reengage students
to Thrive in
higher
education
Our journey began
with a clear purpose
To help colleges and universities reengage students who had started but never finished their degrees. Partnering with the Registrar’s Department at the College of DuPage, the largest community college in Illinois, we developed a one-of-a-kind platform. This platform combines program of study data with student records to automate the process of identifying, reaching out to, reengaging, and reenrolling students who have "stopped-out." Thanks to Max-Grad, the College of DuPage was able to identify over 2,300 eligible students, and 600 of those students returned to complete their degrees. Witnessing their journeys reminded us of why we exist—to help students realize their dreams of higher education, elevating their economic opportunities and quality of life in what we call a “generational premium.” When one family member graduates, it sparks a ripple effect that inspires future generations to follow the same path to success.
Many years ago, our co-founder, Art Caines, was a student with "some college credit but no degree," stopping and starting his studies multiple times across several institutions before earning his degree from the University of Nebraska. Life circumstances, like supporting a young family and pursuing his dream of playing baseball for a Detroit Tigers minor league team, didn’t allow him a “traditional” path to a degree. Art’s journey was one of resilience, mirroring the stories of over 41 million other students who started college but never finished. His accomplishment created a ripple effect in his own family, encouraging relatives—including his brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces—to pursue or return to their education.
Among them was his nephew, Jon Caines, Max-Grad’s Chief Creator of Opportunity and CoFounder, whose own path was shaped by Art’s example. Thanks to that ripple effect, Jon was able to complete a “traditional” college journey, earning his Bachelor of Arts from Fairfield University in four years. At Max-Grad, we put “traditional” in quotations because we know that every student’s path is unique and shaped by individual life circumstances. Our purpose is to empower students to succeed, and we’re here to support them, no matter their starting point.
Listening to our partners, clients, and the higher education community—who we consider family—has shown us that Max-Grad is more than a platform for students with “some college , no degree.”
We’re a catalyst for helping students—past, present, and future—achieve their education and career aspirations. By equipping institutions with powerful tools, we empower students from all backgrounds to thrive.
Max-Grad is a higher education-focused software development agency, committed to creating innovative, cutting-edge solutions for today’s challenges in higher education. We’re proud to partner with institutions nationwide, offering technology that makes a difference for students, families, and communities. Join us on our journey to open doors for generations to come—one student, one story, one family at a time.
