November 02, 2021

How To Increase Connectivity with a Multi-Hub Campus Portal: Johns Hopkins University Campus Spotlight

November 02, 2021/ Lucie-Kay Desthuis-Francis

In July 2020, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) America's first research university launched CampusGroups at its Homewood and Peabody campuses. Homewood is the university’s main campus and home to two major undergraduate schools.

A year after, it rolled out the community platform university wide. Spread over nine campuses and three continents, JHU has over 30,000 students, including over 20,000 graduate students.

Due to the university’s structure, JHU implemented the CampusGroups Portal feature (“Hopkins Groups”) with multiple Community Hubs. One for each campus.

This has enabled each campus to have a custom landing page and menu, creating a personalized experience for students and administrators.

According to Calvin Smith, JHU’s Director of Student Leadership and Involvement, this rollout increased connectivity across JHU campuses. The biggest windfalls reportedly are:

Increased student engagement.
A better user experience.
More granular involvement stats.

October 12, 2021

How to Increase Adoption of Your Campus Mobile App?

October 12, 2021/ Lucie-Kay Desthuis-Francis

Mobile apps increasingly drive how students gather information, learn, work, and socialize. It is therefore critical for colleges to have a dedicated campus app as an engagement tool.

The aim is to have a mobile app that is the go-to resource for students. Having a well-designed app is only half the battle. It is also important to implement a mobile app adoption and engagement strategy, targeting new and existing students.

As the providers of a campus community platform, serving 70% of the top universities in the United States, we have put together some tips for increasing campus app adoption.

October 05, 2021

Lead On! Enriching Leadership Development Activities for College Students

October 05, 2021/ Stephanie Chandra

One of the most critical steps to preparing college students for a successful future is helping them develop their leadership skills. Through meaningful experiences integrated throughout curricular and co-curricular activities, students are empowered to build their leadership portfolio and distinguish themselves from the pack (or from a stack of applications).

Taking on a leadership role on campus is a fantastic opportunity to build real-world, resume-building skills. Fortunately, there is no shortage of opportunities to lead in a campus community, from participating in student government, getting involved in a club or sports team, volunteering, pursuing a passion project, serving as a student ambassador to incoming students and beyond.

September 28, 2021

Student Organizations: How to Attract and Retain Members

September 28, 2021/ Lucie-Kay Desthuis-Francis

Student organization leaders know the importance of attracting and keeping members. However, they do not always know how to do this or what tools could help them.

Outlined here are ways for student organizations to strengthen recruitment and retention efforts. Drawn from the experience of CampusGroups’ amazing partners, these best practices are key to sustaining a vibrant and healthy organization.

September 21, 2021

Campus Spotlight: Engaging and Empowering College Student Leaders at Binghamton University

September 21, 2021/ Stephanie Chandra

One lesson many of us have learned along our educational journey is that it takes more to stand out than just good grades. In the same way, the college experience should be about far more than what you learn in a book or classroom.

Taking on a leadership role during college is a fantastic opportunity for a student to explore ways to demonstrate their commitment to something they care about, while simultaneously building real-world, transferable skills.

September 14, 2021

Co-Curricular Transcripts: An Important Compass of College Life

September 14, 2021/ Lucie-Kay Desthuis-Francis

The academic transcript has traditionally been the blueprint of a student’s accomplishments. However, it does not completely reflect the learning experience of college life. More importantly, it is not the best indicator of student success or career readiness.

Colleges and employers are increasingly taking a more holistic view of the college experience. Therefore, co-curricular transcripts are becoming commonplace and the technology around them is evolving.

September 07, 2021

Fall Fun in '21! Inspiring Ideas for Outdoor & Virtual Campus Events

September 07, 2021/ Stephanie Chandra

27 Inspiring Ideas for Outdoor & Virtual Events this Fall

For many, one of the most beloved times of the year is fall. A brand new school year full of possibilities, an emergence of vibrant colors, flavors, and crisp, cool air. What’s not to love?

This year may look different for many college students following COVID-19 guidelines, but there are still many ways to take advantage of this beautiful season!

August 31, 2021

Make New Social Connections on Campus: Expand Your World

August 31, 2021/ Lucie-Kay Desthuis-Francis

Social connection is a core human need. Having a strong support network is essential to building a sense of belonging. Research shows the positive correlation between social connectedness and overall wellbeing, resilience, and life satisfaction.

For students, a feeling of belonging is a key predictor of student engagement, retention, and success. Social connections provide students with the emotional and academic support they need to thrive.

Regular social interaction helps develop meaningful and lasting relationships. There are plenty of stories of college friends starting a business together, and I personally have several friends who met their significant other in college. Even some of the more short-term connections can provide long-term benefits.

Having a strong support network helps students feel less isolated. It helps them realize that they are not alone in experiencing stress and anxiety. Social connectedness also helps prevent student burnout and contributes to higher student retention rates.