In mid-November, two of our leaders, Chris Barley, Vice President of Global Enrollment Services, and Darlene Pittman, Vice President of Global Learner Success, attended Student Success US, an event put on by Inside Higher Ed and Times Higher Education, co-hosted by the University of Georgia.

This event brought together higher education experts from across the country to talk about best practices for supporting learners from their first inquiry all the way to graduation. For Chris and Darlene, who work every day to support learners around the globe, this was an invaluable opportunity to explore new innovations in student support and gather fresh insights from industry professionals.

During their time at the conference, Chris and Darlene hosted a fireside chat where they explored the topic of ‘Nuanced Support for Today’s Learners’. Here’s what they discussed.

At Boundless Learning, we are committed to being a true extension of our university partners, representing the brand, the mission, and mission forward. And at the center of it all is the learner. Every decision, every process, every touchpoint starts with one question: How does this support the learner?

Our student success advisors walk alongside learners who are balancing work, family, finances, and big goals. From the first conversations, our aim is to build belonging and connection, so learners don’t just persist — they thrive, graduate, and become ambassadors for their university and their communities.

Our approach is simple: data-led, learner-fed. Data tells us where to focus. The learner’s voice shapes the proactive strategies we implement to ensure success.

At Boundless Learning, our student success model blends high-touch, proactive coaching with deep compassion. We empower our advisors to view every situation through the learner’s eyes and to understand the motivations that drive them forward. In partnership with university stakeholders and faculty, we become true subject matter experts on policies, processes, curricula, and degree progression, so we can fully support each student.

Our experienced team of student success leaders and advisors allows us to anticipate critical moments in the learner journey and communicate proactively. We have integrated technology that increases efficiency, ensures more time is spent where it matters most, and supports high-priority students.

While we incorporate standard communication touchpoints, we also create nuanced, program-specific plans that reflect the needs of each population. That personalization builds trust, accountability, and confidence.

When you combine our culture, our approach, and our unwavering focus on listening deeply, acting early, and empowering advisors, we improve retention outcomes. More importantly, we transform the learner experience. We work with a ‘no learner left behind’ mindset because any learner who has the courage to start an online program deserves our holistic support to help them achieve their educational dreams.

We help learners understand the academic, financial, and timing implications of taking a break. If they do step away, we continue to engage to support a smooth transition at the time of their return.

By staying grounded in care, clarity, and connection, we build stronger trust between learners and institutions and deliver a learner experience that isn’t just seamless, but life changing.

Interested in Boundless Learning’s enrollment and student success solutions? Reach out today for more information.