Guilford Technical Community College | Case Study

Challenge: Create a student-centered scheduling model that removes barriers and supports completion

Serving more than 12,000 curriculum students across multiple campuses, Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) in Jamestown, North Carolina, set out to design an academic structure that better aligned with student needs.

As an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution and majority-minority college, GTCC wanted to increase access, improve retention, and help students earn credentials faster. Yet, the traditional 16-week schedule created barriers — limited on-ramps for new students, scheduling bottlenecks during prime hours, and too few opportunities for learners balancing work and family.

To achieve meaningful change, GTCC needed a comprehensive strategy that would address scheduling inefficiencies while promoting momentum toward completion.

Solution: Partner with Ad Astra to design and analyze an 8-week scheduling model

In Fall 2025, GTCC transitioned 86% of its curriculum courses from traditional 16-week semesters to 8-week sessions, creating two terms per semester. The move
was grounded in national research showing that shorter terms can lead to stronger student outcomes — more credits earned, higher persistence, and faster graduation.

To make the transition successful, GTCC collaborated with Ad Astra to:

Develop a new schedule grid that reduces time-of-day compression and expands course availability.
Use Student Demand Forecasting and Registration Monitoring to align offerings with enrollment patterns.
Analyze post-implementation data to identify areas for continued improvement.

Ad Astra’s tools and partnership provided the analytics backbone GTCC needed to design a schedule that is flexible, equitable, and data-informed — ensuring every student can find and complete the courses they need on time.

The new schedule also enables more entry points throughout the year, reducing the number of students who must “wait for next semester” to begin their studies. By coupling data insights with a student-centered scheduling model, GTCC is creating a more inclusive and efficient path to completion.

School Background

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) serves the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina and is one of the state’s largest community colleges. An emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution and majority-minority college, GTCC enrolls more than 12,000 curriculum students and 30,000 total learners annually across curriculum, workforce development, and continuing education programs. GTCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

CASE STUDY | GUILFORD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Transitioning to shortened terms to accelerate student success

Challenge: Create a student-centered scheduling model that removes barriers and supports completion

Solution: Partner with Ad Astra to design and analyze an 8-week scheduling model

increase in total student credit hours taken

Year-over-year enrollment growth, adding approximately 570 students

School Background

Products in Use

Academic Scheduling

Student Demand Forecasting

Registration Monitoring

Ready to learn more about how Ad Astra can help you streamline processes and achieve a student-centered schedule?