College students often face challenges during their studies, and most US universities offer a wide array of resources to help them navigate these difficulties. Unfortunately, many students remain unaware of these resources, and it can be challenging to engage them effectively.

In our series, The Interview, we speak with Higher Education (HE) leaders from universities nationwide. These experts have shared their innovative strategies for connecting students with the support services they need. Here's what they had to say:

1. Start at the Student Level

During his interview with GoodCourse Joseph Hartman, Provost and Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, emphasized the importance of peer connections and bridging the gap between students and support services, making them more approachable and relatable:

We pay students to be well-being ambassadors across all our colleges – they’re available during office hours and actively engage in day-to-day life on campus so that students know who they are and how they can connect. It’s essential that these ambassadors are accessible peers that our students can reach out to for support; they’re also equipped to direct students to additional support services should they need them.

Learn more from Joseph's experience and expertise in his full feature here.

2. Get Innovative

Personalizing student connections and ensuring support is just a text message away makes it more likely for students to seek help when they need it. Dave Roberts, Dean of Students at Columbia College, discusses the need for innovative approaches to student engagement:

Some students want a transactional relationship where they show up to class, pay their fees, and go home. But there are others who will want a different experience or need more support; they need to feel comfortable reaching out when they're having struggles.

To address this, Columbia College has implemented a unique text messaging system where their mascot, Scooter the Cougar, checks in with students:

Students can reply to the message via text, sometimes Scooter wants to know their favorite song at the moment, how they are doing in class, or how they are feeling about the semester so far. If students are having a problem, then that information gets forwarded over to our Student Affairs team so we can respond.

Learn more from Dave's experience and expertise in his full feature here.

3. Start at Orientation

During our interview with Dr. Rick Ezekiel, Vice-Provost of Student Affairs at Dalhousie University, he highlights the impact of orientation programs and fostering a sense of community from the outset, so students remain engaged throughout their academic journey:

During critical periods like orientation, our team can get thousands of students to feel a connection to our institution, and prompt them to engage with our policies.

However, he notes that the most meaningful engagement happens in smaller, connected environments:

We’ve been working with faculty to build classroom communities wherein students can support each other, and be engaged in conversations about how we create a positive atmosphere. When there’s a common interest, and students are co-creating and pledging to those community commitments, they’re more likely to be engaged on an emotional level.

Learn more from Rick's experience and expertise in his full feature here.

4. Use Technology

Utilizing multiple outlets ensures that students have easy access to the support resources they need, whenever and wherever they need them. Vernon Hurte, Vice President of Student Affairs at Towson University, advocates for a multipronged approach that heavily incorporates technology:

We take a multipronged approach that starts with students. I meet regularly with our student associations and leaders to inform how we approach Student Affairs. We want to know what they’re hearing from their peers to be at the forefront of our work.

He goes on to emphasize the importance of digital platforms: 

We view our website as a one-stop shop for sharing key resources and intentionally use our social media channels to elevate the accessibility of information for our students. My mantra for the team is: We always want to be where students are. This means we need to stay informed, nimble, and flexible to identify the best places and platforms to share our messaging.

Learn more from Vernon's experience and expertise in his full feature here.

5. Promote Clubs & Societies

By promoting clubs and societies, institutions can provide targeted support that addresses the unique needs of diverse student populations. Monique Umphrey, the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at Austin Community College, stresses the importance of promoting student organizations:

It all comes down to increasing the visibility of our clubs, societies, and communities, and the many support resources we offer.

She gives an example of one of their initiatives, the ACC NeuroBats:

[It’s] an initiative that pairs neurodiverse students with transformation coaches to help them overcome challenges. The group focuses on awareness, advocacy, and support, and it’s really helped our neurodiverse students blossom.

Additionally, working with professional organizations like Generation Hope, a support network for parent scholars, ensures that students receive tailored support:

When students seek support from these groups, and aren’t afraid to share their stories of growth, they lay the foundation for future students to engage with our initiatives.

Learn more from Monique's experience and expertise in her full feature here.

Conclusion

Engaging students in support resources requires a combination of personalized approaches, innovative use of technology, and a strong sense of community. By starting at the student level, being innovative, utilizing orientation programs, leveraging technology, and promoting clubs and societies, educational institutions can create a supportive environment where all students can thrive.

About GoodCourse

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From consent and harassment prevention to learning about student support resources, universities trust GoodCourse to provide students and staff with the tools they need to build safer, more inclusive campuses.

Talk to a member of our team today to learn about how other universities are improving student outcomes, student safety, and meeting regulatory requirements.