Austin Community College (ACC) understood the unique challenges many of its students faced. Serving a large population of first-generation and non-traditional learners, they recognized that some students struggled to find a sense of belonging within the higher ed environment. Leadership knew that this lack of connection could impact engagement and focus, two key factors in academic success. With this in mind, they set out to strengthen community ties and create a more inclusive atmosphere, all with the goal of improving course completion rates.
ACC teamed up with Honor to strengthen its sense of community, piloting the platform with over 400 students and faculty across seven program areas like vocational education, English and STEM. Honor’s platform helps learners feel like they truly belong by fostering connection and reframing “not getting it” as a natural part of learning, not a sign that they don’t fit in.
Instructors at Austin Community College embraced teaching with the Honor platform, reporting not only a more engaging experience for themselves but also clear gains for students, especially in belonging, connection, and active participation.
Feedback showed:
94% of users said Honor increased engagement
96% of users said Honor is easy to use
70% of users said Honor increased their connection with instructors
65% of users said Honor strengthened their sense of belonging
