COLLEEN PERRY KEITH COLUMN: Engaging students in campus life for success today and tomorrow – Stanly News & Press

What does it take to define the undergraduate experience as successful?

Academics, of course, are a key component. But classroom learning is just one important piece of a much larger puzzle. For most students to do well in their coursework and stay the course until graduation, their life outside the classroom and the ways they become engaged in the life of their college or university matters more than we might think.

According to the National Survey of Student Engagement, students who are engaged meaning they feel a sense of belonging and identification with their school are less likely to drop out.

In fact, research indicates that highly engaged students earn higher grades, perform better on tests, set and meet personal goals, persist on tasks, expect success and value educational outcomes.

At Pfeiffer University, we take this seriously.

In addition to providing academic support that encourages frequent interaction between students and their professors and advisors, and dozens of clubs and organizations for students to get involved with proven factors in positive student engagement we offer intentional and creative programming that integrates learning and living, thereby increasing the likelihood of engagement in campus life.

One way we do this is through Living-Learning Communities (LLC), which offer students with similar goals and interests the opportunity to live and study together in designated areas of residence halls.

LLCs at Pfeiffer for Criminal Justice majors and Honors Program participants are teaching lessons similar to other LLCs across the country. Peer-to-peer support (which for the most part develops organically) for studying and social purposes and increased attention from faculty members who create relevant programming, organize off-campus outings and invite guest speakers to campus have contributed to positive outcomes in a relatively short period.

The criminal justice group is posting a higher cumulative grade point average while those in the Honors Residential College have demonstrated significantly increased persistence with the Honors Program. This success has prompted the addition this fall of a new Living-Learning Community for Nursing majors.

For commuter students, whose engagement is as important as that of their residential counterparts, we work hard due to the fact that they live elsewhere and often hold jobs to bond them to campus life. Semi-monthly Commuter Lunches hosted by the Office of Student Development provide opportunities for participants to get to know one another, ask questions and engage with Pfeiffer.

These lunches will continue along with other programs designed to connect commuter students more firmly with the curricular and co-curricular opportunities available to them.

These and other engagement-boosting activities promote servant-leadership through service, campus ministry, residence life and athletics and encourage experiential and off-campus learning through internships or study abroad.

Together they help shape a sense of community that begins while students are enrolled and, ideally, continues after graduation. Ultimately, Pfeiffers engaged students become engaged citizens, employees and alumni who know how to make an impact on their families, communities and alma mater.

Colleen PerryKeith is president of Pfeiffer University. She writes a monthly column about the university and its impact on the community.

B. J. Drye is editor of The Stanly News & Press. Contact him at (704) 982-2121 ext. 25, bj@stanlnewspress.com or PO Box 488, Albemarle, NC 28002.

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COLLEEN PERRY KEITH COLUMN: Engaging students in campus life for success today and tomorrow - Stanly News & Press