Nestled in the heart of Carthage, Texas, Panola College is more than just an institution of higher learning; it’s a cornerstone of its community. Serving over 2,000 students annually, Panola stands out for its personalized approach to education. Yet, even with its strong foundation, like many other institutions, Panola faced unprecedented hurdles when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional learning environments.

The college’s student body reflects the growing diversity and complexity of higher education: 60% are part-time learners, many balancing jobs, families, and other responsibilities. With the sudden shift to online learning, these students—already at risk of attrition due to external pressures—struggled to stay engaged. Access to resources became a critical challenge, and faculty found themselves stretched thin trying to support students in new and unfamiliar ways.

Panola’s challenges mirrored those faced by institutions across the nation. The pandemic accelerated a shift in higher education, exposing vulnerabilities in how schools deliver support, especially to non-traditional students. As the American Psychological Association highlights, enrollment across many colleges declined, mental health needs surged, and retention became a top priority as students grappled with isolation and academic uncertainty​​.

Recognizing the urgency, Panola’s leadership sought more than just another remote learning tool—they needed a partner capable of delivering transformative, student-centered solutions. That’s where Upswing stepped in. As a holistic student services platform, Upswing is designed to tackle the core challenges facing modern institutions: engaging students where they are, improving retention, and reducing the workload on already stretched staff. With innovative tools like 24/7 tutoring, mental health services, real-time assignment feedback, and Ana, the proactive SMS assistant, Upswing bridges the gap between institutions and their students. By meeting learners’ needs with flexibility and personalization, Upswing has empowered colleges like Panola to not only survive, but thrive in an evolving educational landscape.

A Student-Centered Partnership

At the heart of Panola’s success is a commitment to meeting students where they are. Traditional support services often fall short for non-traditional students who need flexibility and individualized attention. Panola recognized that retaining students required more than just access to resources—it required proactive engagement and tools that adapted to the realities of modern student life.

With this in mind, Panola partnered with Upswing to build a student-first support system powered by three critical pillars:

• 24/7 Tutoring for Real-Life Schedules
  Many Panola students study late into the night, and traditional campus services couldn’t always accommodate them. Upswing’s around-the-clock tutoring platform ensures no student has to navigate coursework alone, regardless of the hour.
• Ana: The Proactive SMS Engagement Tool
  Ana became a digital lifeline for Panola’s students. From reminders about deadlines to encouragement during stressful times, Ana sent over 200,000 personalized messages, helping students stay organized and motivated. With an 8-minute median response time, Ana provided real-time support and a connection to critical resources.
• Assignment Review to Boost Confidence
  Panola students receive fast, detailed feedback on their writing, with an average turnaround of just 15.4 hours. This service didn’t just help students polish assignments—it empowered them to become better communicators.

“Upswing has been an invaluable resource for both students and staff,” said Bubba Adams, Panola’s Vice President of Instruction.

Transforming Challenges into Measurable Impact

Panola College’s partnership with Upswing didn’t just aim to support students in the short term—it sought to redefine how the institution tackled retention and engagement, ensuring sustainable growth and success. By leveraging Upswing’s holistic approach, Panola bridged the gap between students’ needs and institutional goals, creating a ripple effect that benefited learners, faculty, and the college itself.

This partnership delivered tangible, measurable outcomes that demonstrate the power of prioritizing student support:

• Over 7,000 Students Supported
  Panola students utilized a wide range of services, from 24/7 tutoring to proactive advising and assignment review. These tailored resources ensure every student, regardless of schedule or circumstances, has access to the support they need to thrive academically.
• 130+ Students Retained
  By intervening early and addressing barriers to success, Panola retained over 130 students who might have otherwise left their studies. This milestone not only reflects the college’s commitment to student success, but also generated an estimated $500,000 in tuition revenue*, showcasing the financial return of investing in retention.
  *Estimated retention and revenue impact are based on Upswing’s average annual retention improvement of 1.849 percentage points and Panola College’s enrollment and tuition rates.
• Late-Night Learning Enabled
  A significant portion of tutoring sessions occurred outside of normal operating hours—between 9 PM and 5 AM—highlighting how Upswing adapted to the schedules of non-traditional students. This flexibility ensured that Panola students never had to choose between their responsibilities and their education.

