On a recent visit to Northeastern University, I witnessed something that is often talked about but rarely achieved: a student support model that is not just implemented, but fully embraced across the institution.
Northeastern is now in its third year as a Knack partner. Over that time, they have become our highest-performing campus, leading in both usage rate and in the percentage of students who have participated in tutoring sessions. These numbers are impressive, but what they represent is even more meaningful. At Northeastern, peer tutoring is not simply available. It is expected. It is encouraged. And it is embedded in the student experience.
This kind of cultural integration does not happen overnight. It takes vision, leadership, and consistent follow-through. It also takes trust in students, in the peer learning model, and in the belief that academic support should feel as natural and accessible as asking a classmate for help.
When peer tutoring becomes part of the fabric of a university, the impact is multifaceted. Students who need support are more likely to seek it out because they see it modeled and normalized. High-achieving students gain purposeful, paid opportunities that reinforce their own learning while allowing them to lead and contribute. Campus belonging grows through peer interactions that are built on mutual respect and shared academic goals.
The academic gains are important, but they are only one part of the story. What makes Northeastern’s model powerful is the way it fosters human connection. Tutoring sessions become more than help with homework. They become moments of encouragement, collaboration, and trust. They remind students that they are not alone, and that learning is something we do best when we do it together.
Every institution talks about supporting student success, but embedding that support in the day-to-day life of the campus is what makes it real. At Northeastern, peer tutoring is not a resource tucked away in a corner of campus. It is visible, valued, and seamlessly integrated into how students navigate their college experience.
This is what happens when peer learning is treated not as a supplement, but as a strategic priority.
At Knack, we believe that every campus has the potential to create this kind of culture. It starts with a commitment to equity, a belief in student leadership, and a willingness to rethink how academic support is delivered. When peer tutoring is positioned as a core component of the student journey, the benefits extend far beyond any single course or semester.
Northeastern’s success shows what is possible. And for those of us working to expand access to peer support, it serves as both a benchmark and an inspiration.
Want to learn how your campus can build a thriving peer tutoring culture like Northeastern’s? Explore partnership opportunities and see how Knack can support your goals at joinknack.com.
