serve as navigators, connecting students to resources both on and off campus. They organize engaging events, from social gatherings to academic workshops, fostering a sense of community among Say Yes Cleveland scholarship recipients. With College Now serving as the administrator for the Say Yes Cleveland scholarship, Ware credits the knowledge, resources and experts they utilized from the organization to kick-off the program.