Lee College (TX) used student voice and DESSE to better understand how dual enrollment students were experiencing advising—and to redesign support in ways that improved engagement and student outcomes.
The Challenge
Lee College serves a rapidly growing dual enrollment population. As the program expanded, gaps emerged in persistence, advising engagement, and student connection to the college. Students were not consistently reaching key milestones, and many were not fully engaging with available supports.
The Approach
Plan
The college identified improving advising and student connection as priorities for strengthening dual enrollment student success.
Gather
Lee College administered DESSE to collect student feedback at scale across key areas of engagement and support.
Understand
Results showed that while students were aware of advising services, they were not using them, and course selection was often happening without advisor engagement.
Apply
The college shifted to a proactive, relationship-based advising model by embedding advisors in high schools, creating structured advising touchpoints, and expanding efforts to build student connection and belonging.
The Impact
- Advising visits increased from 1,926 to 5,116
- Student motivation increased from 91.5% to 97%
- Stronger student engagement with advising and support services
The result: a proactive advising model grounded in student voice and designed to strengthen student success at scale.
