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Picture this: A new, first-generation student clicks to open their school's digital welcome survey. With excitement and trepidation, they confess: "I want to know how college works." This simple statement, captured by Mentor Collective's matching survey — which is designed to consider each student's unique identity, life experiences, and personal goals — transforms a straightforward survey question into a goldmine of actionable data for the campus leaders.
In a recent webinar, Dr. Shannon LaCount, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Mentor Collective, presented campus leaders with five key insights into student needs and wishes. She explained, "Data without action is just noise. If students report feeling disconnected, we need to take action to boost belonging initiatives. If academic struggles emerge, we need to enhance study support." Through Mentor Collective's platform, institutions can quickly identify students who need extra guidance, connect them with personalized mentorship, and direct them to relevant campus resources. This approach not only addresses individual needs—it can shape the school's entire student success strategy.
By analyzing trends in student responses, wishes, and needs, institutions can proactively adjust support services and create a more responsive campus environment. As Dr. LaCount puts it, "It's like having a direct line to your students' needs - don't let it go to voicemail."
Read on for five things your students wish you knew, or watch the webinar for the full story!
#1 Students Have Goals – And They're Not Afraid to Share Them
One student shared, "I wish I had signed up for marching band," revealing how extracurricular interests can be significant goals for students. Dr. LaCount revealed that alongside such personal aspirations, students' top goals also include securing internships and exploring career options. Mentorship programs address these diverse needs by connecting students with relevant services, providing resources for both academic and personal development, and offering guidance on balancing curricular and extracurricular pursuits, potentially improving retention and engagement.
#2 Belonging Isn't Just a Buzzword – It's a Measurable Metric
Dr. LaCount emphasized the importance of tracking students' sense of belonging. "76% of students agree or strongly agree that they feel comfortable at their school at the start of the program," she noted. However, it's the 6% who disagree that present an opportunity for impactful intervention. The Mentor Collective platform allows institutions to identify these students and take action easily. Dr. LaCount demonstrated how using the Mentor Collective dashboard, program coordinators can filter for students with low sense of belonging scores and access their profiles to provide targeted support.
#3 Life Experiences Shape Student Needs
From being parents to switching careers, students bring diverse life experiences to campus. As one participant, Student Success Specialist at Stony Brook University Hank Hardy, pointed out, "Remember, these aren't just students – they're all your children!" Understanding these experiences allows institutions to provide more targeted and effective support. Dr. LaCount shared that some of the top challenges reported by students in the past months included being parents, switching careers, dealing with health and wellness issues, and supporting their families financially. Mentorship programs can help by connecting students with mentors with similar experiences and alerting relevant campus services to provide additional support.
#4 Interests and Identities Matter
"I want help with course success," stated one student, reflecting how personal interests shape academic goals. This seemingly small detail could be the difference between retention and transfer. By leveraging matching surveys and micro-surveys, institutions can connect students with relevant opportunities and resources. Dr. LaCount explained how the Mentor Collective platform allows campuses to easily share curated lists of students interested in specific academic areas with relevant departments, facilitating faster and more targeted student support.
#5 Students Are Honest About Their Intentions
Perhaps most crucially, students are open about what they will and won't do. This honesty allows institutions to identify students with low help-seeking behaviors and provide extra support to engage them with campus resources. Dr. LaCount highlighted a question asked at the beginning of the mentorship program: "In the coming months, how likely is it that you will contact a career professional, email professors, meet with advisors, or meet with professors and support staff?" The responses to this question provide valuable insights into students' intentions and help institutions proactively support those less likely to seek help independently.
Throughout the webinar, Dr. LaCount highlighted how Mentor Collective's platform can help institutions act on these insights. From flagging students who need support to facilitate personalized mentor-mentee matches, the tools exist to transform these insights into action.
76% of students agree or strongly agree that they feel comfortable at their school at the start of the program. However, it's the 6% who disagree that present an opportunity for impactful intervention. - Dr. LaCount
As higher education continues to evolve, understanding and acting on student needs becomes increasingly critical. For Enrollment and Admissions professionals, Deans of Student Affairs, and other campus leaders, these insights offer a roadmap to creating more supportive, engaging, and successful student experiences.
In the end, it's not just about collecting data – it's about listening to the student's voice and responding with meaningful action. As we navigate the complex landscape of higher education, let's remember that behind every data point is a student with goals, challenges, and the potential to thrive with the right support.
Dr. LaCount concludes, "Mentorship isn't a 'set it and forget it' deal. Think of it as customer service for education - always there when you need it."
Want to learn more about how Mentor Collective’s software, resources, and training can help you decode student success on your campus? Let our team show you these features in action with a product demo.