These outcomes highlight an essential truth: when institutions provide support systems that align with students’ realities, they see increased engagement, persistence, and success. Upswing’s data-driven tools and personalized interventions didn’t just help Panola navigate challenges—they empowered the college to excel, even in the face of adversity.

For Panola College, this partnership was about more than metrics; it was about transforming students’ lives and setting a new standard for higher education. The results prove that when institutions invest in holistic, adaptable solutions, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom.

Dedicated Support: A Key to Success

Panola’s success story didn’t happen in isolation—it was built on collaboration, with dedicated, ongoing support from Upswing’s team every step of the way. Every Upswing partner works directly with a Higher Education Retention Officer (HERO), who serves as an extension of the college’s staff.

For Panola, HERO Eva Chavez has been instrumental in helping the college maximize the impact of Upswing’s tools. From the very beginning, Eva provided customized guidance, helping Panola leverage Upswing’s platform to maximize their impact on student engagement and retention. Eva’s deep understanding of Panola’s student body, challenges, and goals allowed her to offer tailored recommendations that aligned with the college’s mission. She didn’t just help implement the platform—she guided Panola’s leadership in optimizing the use of every feature, ensuring it met the unique needs of their students.

“Eva’s guidance has been invaluable in tailoring solutions to meet our students’ needs,” said Reanna Hart, Director of Perkins Grant. This ongoing, personalized support from Eva and the entire Upswing team ensured that Panola didn’t just adopt a set of tools; they created a holistic, dynamic strategy that continuously adapts to students’ changing needs.

This partnership-driven approach to success is a core reason why Upswing is more than just a service provider. We’re committed to ensuring that every partner institution, like Panola, gets the most from our platform, allowing them to achieve real, sustainable success—not just in theory, but in practice.

Why Other Colleges Are Taking Notice

The success at Panola College is proof that investing in retention and engagement delivers results. Colleges and universities across the country continue to face similar challenges: shrinking budgets, increasing demands on staff, and the need to provide effective support for non-traditional students. Upswing offers a solution that not only addresses these challenges but transforms them into opportunities for growth.
Retention is more than just a statistic; it’s a measure of how well institutions are serving their students. And for colleges like Panola, it’s also a matter of financial health. Retaining just a small percentage of additional students can translate into significant revenue while helping more learners achieve their goals.
With Upswing, colleges gain a partner that:

• Boosts Retention and Graduation Rates: Keep students engaged and on the path to success.
• Reduces Staff Burnout: Automated tools like Ana lighten the workload for overburdened staff.
• Supports Nontraditional Learners: With flexible, online-first solutions, Upswing is tailored to modern student needs.

Your Turn: What Could Upswing Do for Your Institution?

Panola College’s success story highlights the transformative impact that the right tools and dedicated support can have on student retention and success. If your institution is looking for proven solutions to improve retention, reduce staff workload, and better serve nontraditional students, Upswing is here to help.

Upswing’s holistic student support platform empowers colleges to create dynamic, student-centered environments that lead to long-term academic success. Visit Upswing.io today to learn how our services can transform your college’s approach to student success.

But don’t just take our word for it—use our ROI Calculator. With just a few simple inputs, this tool will show you exactly how much tuition revenue your college could retain by partnering with Upswing. By analyzing your unique student data, the ROI calculator provides a clear, actionable forecast of the financial and academic benefits, helping you make data-driven decisions that support your institution’s goals.

Be the next success story. Start building the future of student success today with Upswing. Ready to take the next step? Schedule a demo and discover how we can help your institution achieve its vision and goals.