The playing field for achievement and advancement in today’s world is anything but level—underserved students face barriers to success every single day.
The solution is simple, but not easy: raise college graduation rates and improve career readiness for local students from low-income families. That’s where College Track — and RingCentral come in.
College Track is a national nonprofit organization devoted to removing the academic, financial and social/emotional barriers to earning a college degree. Starting in ninth grade, College Track makes a 10-year promise to see each and every enrolled student through their college graduation—and the students make that same commitment to their future.
The program works. College Track students graduate from college at more than double the rate of their peers and even outpace the national average for all students, regardless of income level.
RingCentral recently participated in College Track Day with students in the San Francisco Bay Area. Leaders from across the company met with students, shared their experiences…and learned a few lessons of their own.
Employee Experience Business Partner Jonathan Evans explains, “Having a solid network of professional contacts as a graduate can be critical to a successful launch into the business world. I was honored to be a panelist for College Track Day at RingCentral. The students asked insightful, thoughtful questions of the panelists and it was inspiring to see the excitement and engagement of our future leaders. I’m hopeful that each participant walked away feeling more empowered to explore their career goals and supported by our RingCentral family as they continue their collegiate journey.”
The benefits of College Track Day work both ways. When companies support College Track students, they discover an incredible resource of passion, determination and lived experiences. These students bring a diversity of perspectives and voices to the workplace, and give companies like RingCentral access to a broader, more diverse pipeline of career-ready graduates.
“As a forward-thinking company, RingCentral doesn’t stop at pioneering innovative technology–we look around our communities and invest in all aspects of our future,” said Tu-Han Phan, Social Impact & Diversity Business Partner.
Phan continued, “RingCentral’s partnership with College Track sings on many levels–a nod to a future generation of leaders kicked-off by a career day sparking bright minds and talent propelling them into our world of technology. (We) couldn’t be more proud of College Track’s important work and the incredible group of students they prepare.”
Building and maintaining valuable connections is easier with the right technology. This is why both College Track students and RingCentral team members are already putting the RingCentral platform to good use.
“ The College Track Career Panel with RingCentral was great!” says HR Coordinator Ashley Madrigal-Vargas. “I loved sharing my story and being able to connect with students to engage in dialogue and provide advice.” College Track’s Deputy Executive Director, Marshall V. Lott IV, agrees.
“Thursday’s Corporate Residency Visit to RingCentral was a wonderful experience for our students. The content connected really well, as our students have been utilizing virtual communication platforms a lot, specifically for school, as a result of the impact of COVID-19.The engagement of RingCentral employees was extremely meaningful. During the employee panels they shared both their personal and professional experiences that led them to their work at RingCentral. In addition, they connected with our students 1-on-1 to provide direct coaching, which students found very helpful.”
RingCentral is committed to increasing the social mobility of every community we serve. So we’re incredibly excited to have the opportunity to help students get critical exposure to career opportunities while they are still in school. By connecting College Track enrollees’ academic pursuits with tangible professional pathways, we’re helping motivate, focus and inspire the next generation of leaders—and more importantly, giving them the connections they need to pursue a life of opportunity, choice, and power.
You might even call it #winningtogether.
Originally published Jul 15, 2020, updated Aug 23, 2021