By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies described in our privacy policy.

Donate or Partner
Donate or Partner

Student Engagement

Establish clear pathways from enrollment to completion while fostering authentic connections and community that ensure all students develop a sense of belonging, enhancing their educational experience and supporting persistence toward degree completion.

- Diverse college students engaged in conversation at an academic advising session.

Meaningful Educational Investment

This approach establishes clear pathways from enrollment to completion while fostering authentic connections and community that ensure all students develop a sense of belonging, enhancing their educational experience and supporting persistence toward degree completion.

Achievement Gaps

Engagement gaps translate directly into achievement gaps, particularly affecting first-generation and underrepresented students

Retention Challenges

First-to-second year retention averages only 73% at four-year institutions and 62% at two-year colleges

Connection Barriers

Post-pandemic mental health concerns and digital learning integration create new obstacles to authentic student connection

Photos by Allison Shelley/Complete College Photo Library

Proof Points

Strategic engagement creates conditions that promote persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion by connecting students meaningfully to learning, community, and success pathways.

  • Students with high engagement levels are 38% more likely to graduate within six years
  • First-year students in high-impact practices show 27% higher retention rates than non-participants
  • Institutions with robust engagement strategies demonstrate a 32% reduction in equity gaps for underserved students
  • Students with a strong sense of belonging are 3.5 times more likely to persist to degree completion

Georgia State University’s “Panther Engagement Platform” connects students to personalized engagement opportunities through predictive analytics and proactive interventions with specialized communities for diverse populations. First-year retention rates increased by 12 percentage points, with equity gaps nearly eliminated and a 24% increase in student sense of belonging measures.

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA

Benefits

Student engagement fosters vibrant learning communities that enhance academic outcomes, while cultivating institutional cultures that improve reputation, attract prospective students, and demonstrate clear pathways from engagement to success.

Academic Success

Higher retention rates and improved learning outcomes through meaningful educational experiences

Campus Culture

Stronger connections between students, faculty, and staff creating vibrant institutional communities

Equity Impact

Significant reduction in achievement gaps for historically underserved student populations

Related News

See All News

Related Resources

See All Resources

Explore Our Work

We are shifting policy at the state and federal level, changing perspectives among educators and administrators, and implementing proven strategies across hundreds of campuses.

See Our Work
Diverse group of college students walking and chatting outside a modern campus building, representing student engagement and higher education success.