This document proposes a single web-based tool to help college students with comfort, connection, and contribution. It would allow students to find others with similar interests, join groups, and share work with the community. Colleges could track student activity and engagement to identify needs and provide support. An integrated approach using the tool and training could help increase student retention by better facilitating students' transition into college life and involvement in the social and academic community. The proposal outlines how the tool might be used at different stages by students and departments, and provides a timeline for rollout and assessment of the approach.

1. You’ve probably noticed,
some things have changed with college students.

3. But there’s good news:

4. (They just do a lot of stuff online.)
Students are human.
still
>

5. They Need: Comfort
YOU ARE
NOT
ALONE
still>
: )
Comfort

6. They Need: Connection
Connection
Hi! I’m new.
Awesome,
join our team!
still>
Comfort

7. They Need: Contribution
Connection
Contribution
Here,
let me help.
Thanks!
still>
Comfort

8. They Need: The Same Things
still>
(They just look for them online.)

9. They Need: The Same Things
still>
(And it doesn’t work that well.)

10. The Current Approach:

11. Comfort: Find People LikeYou
For a new student, it’s all questions, few answers.
{

12. Connection: Join the College Community
• Students often don’t know where to look.
• With limited assessment, it’s very hard to keep the information current.
www.yourschool.edu
{
Student Clubs
Activities
Sports
UZ
UZ
UZ

13. Contribution: Give to the Community
?
• There is no central place to share effort and work with the community.
• The best work gets buried in private systems.

14. Your
EDU
Schools Want Student Success
Connection
Contribution
Comfort

15. Connection
Contribution Connection
25%
of students will drop
out their first year.*
*According to American College Testing
and
Comfort

16. “The major cause of student attrition [is] the
inability of students to make the transition to
college and become incorporated into the
institution's ongoing social and intellectual life.”
-Dr.Vincent Tinto,
Leaving College: Rethinking the Causes and Cures of Student Attrition.
Second Edition.
hello?

17. We can do better.(With a new web tool and perhaps a little training.)

18. Your
EDU
Comfort
Connection
Contribution
A Single Web Based Tool:
Helping students
1. Find people like them
2. Join groups and create groups
3. Give to the community
And helping colleges
4.Track, assess, advise and
support the process

19. Comfort: Find People LikeYou
2 minutes to sign up.
(Works with Facebook.)
Instant interest matching.
(by Res. Hall, Major,Year)

20. Connection: Join the College Community
Club / Org Recommendations
(Based on matching interests.)
Join Groups With One Click

21. Contribution: Give to the Community
e.g. College 101
Class Major CollegeClub/ Org
Student Blog
Students can share content with any of their groups,
using any of their own preferred web services.

22. Assessment: Support and Advice
A live dashboard shows student activity
and highlights support needs.

23. Training
(Because the world keeps changing.)

24. Result: Increased Support, Retention, and Success
Training Red RoverTechnology
1. For Students
Best Use of Online Tools, Facebook, et. al.
2. For Student Leaders
Engagement Model: Dance Floor Theory
Using Technology to Recruit & Organize
3. For Staff and Faculty
How to use Data and Dashboards
FirstYear Experience Tech. Curriculum
1. Finding People Like Them
Positive Digital Networking
2. Recruiting and Organizing Online
Personalized Peer & Group Recommendations
Enables Student Leader Collaboration / Sharing
3. Sharing With the Community
Uses Any Current Tool, Blog, etc. Flexible
IncreasesVisibility of Student Activity & Success
Integrated Training and Technology

25. Timeline
(Different student phases, different departments, one solution.
With longitudinal assessment across the whole process. )

26. Orientation
FirstYear Exp. Classes
Advising
January April August Dec.
• Meet peers through:
Major, Res. Hall &
Interests
Students:
Colleges:
• Facilitate connections
• Measure interaction
• Find and Join Groups • Connect blogs, etc. to profile.
• Participate in community
• Find campus mentors / models
• Assess and Encourage
Student Leaders
• Teach current tools
• Create community culture
Acceptance
With :

27. The 2009 software
will be made available to a
few select colleges.
To follow the project, please visit our blog.
To discuss participation in either
the free software or an integrated package
of training and software,
please email kevin@redroverhq.com.