At Jacksonville University (JU), student success is always top of mind. Like many institutions, JU understands that fostering meaningful academic support and engagement is key to helping students persist and thrive. That’s why the university has embraced an innovative approach to peer learning—one that is not only scalable but also high-impact.
Dr. Dee Thornton, Director of Academic Technology at JU, has been instrumental in leading this charge. She recently shared insights on how JU has strengthened its peer tutoring efforts through a strategic collaboration with Knack, ensuring that students receive the academic support they need in a way that fits their lives.
The Need for Scalable, Student-Centered Support
JU has long valued peer tutoring as a means of supporting students academically, but managing the logistics of recruiting, training, and supervising tutors presented challenges. Historically, the university’s tutoring program was strong, but staffing inconsistencies and administrative burdens made it difficult to maintain and grow. Dr. Thornton noted that they had the students, and they had the space. But they needed a more sustainable model.
That’s where Knack came in.
A Seamless Transition to Knack’s Peer Tutoring Model
Rather than replacing JU’s existing tutoring culture, Knack enhanced it. By leveraging Knack’s technology and infrastructure, JU has been able to provide a robust peer tutoring experience that benefits both students seeking help and students providing it.
Knack takes on much of the administrative lift—recruiting tutors, managing training, handling payments, integrating assessments, and providing data insights—while JU faculty and staff focus on student engagement and academic outcomes. The implementation process was smooth, with the program launching just weeks after the decision was made to move forward. “This was one of the easiest implementations I’ve ever been involved with,” Dr. Thornton shared.
Expanding Access, Meeting Students Where They Are
One of the most significant advantages of JU’s partnership with Knack is the expanded access to peer tutoring. Unlike traditional tutoring models that often focus only on high-DFW courses or historically difficult first-year classes, JU made the decision to open peer tutoring to all undergraduate courses. This means that even students in upper-level, specialized courses can receive the support they need.
The impact has been clear:
- Over half (51%) of JU students who used Knack had never accessed tutoring before.
- 71.7% of tutoring sessions occurred in person, reinforcing JU’s strong campus-based learning culture.
- 32% of tutoring sessions took place outside of traditional 9-to-5 hours, making support available when students need it most.
These numbers reflect the ease of access and the flexibility that Knack provides, allowing students to seek help on their own terms—whether that means meeting with a tutor in person, connecting online, or scheduling a session outside of standard business hours.
Peer Learning for Academic and Personal Growth
Beyond academic support, peer tutoring plays a crucial role in fostering student engagement and belonging. JU students are not only receiving help from peers who have successfully navigated the same courses, but they are also forming meaningful academic connections in the process. Dr. Thornton explained that students feel more comfortable asking for help from a peer than from a professor or an outside tutor. That comfort level, she said, makes all the difference.
Peer tutoring also benefits the tutors themselves. JU’s student tutors are gaining leadership experience, reinforcing their subject matter knowledge, and earning income—all while making a direct impact on their peers' academic journeys.
Leveraging Data for Continuous Improvement
JU’s partnership with Knack has also brought a new level of insight into student support needs. With Knack’s data-driven platform, JU can easily track tutoring engagement across courses and student demographics, helping faculty and staff make informed decisions about where additional support might be needed. For example, recent data revealed a surge in nursing students seeking tutoring—a population that had historically not utilized the service. This insight is now shaping future outreach and tutor recruitment efforts.
Additionally, Knack provides JU with customized reporting tools that assist other campus departments, such as athletics, in tracking student engagement with academic support services. Thornton shared that before Knack, our peer tutoring data was inconsistent at best. Now, they can quickly pull reports and provide meaningful insights to faculty and administration.
Building on a Strong Foundation
As JU continues to expand its peer learning ecosystem, the university is focused on further embedding Knack into its broader student success strategy. Plans are in place to increase the number of preferred, in-person tutoring locations on campus and refine outreach efforts to ensure that every student who needs support knows where to find it.
By leveraging peer learning in a structured, scalable way, JU is not only improving student academic outcomes but also strengthening campus connections, reducing barriers to support, and ensuring that no student has to navigate their academic journey alone.
Through intentional design and a student-first approach, JU’s collaboration with Knack is proving to be a model for institutions looking to scale high-impact academic support in an effective and sustainable way.
If you're looking to enhance peer learning and scale academic support at your institution, Knack is here to help. Our tailored approach ensures that every university can implement a tutoring model that fits their needs and fosters meaningful peer-to-peer connections. Contact us today to learn how we can partner with your campus to drive student success.
