Celebrating Partner Appreciation Week 2026: Thank You for Powering Student Success

This week at Knack, we are celebrating the incredible institutions and individuals who make our mission possible. Partner Appreciation Week is our opportunity to pause and express our deepest gratitude to the colleges and universities that trust us to help their students succeed. Whether you represent a large public university, a small private college, a community college, or a specialized institution, your partnership continues to shape the future of academic support.

Our appreciation extends to every role that makes these programs thrive. Provosts, deans, learning center directors, and faculty champions all play an essential part in expanding peer learning on their campuses. Each one of you brings a shared belief that every student deserves access to high-impact, equitable, and flexible academic support. This week is about acknowledging that belief and celebrating the results that have followed from it.

The Impact We’ve Achieved Together

When institutions and Knack work together, real transformation happens. Across our national network, students have completed more than 572,000 contact hours of tutoring on the Knack platform. Each of those hours represents a moment of connection, encouragement, and academic growth that has helped students persist and succeed.

Even more meaningful is that 52% of students who used Knack had never engaged with any academic support before. That number reflects how partnerships with Knack are opening doors for new learners, particularly those who might not have felt comfortable seeking help in the past.

Accessibility continues to be a defining feature of the model. 54% of Knack tutoring sessions occur outside traditional Monday to Friday, 9-to-5 hours, allowing students to receive help when their schedules allow. For many learners balancing work, family, and other responsibilities, this flexibility is the difference between getting support and going without it. After engaging with Knack, students report an average increase in course confidence of 31%, showing that peer learning improves both knowledge and self-belief.

These results are a direct reflection of the institutions that have embraced innovation in academic support. Together, we are proving that when campuses invest in accessible, student-centered programs, measurable impact follows.

Reaching Every Type of Campus

The partners who make up the Knack network represent the full diversity of higher education. Large public universities have scaled peer tutoring programs that reach thousands of students across disciplines. Smaller private colleges have built community-driven models that complement close faculty engagement. Community colleges have used Knack’s flexibility to serve students who balance academics with work and family life. Regional and research institutions have expanded support to close equity gaps and strengthen student persistence.

Each campus has a unique story and mission, but all share a common goal: ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Together, we are creating systems that make academic support an integrated part of campus life rather than an afterthought. Peer learning has become a bridge that connects students with one another, strengthens belonging, and normalizes help-seeking as a healthy, proactive choice.

Meeting Students Where They Are

Knack’s success is rooted in the belief that effective learning support should adapt to the needs of students. More than half of all Knack sessions take place outside the traditional workday, showing that peer tutoring is not bound by the limits of the classroom or office hours. Students can access help when it fits their schedules and on their terms. This model reflects the realities of today’s learners, many of whom balance academics with jobs, families, and other commitments.

Equally important is the work our partners are doing to reach students who might otherwise remain disconnected from campus resources. By making tutoring available in familiar and flexible formats, institutions are helping students overcome barriers of time, confidence, and awareness. For many, Knack represents the first time they have experienced academic support that feels approachable and relevant. These changes are reshaping how students engage with learning and how campuses define success.

The People Behind the Partnership

Behind every successful Knack partnership are people who care deeply about their students and communities. Senior administrators champion innovation and allocate the resources needed to bring programs to life. Learning center directors and faculty members translate those visions into day-to-day action, creating structures that make tutoring accessible and effective. Peer tutors themselves bring compassion, curiosity, and leadership to every session, demonstrating what it means to support one another through shared learning.

What makes these partnerships powerful is the way they unite people across different roles toward a common purpose. Academic support is not just a service to manage; it is a collaborative ecosystem built on trust, empathy, and shared responsibility. Every participant contributes to this collective effort, helping Knack scale its impact while keeping the personal connection that defines peer learning.

Building the Future of Student Support

Knack’s mission is to build a future where no student is left without peer support. That vision is only possible because of our partners’ commitment to innovation and equity. Institutions across the country are demonstrating that peer tutoring is not simply an academic service but a catalyst for confidence, belonging, and retention. When students help one another, they not only master course content but also build community and strengthen the fabric of campus life.

The future of higher education depends on flexibility, connection, and collaboration. Knack’s partners are leading the way by creating models that honor each of these values. Together, we are showing that when learning is human-centered and accessible, every student benefits.

Thank You for Partnering With Us

As we celebrate Partner Appreciation Week, we want to recognize every institution that makes this work possible. Whether you are a community college building bridges for first-generation students or a flagship university scaling peer support across departments, your dedication matters deeply.

The results we highlight are impressive, but the true impact is found in the experiences of the students you serve. Every hour of tutoring represents a student who gained confidence, passed a challenging course, or realized they were not alone in their learning journey. Those moments of transformation are the real measure of success.

Thank you for trusting Knack as your partner in this work. Together, we will continue to expand opportunity, strengthen learning communities, and build campuses where every student can thrive.