Knack Notes Blog

Take a deeper look into how peer learning can impact higher education.

High-Impact Practices, Peer Tutoring, and Underrepresented Student Retention

Higher education leaders are continually seeking strategies to boost student retention and persistence to graduation. One proven approach is engaging students in High-Impact Educational Practices (HIPs) – enriching experiences like learning communities, service learning, undergraduate research, and peer-to-peer programs. For underrepresented minority students, in particular, these practices can be game-changers. This article explores how encouraging underrepresented students to participate in HIPs such as peer tutoring leads to stronger academic outcomes, higher retention rates, and improved persistence to graduation, all while fostering a greater sense of belonging on campus. We’ll also highlight the dual benefits of peer tutoring – for both the tutor and the tutee – and conclude with steps administrators can take to harness these benefits on their own campuses.

A Decade of Knack: Celebrating 10 Years of Equitable Peer Learning

Ten years ago, Knack was founded with a bold vision: to make academic support equitable and...

Reflections from the Learning Center Leader Roundtable Series

As the 2024–2025 academic year winds down, we’re also marking a full year of the ICLCA/Knack...

Partner Spotlight: Erica Chaviano from Georgia Tech

At Knack, we’re fortunate to collaborate with campus leaders who are passionate about transforming...

How Peer Tutoring in College Can Enhance Student Resumes—and Prepare Them for the Workforce

When it comes to preparing students for the workforce, colleges and universities have long...

Shaping the Future of Peer Support with Public-Private Partnerships

In a recent conversation with Steven Girardot (Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Georgia...

Empowering Learning Centers Through Educationally Purposeful Peer Interactions

In a webinar titled Empowering Learning Centers Through Educationally Purposeful Peer Interactions,...

For Our Future: A Call to Rethink the Present

I had the opportunity to attend the University of Louisiana System Conference this week, where the...

Why AI Can't Replace Person-to-Person Learning

Thinking Beyond the Status Quo

In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping education, it’s...

Reimagining Academic Support: A Challenge to Higher Ed Leaders

At the Association for the Coaching & Tutoring Profession (ACTP) conference in Orlando, I had the...

The Transformative Impact of Relationship-Driven Tutoring

In higher education, academic support isn’t just about delivering content—it’s about connection....