This week, Knack partnered with the New American Colleges & Universities (NACU) to host a virtual event highlighting how small, student-centered institutions are expanding access to academic support through innovative partnerships. The session featured perspectives from Michelle Apuzzio of NACU, Chris Hassey of Moravian University, and Jordan Carson of Hampton University.
At its core, the event focused on a growing challenge: how can small colleges provide academic support that is both comprehensive and sustainable? Smaller institutions often have limited budgets and staffing resources, making it difficult to support students across the full range of courses and learning needs. The conversation centered on how Knack’s scalable peer tutoring model helps campuses address these challenges—broadening access while reinforcing their student-centered missions.
Meeting More Student Needs in More Courses
For institutions like Moravian and Hampton, partnering with Knack has made it possible to extend academic support into areas that previously lacked consistent coverage. Many small colleges have strong support systems in place for high-enrollment or introductory-level courses, but struggle to meet demand in upper-level or STEM-heavy disciplines due to staffing and scheduling limitations.
By partnering with Knack, these campuses can now recruit and train students who have already succeeded in specific courses to serve as peer tutors. This model not only increases the number of courses covered, but also ensures that support is available in the subjects students struggle with most. It also allows institutions to scale up or down based on demand without the logistical burden of hiring additional full-time staff or expanding physical space.
Importantly, this increased reach doesn’t come at the expense of quality. Peer tutors are selected based on their performance in specific courses and receive structured training before they begin working with their peers. This helps maintain a consistent and effective support experience across disciplines, while also making tutoring more relatable for students who may be hesitant to seek help.
Flexible Delivery, Seamless Integration
One of the most valuable aspects of the Knack model for small colleges is its flexibility. Support is offered in person or online, which means students can access help when and where it works best for them. Whether they’re in a residence hall at 10 p.m. or commuting to campus between work shifts, students are no longer limited by traditional office hours or physical location.
This flexibility also benefits institutions by allowing them to supplement their existing support offerings without overhauling their current systems. Knack integrates with existing processes and platforms, so support becomes more accessible without adding administrative complexity. For example, students can sign up for in-person or virtual tutoring through a centralized system, and staff can monitor engagement and outcomes through easy-to-use dashboards.
At a time when institutions are being asked to do more with less, this kind of integration is crucial. It allows student services teams to focus on strategic priorities while still ensuring that students have access to the academic help they need to thrive.
Peer Leadership and Belonging
The benefits of Knack’s model extend beyond academic outcomes. By engaging successful students as peer tutors, institutions are creating meaningful leadership and professional development opportunities. These roles help students build confidence, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of course material—all while giving back to their campus community.
At smaller colleges, where student engagement and a strong sense of belonging are central to the educational experience, this kind of peer-to-peer interaction plays a powerful role. Tutors become role models, support becomes more personalized, and students feel more connected—both to their academics and to each other.
This culture of support fosters a learning environment where students are more likely to ask for help, persist through challenges, and see themselves as active participants in each other’s success. It also aligns closely with the mission of NACU institutions, which emphasize holistic learning, civic engagement, and leadership development.
Purpose-Aligned Partnerships
Throughout the event, a key takeaway was the importance of aligning innovation with mission. NACU institutions are known for their commitment to student-centered learning, personalized education, and high-impact practices. Partnerships like the one with Knack help them stay true to those values while solving real operational challenges.
Instead of building entirely new systems or stretching staff resources thin, these schools are choosing to collaborate with organizations that understand their goals and offer tools that enhance—not replace—their student success strategies. The result is a partnership model that strengthens the institution while keeping students at the center of the experience.
Small schools are proving that size is not a barrier to impact. With the right partnerships, they can provide expansive, equitable, and effective academic support—and they can do it in a way that reflects the heart of who they are.
To learn more about how small colleges are expanding access to student support, check out our latest white paper co-authored with Sean Creighton, President of NACU. Click here to download the white paper.
