Case Study: Onondaga Community College boosts student success with Mongoose

Guided Pathways at OCC help revolutionize student success

Onondaga Community College (OCC), a two-year public SUNY institution in Syracuse, NY, was struggling with declining enrollment, retention challenges, and a student population that often included low-income, first-generation, and under-prepared learners. To help students navigate a complex registration and support process, OCC partnered with Mongoose and used Cadence for texting-based communication and coaching.

Mongoose helped OCC implement a Guided Pathways approach supported by staff coaching, a “One Team” model, and strategic texting at key touchpoints to guide students through financial aid, registration, and other friction points. The results showed early promise: OCC’s Financial Aid Outreach Program grew conversion in the fall 2019 semester, and the One Team texting program achieved a 29.1% combined reply rate in its first month, indicating strong student engagement.

Onondaga Community College

Jenna Alexander

Coach and Director