A new report from The Hope Center titled, “Supporting the Whole Community College Student: The Impact of Nudging for Basic Needs Security,” points out that sending Amarillo College students simple emails more than doubled the use of the college’s basic needs center and increased students' odds of completing developmental education by about 20%.
In 2016, Amarillo’s president, Dr. Russell D. Lowery-Hart, invited The Hope Center to examine the college’s Advocacy & Resource Center (ARC). The Hope Center wrote a case study, published in 2019, funded by the Trellis Foundation. ARC was then serving about 13% of Amarillo College students, which was less than the estimated two-thirds who dealt with basic needs insecurities, such as housing and food. The center also mostly serviced female students. 
Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab
“The question was, what could we do to get more students to the ARC and could it help get more men there?" said Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, president and founder of The Hope Center, which is headquartered at Temple University. "The other question, is the ARC actually helping students academically?”
The objective, she said, was to increase ARC use, particularly among high-risk students, by using low-cost technology and estimate the academic impact. The subjects were 1,000 students who were enrolled in developmental education coursework—often a barrier to retention and community college completion—and identified as low-income.
The ARC offers access to emergency aid, public benefits programs, transportation, childcare assistance, coaching, career guidance, textbook lending and counseling. There is also a food pantry and clothing closet.
“We have shown that students that go to our Advocacy & Resource Center and seek out social services do have higher retention and completion rates,” said Cara Crowley, vice president of strategic initiatives at Amarillo College, which is located in Texas.
Targeted personalized emails about ARC were sent monthly to selected students. For the purpose of this study, emails were personalized with the recipient’s first name and included references to the time of year. It detailed the available supports and services as well as words of encouragement. The signature included the name of a staff member.
