Catholic Charities, Texas Wesleyan to Launch Program

The organizations will host an announcement and signing ceremony on November 4, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Financial Aid

Bold vector editorial illustration of a graduation cap on a stone ledge, representing student academic success and support resources.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth and Texas Wesleyan University are partnering to expand the Stay the Course program, providing essential support to students. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe non-academic support programs are effective at helping college students graduate?

Catholic Charities Fort Worth and Texas Wesleyan University are partnering to bring the Stay the Course program to campus. The initiative will hold an official announcement and signing ceremony on November 4, 2026.

Why it matters

The program addresses non-academic hurdles, such as medical bills and childcare crises, that frequently prevent students from completing their degrees. By providing dedicated coaching and resource connection, the partnership aims to remove these barriers to graduation.

The Stay the Course program, which launched in 2015, makes students four times more likely to graduate by pairing them with Navigators. Texas Wesleyan University will complement this coaching by offering targeted tuition discounts and scholarship support.

The players

Catholic Charities Fort Worth

Founded in 1910, this organization develops community-based social service programs.

Texas Wesleyan University

Founded in 1890, this university offers more than 40 distinct areas of study.

The details

Stay the Course pairs students with Navigators who provide individualized coaching and connect participants to community resources to address life challenges. The partnership between Catholic Charities Fort Worth and Texas Wesleyan University is designed to directly support students in overcoming external obstacles to their academic success.

Timeline

  1. The Stay the Course program originally launched in 2015.

  2. The partnership announcement and signing ceremony will occur on November 4, 2026.

Culture Shift

This partnership reflects a broader move toward holistic student support models that integrate community social services directly into the higher education experience. By prioritizing non-academic stability, institutions like Texas Wesleyan are pivoting away from traditional tuition-only aid toward comprehensive retention strategies.

Students at Texas Wesleyan University can expect improved access to resources for managing personal barriers like childcare and healthcare costs. The program provides a pathway to more stable academic progress through individualized professional coaching.

The takeaway

Students facing external life challenges should inquire with university administrators about the availability of navigator-led support programs. Leveraging these resources early in a degree path can significantly improve the statistical likelihood of long-term academic completion.

Further reading

Learn more about support initiatives in the Financial Aid section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Fort Worth Business Press.

Live Poll

Do you believe non-academic support programs are effective at helping college students graduate?