How are your student affairs peers adapting? How will they change their services, spaces, staffing, and systems in the short-term and long-term? We discussed and answered these questions and more by facilitating a conversation among student affairs leaders across different colleges and universities to understand how they are adapting to the pandemic to be student-centered, agile, and equitable. Together, these stories and strategies will help you plan for the future and make immediate impact at your institution.

1. Learning and Adapting Together
During the Pandemic
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 | 8:30 – 9:20 a.m.

2. Presenters
Cedric Howard
Univ Northern Colorado
Matt Imboden
Wake Forest University
Dan Maxwell
Univ Houston System
Rob Wild
Washington Univ St. Louis
David Clark
Emory University
Elliot Felix
brightspot Strategy
Julie Selander
Univ of Minnesota
All of you!

3. Objectives and Agenda
Today we’ll discuss:
How have student and staff
needs changed?
How are student affairs leaders
across different colleges and
universities adapting to the
pandemic to be student-
centered, agile, and equitable?
Agenda:
1. Introductions
2. Poll + Discussion: Student needs
3. Poll + Discussion: Staff needs
4. Poll + Discussion: Planning for change
5. Final thoughts

4. Session Format and Flow
We’ll use data to
spark thinking.
We’ll have a quick poll
to take the pulse.
We’ll facilitate an
open discussion.

5. Using Poll Everywhere
Go to: www.pollev.com/brightspot
Enter name
Take poll!

6. Act I: Student Needs

7. Financial Retention Challenges
Finances are playing a major role in students dropping/stopping out
(StraighterLine and UPCEA, 2021)

8. Trust Gap
The pandemic decreased trust among Black/African American students and students whose
parent didn’t go to college. (Source: NSSE 2020, 29 Institutions)

9. Student Experience varies by touchpoint
Students are satisfied with facilities and technology but not academics, growth, and
community (Source: brightspot Student Experience Snapshot, 2021)
Dissatisfaction with community Satisfaction with facilities and tech
brightspot Student Experience Snapshot, 2021

10. Student Experience varies by segment
Adult learners (<25)
are more satisfied
than those 18-24
Transfer students
less satisfied with
classes, community,
and support services
Student Athletes
went from most to
least satisfied group
(NPS = 2)
Campus Culture has
.61 correlation with
Net Promoter Score
Student services
have strong
correlation (.72) with
campus culture
Sophomores/Second
Years are most
satisfied
brightspot Student Experience Snapshot, 2021

11. Drivers of dissatisfaction
Studying with peers
outside classroom
Access to and/or
quality of identity
centers
Difficulty connecting
with mentors
Lack of leadership
opportunities
Lack of service
learning
opportunities
Not having a say
in the direction
of the school
brightspot Student Experience Snapshot, 2021

12. NASPA 2022 Annual Meeting

13. Discussion:
How are student
needs changing?
• Disparities across departments,
schools, and institutions
• Challenges for most vulnerable
students
• Decreased student
engagement
• Changing student expectations
• Increased interpersonal conflict
• More difficulty navigating
higher ed
and more….

14. Act II: Staffing Needs

15. Issues facing college presidents
College Presidents see mental health, enrollment, finances, retention, and racial equity as
top issues (Source: ACE President’s Survey April & Sept, 2021)

16. Shifting demands and needs
Loss of time and
energy for in-person
and proactive
student engagement
Pandemic
responsibilities are
additive to role
More student
compliance and
conduct
management
Increased need for
advocacy for specific
populations
Limited time for
strategic planning /
thinking ahead
Greater clarity,
patience, and grace
from leaders
NASPA Administrators in Graduate & Professional Student Services Knowledge Community, Spring ‘22

17. Experimenting with flexible workspace
Institutions plan to create more flexible workspaces for staff and faculty
(Source: SCUP/brightspot Campus Facilities Inventory, 2021)
Expand remote work (82%)
Upgrade meeting rooms (78%)
Expand flexible hours (74%)
Create flexible workspace (62%)
Repurpose office space (42%)
Move admin units off campus (19%)

18. Differing views on “return to office”
The desire to “return to office” varies by race/gender (Future Forum, 2021)

19. Discussion:
How are staff needs
changing?
• Staff morale and burnout
• Recruitment challenges
• Need for continued flexibility
• New purpose for and use of
workspace
• Retention challenges
• Diversity, equity and inclusion
and more….

20. Act III: Planning for Change

21. Improving the campus
Institutions plan to upgrade their campuses based on lessons learned in the pandemic
(SCUP/brightspot Campus Facilities Inventory, 2021)
Increase outdoor space use (84%)
Create cultural/affinity spaces (48%)
Access to recreation/athletics (42%)
Provide more amenities (37%)
Increase media production (25%)
Increase spectator seating (16%)

22. Implementing new business/revenue models
Institutions are implementing shorter formats, targeting adult learners, increasing
executive education (Source: Salesforce Connected Student, 2021)

23. One-stop service models driving persistence
Use of a single-stop service point was associated with a 3% increase in student persistence
in a study of 4 community college systems (Source: RAND, 2020)
3 percentage
point persistence
increase

24. Redesigning student experiences
Institutions are reimagining academic programs, support services, technology, campus,
and community (Source: brightspot client roundables, 2021)

25. NASPA 2022 Annual Meeting

26. Discussion:
How are you
planning for
change?
• “Double-down” on the value of
campus
• New business models
• One-stop service hubs
• Rethink systems to enable
hybrid work and learning
• Work-Life integration
• Becoming more nimble
and more….

27. Thank You
See you in Boston at #NASPA23
APRIL 1 - APRIL 5, 2023