Approach – NCII

NCII helps colleges design solutions to seemingly intractable problems. We serve as critical friends, both pushing for authentic change and providing the support institutions need to implement it. We work closely with colleges, offering consulting, training, and tools that they continue using long after our time together ends.

We are known for our unique blend of energy, passion, and optimism, which makes it easier for colleges to stick with the challenging work of organizational change. With our assistance, colleges make meaningful progress toward improving students’ experiences, increasing completion rates, and ensuring students’ post-graduation success.

NCII is distinguished by our:

CULTURE OF INQUIRY

Colleges that are focused on improvement know that asking — and answering — the right questions is central to change. With our support, colleges use evidence to determine what is working (or not working) for their students and then identify priorities for student-centered reform.

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE

Design thinking is grounded in the idea that products and services should address the real needs of the people who will use them. Adapting this approach to higher education, we guide college teams as they identify and examine the issues that challenge their students’ success. And we support them as they devise solutions and implement new approaches. Through this process, colleges develop a problem-solving practice that serves them over the long term.

ROBUST NETWORK OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

Our core team is experienced in both organizational change and issues that affect students’ experiences and outcomes. Plus, we have cultivated active partnerships with individuals and organizations that extend our reach and capacity. Together, our network offers colleges extensive knowledge, resources, and connections to address numerous institutional improvement needs.

PRACTITIONER PERSPECTIVE

As current and former college practitioners, we honor the work that faculty, staff, and administrators are already doing and understand the challenges they face. With both compassion and candor, we work with college teams to elevate effective practices and articulate goals for improvement.

UNWAVERING FOCUS ON STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES

We help colleges center students in design work and decision-making — and use this approach to bridge the gap between good intentions and actual impact. As part of this work, we pay careful attention to elevating students’ voices.

What Is Authentic Change?

Authentic change is institution-wide transformation that is seen in a college’s structures, policies, and practices. Colleges that implement authentic change regularly and honestly assess their actions through the lens of students’ experiences and outcomes. NCII helps them start this process by asking — and answering — questions such as:

Which aspects of our college are institution centered rather than student centered? What needs to change so we can fully center students in decision-making, business processes, and educational practices?
In what ways do our good intentions lead to better outcomes? Where do gaps exist between our stated goals and actual impact for our students?
How are we meeting (or not meeting) the needs of underserved students? What do we need to do — or undo — to ensure all students reach their academic and career goals?

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