Isothermal wins Aviso Merit Award

By: Mike Gavin
Published: December 18, 2020

SPINDALE (Dec. 16, 2020) — Isothermal Community College was recognized for excellence in student retention and persistence with a national award this month.

Isothermal, along with four other colleges and universities, was presented with the Aviso Merit Award during the company’s virtual conference.

Aviso is a technology company that provides student management tools to higher education with the aim of increasing student success. Through the First In The World grant program, Isothermal and several other North Carolina community colleges have been using the Aviso software since 2015.

"We are glad to partner with Aviso because it is a powerful tool that allows us to help our students in real time whenever an issue arises,” said Marin Crosbie, Isothermal’s First In The World success coach. “With Aviso, we get current data on our students so we can intervene quickly to get them the help they need to be successful. For our students, it means they get congratulatory emails when they are doing well as well as timely notifications when they are struggling so they always know where to concentrate their energy. Aviso helps us Start Strong and Finish Stronger."

Specifically, Isothermal was recognized for positively impacting more than 5,500 students, seeing an increase of 9 percent in average course completion from postsecondary students and 6 percent with high school students. Additionally, the college has experienced more than 5 percent change in persistence and a 6.67 percent change in retention.

The team working on Aviso at Isothermal includes Debbie Puett, Marin Crosbie, Kimberly Snyder, Karen Spratt, Jo James, Sandy Lackner, Adam Petit, Erin Balmer and Pres. Walter Dalton.

“In 2020, we experienced a multitude of changes and challenges, but one thing that did not change at Aviso Retention or with our customers is the focus and passion towards closing the equity gap by identifying the most underserved and at-risk students, giving them the support needed to make the greatest impact,” said Heather Taynor, vice president of Student Success at Aviso Retention. “This year’s winners continue to find innovative ways to ensure student success whether in-person or online. We look forward to seeing what they are able to accomplish in the future and are excited to see what’s to come at our next user summit.”

The other colleges recognized with the Aviso Merit Award were Chowan University of Murfreesboro, N.C., Marion Technical College of Marion, Ohio, Randolph Community College of Asheboro, N.C., and Shawnee State University of Portsmouth, Ohio.

Aviso also recognized Central Carolina Community College of Sanford, N.C., with an Aspire Award.

Achievement Awards were given to Columbia College of Columbia, Mo., Roanoke-Chowan Community College of Ahoskie, N.C., and the Vermont State College System.

Category: Spindale Campus