Swim Digital Group
Cracking the Code to Student Success

Swim Digital Group helps colleges and universities solve the deeper problems that hold students back. Declines in enrollment, retention, or course completion are rarely the root issue. They are often the result of communication breakdowns, misaligned processes, or institutional obstacles. Swim works alongside institutions to identify these challenges and implement targeted, sustainable solutions that improve how students enter, move through, and complete their educational journeys.

The firm begins each engagement by listening. Through a structured, three-layer discovery process, Swim gathers insights from across the institution. The first step involves deep-dive conversations with frontline staff—the individuals closest to students—who provide a detailed view of daily operations and where inefficiencies or confusion may exist. Next, the team meets with department leaders to capture a broader understanding of institutional goals and uncover potential disconnects between strategic vision and everyday execution.

To elevate the student perspective, Swim introduces “secret students” who go through the application and enrollment process just as a real student would. These students represent both current and aspirational demographics, offering firsthand observations about gaps in communication, responsiveness, and user experience. Their insights are complemented by stakeholder surveys that include current students, applicants, withdrawn students, staff, and others, offering a well-rounded picture of the student experience.

Artificial intelligence tools are used to analyze this information and highlight patterns that might not be immediately visible. The result is a comprehensive, evidence-based set of recommendations tailored to the institution’s goals, needs, and operational readiness. Swim is technology-agnostic and works with institutions to adopt or refine tools that support greater efficiency while keeping the student experience at the center.

Beyond diagnostics, Swim supports implementation. This includes guiding teams through change management, helping align updates across departments, and offering strategies that support staff buy-in and student impact. Each engagement is structured to promote long-term improvement through practical steps, ongoing collaboration, and measurable outcomes.

“We meet our clients where they are, bridging the gap between their current state and where they need to be to successfully enroll, retain, and graduate their students,” says Trimeka Benjamin, president and CEO.

The results speak for themselves. At Austin Community College, Swim helped reimagine student onboarding and support systems, which contributed to a 47 percent increase in new student enrollment for 8-week courses. At Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Swim’s involvement led to improved onboarding and retention efforts, contributing to enrollment growth and earlier identification of potential barriers to persistence.

Swim’s strength lies in its ability to meet institutions where they are. Whether the challenge is a complex system that no longer serves students effectively, or a communication gap between departments, the firm brings clarity and direction. Every solution is rooted in the institution’s context and informed by real student experiences.

By combining environmental analysis, stakeholder engagement, and implementation support, Swim helps institutions turn insight into action and build better experiences that support student success.