Persistence Plus, in partnership with Lumina Foundation, will lead a new initiative to explore how community colleges can shift the default for students from withdrawal to continuous enrollment. Changing defaults is one of the most robust behavioral science strategies for reshaping behavior, yet higher education has only scratched the surface on what this element of choice architecture could mean for student success. Continuously enrolling community college students without requiring term-by-term sign-ups could remove several key barriers to persistence. 

“We’re very excited to explore continuous enrollment as a science-based retention strategy for community colleges to employ,” said Wendy Sedlak, Lumina Foundation’s Strategy Director for Research and Evaluation. “This innovative approach expands upon Lumina’s work with The Great Admissions Redesign to make the college experience more simple, streamlined and accessible from admissions to completion.”

Achieving continuous enrollment will require strategic rethinking of scheduling, advising, and financial aid through a behavioral science lens. This project will involve key stakeholders from these areas, as well as the student body, to identify and resolve specific, on-the-ground challenges to implementation. The ultimate goal is to build a scalable, sustainable model for continuous enrollment that community colleges nationwide can adapt to their unique circumstances.

Innovative Partners

Joining this project are two innovative partners: Queensborough Community College (Queens, NY) and Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester, MA). Both institutions have collaborated  for several years with Persistence Plus, and each brings a unique perspective and context to this work. Queensborough, for example, will explore how continuous enrollment would function within a larger community college system (CUNY).

"Queensborough Community College is excited to collaborate with Persistence Plus and Lumina Foundation on this groundbreaking project,” said Queensborough President Christine Mangino. “Building on five years of successful collaboration with Persistence Plus to boost student retention at QCC, we are eager to explore how behavioral science can help us to reimagine the enrollment process. Together, we look forward to using these insights to create more streamlined, student-centered pathways that support success at every step." 

Quinsigamond, meanwhile, will explore continuous enrollment in the context of free community college. Massachusetts is 1 of 35 states that now offers tuition-free community college, a policy that has rapidly grown enrollments toward pre-pandemic levels. Keeping this influx of new students on track to a life-changing credential requires novel, evidence-based solutions such as those offered by behavioral science.

“Quinsigamond Community College is thrilled to be part of this innovative project with Persistence Plus and Lumina Foundation,” said Quinsigamond President Luis Pedraja. “Since our work with Persistence Plus began in 2022, we’ve seen firsthand the power of behavioral science to benefit students' experience. This initiative takes it to the next level—using behavioral science to reimagine enrollment as a seamless, supportive process that keeps students moving toward a credential and a career. It’s an exciting opportunity to transform how community colleges support students from start to finish.”