Indian River State College’s Data-Driven Transformation Reverses Enrollment Decline, Boosts Retention
Three Indian River State College executives shared the College’s transformation story at the prestigious Ruffalo Noel Levitz National Conference in Atlanta on July 22-24, showcasing how strategic innovation and data-driven decision-making reversed years of enrollment decline while improving student success outcomes.
Elizabeth Gaskin, Vice President for Student Success; Emily Mass, Associate Vice President of Recruitment and Admissions; and Rebecca Shearer, Chief Retention Officer, delivered the presentation “OneRiver: A Data-Driven Transformation of Orientation to Improve Student Success” to higher education professionals from across the nation.
A Turnaround Success Story
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College has successfully implemented transformative initiatives that have reversed years of enrollment decline, improved student outcomes, and positioned the institution as a leader in accessible higher education.
Recognizing that 50% of incoming students are first-generation college attendees, the College intensified its commitment to meeting students exactly where they are in their educational journey. This student-centered approach has proven instrumental in not only attracting new learners but also retaining them through graduation.
In March 2022, the College launched its Promise Program. The program, which is funded through philanthropic support, provides free tuition to eligible high school graduates in the College’s service area and removes financial barriers to higher education for local students.
“The Promise Program taught us that recruiting students successfully is only the beginning,” said Rebecca Shearer, Chief Retention Officer. “Our data showed us exactly where students needed additional support, and we responded with evidence-based solutions that are now showing measurable improvement.”
Additionally, the College established an “Enrollment Roundtable”—a collaborative approach bringing together faculty, student success professionals, and institutional researchers to analyze data and drive continuous improvement. This innovative structure fostered what the College calls its “OneRiver culture,” emphasizing institution-wide collaboration focused on student outcomes. The transformation included a complete redesign of New Student Orientation, now called “Navigating the River,” which grew from serving 1,200 students in Fall 2023 to 2,500 students in Fall 2024, with goals to exceed 3,000 students in Fall 2025.
The College’s presentation also detailed specific strategies for strengthening first-year advising, expanding early alert interventions, building student belonging through First Year Experience programming and peer mentorship, and enhancing academic supports with particular emphasis on mental health and wellness resources.
The presentation highlighted the College’s strategic reversal of decline and improved student outcomes following the launch of these initiatives. The College serves over 23,000 students across five campuses in Southeast Florida and offers 130+ programs, including certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees.
“Our success stems from understanding that each student brings unique challenges and strengths to their educational experience,” explained Emily Mass, Associate Vice President of Recruitment and Admissions. “By tailoring our programs, support systems, and operations to address the specific needs of first-generation students and working adults, we have created pathways to success that previously didn’t exist.”
Conference Impact
The RNL National Conference brought together higher education professionals facing similar challenges of declining enrollment and changing student demographics. Indian River State College’s presentation offered a replicable model for data-driven transformation that other institutions can adapt to their unique circumstances.
“We were excited to share our journey because we know other institutions are facing similar challenges and opportunities,” said Gaskin. “Our story proves that with the right collaborative approach and commitment to data-driven decision making, it is possible to survive and thrive in today’s higher education environment.”
The Ruffalo Noel Levitz National Conference ran July 22-24, 2025, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
For more information about Indian River State College and its programs, visit www.irsc.edu.
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