Student Success, Results & Continuous Improvement
Montgomery College uses Starfish to help students connect with advisors, counselors, tutors, faculty, coaches, and other support professionals throughout their academic journey.
The information below highlights how students engage with support services, what students
are telling us about their experiences, and how those insights help strengthen advising,
academic planning, outreach, and student success efforts across the College.
By the Numbers
46,159*
Students Connected with Support Services
129,815*
Appointments Documented
15,327*
Learning Center Visits Recorded
5,748*
Students Connected to Additional Resources
11,154*
Reminders, Action Plans, and Next Steps Shared
Why This Matters
Student success is supported through strong relationships, clear planning, timely outreach, and coordinated support. The information on this page helps Montgomery College understand how students engage with services, where additional support may be needed, and how student feedback can inform future improvements.
Current Priorities
- Academic Planning
- Student Engagement & Outreach
- Coordinated Support
- Assessment & Continuous Improvement
Helping students create clear pathways toward their academic, transfer, and career goals.
Students benefit from understanding degree requirements, course sequencing, and next steps. Montgomery College continues to strengthen academic planning resources, advising conversations, and planning tools that help students stay on track.
Highlights & Outcomes
First-Year Student Engagement (as of July 1, 2026)
- 98.7% participated in at least one documented Starfish meeting
- 91.1% connected with Counseling & Advising
- 89.6% had an academic plan documented in Degree Planner
- 83.5% had both an academic plan and a Counseling & Advising interaction
What We're Learning
Students most frequently identified a need for support with
- Degree requirements
- Course sequencing
- Transfer planning
- Understanding next steps
Many students know their long-term goals but continue to seek guidance in understanding the most effective path to reach them.
Related Resources
Current Work
- Academic Planning Survey
- Degree Planner
- Academic planning conversations
- Documenting advising interactions
Creating more opportunities for students to connect, ask questions, and access support early.
Students are more likely to engage with support services when outreach is timely, relevant, and easy to access. Current efforts focus on helping students connect with resources before challenges become barriers to success.
Highlights & Outcomes
Welcome Questionnaire (as of July 1, 2026)
- More than 100 student responses submitted
- 94% of respondents had a documented Counseling & Advising interaction
- 96% of students requesting academic planning support had a documented Counseling &
Advising interaction
What We're Learning
Students are willing to share information about their goals, interests, questions, and support needs when provided with structured opportunities to do so.
Early outreach creates additional opportunities to connect students with support before challenges become barriers.
Current Work
- Welcome Questionnaire
- Referrals
- Proactive outreach
- Student messaging and reminders
Making it easier for students to access the right support at the right time.
Student success is strengthened when advisors, counselors, faculty, tutors, coaches, and other support professionals work together to provide connected and consistent support experiences.
Highlights & Outcomes
Academic Year 2025-26
- 5,748 students connected to additional resources through referrals
- 11,154 reminders, action plans, and next steps shared
What We’re Learning
Students benefit when support services work together and information can follow the student across interactions.
Coordinated communication and referral practices help create a more connected support experience.
Current Work
- Shared documentation
- Referrals and follow-up
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Coordinated support practices
Using student feedback and data to strengthen support services and improve the student experience.
Student feedback, engagement data, and assessment findings help the College understand student needs and identify opportunities to improve services, communication, and support.
Highlights & Outcomes
Student Advising Survey Highlights
Welcome Questionnaire
- 82% typically schedule appointments using Starfish
- 69% report scheduling an appointment is easy
- 57% identified transfer planning as a current advising need
- 54% prefer a consistent system for scheduling and follow-up
What We're Learning
- Students value consistency across services.
- Transfer planning remains an important advising need.
- Most students find scheduling straightforward.
- Some students would like clearer guidance when seeking support for more complex situations.
Current Work
- Student Advising Survey
- Usage and engagement metrics
- Student feedback collection
- Continuous improvement planning
Looking Ahead
The insights highlighted on this page are helping shape future improvements in several areas.
Expanding Engagement and Awareness
- Increase opportunities for students to provide feedback and share support needs
- Strengthen outreach and resource connections
- Enhance training materials and support resources
Strengthening Planning and Support
- Enhance academic planning and advising experiences
- Improve coordination across support services
- Expand assessment and evaluation efforts
Building Sustainable Student Success Practices
- Create more connected planning and advising experiences
- Strengthen collaboration across student support services
- Use student feedback and assessment findings to guide ongoing improvements