Why Student Engagement Is Still So Elusive
Student engagement isn’t a new challenge, but in 2025, it’s taking on new urgency. According to recent data from Active Minds and TimelyCare, over a quarter of college students report feeling isolated, left out, or lacking companionship — clear signs of a growing disconnect from campus life. Despite a growing array of technology platforms, virtual events, advising programs, and communication tools, many institutions still struggle to meet students where they are. So why aren’t these solutions clicking?
What is Student Engagement?
Before we get into the core issues, let’s first understand what student engagement really means. It isn’t just a buzzword in higher education — it’s a key predictor of whether a student will persist, graduate, and feel genuinely connected to their campus. Yet colleges and universities across the U.S. are finding it difficult to meet the evolving expectations of today’s learners, especially in an increasingly mobile-first world.
As Gen Z students demand real-time communication, personalized experiences, and seamless access to support, institutions are seeking new ways to connect with students both inside and outside the classroom.
In this post, we’ll explore why student engagement is slipping through the cracks — and what questions colleges should be asking before investing in another digital solution.
1. Are we defining engagement the same way students do?
Colleges often measure engagement by tracking portal logins, event RSVPs, or course activity. But for students, the definition can be much more personal. Feeling engaged might mean knowing where to find help without searching through five websites. It might mean receiving a message that actually feels relevant—or just knowing someone on campus notices when they’re struggling. If institutions don’t understand what students think engagement looks and feels like, they risk building solutions for the wrong problem.
2. Are we making it too hard to find essential information?
The average student might need to log in to half a dozen systems just to check their grades, financial aid status, academic holds, or next advising appointment. Even if each system works fine on its own, navigating all of them together can feel exhausting. And for students who are balancing work, family, and full-time study, that friction can lead to disengagement. Accessing support shouldn’t feel like a digital scavenger hunt.
3. Are we showing up where students are already looking?
Email used to be the backbone of campus communication. Now it’s often the last place students look. With crowded inboxes and nonstop notifications, students are more likely to engage with messages delivered through timely push notifications or in-app alerts—especially when those messages are tailored to their needs. Institutions can’t assume that more communication will equal more connection. Relevance and timing matter more than volume.
4. Do we have a way to notice when students are slipping?
By the time a student misses too many classes or fails to register for the next term, it may already be too late to intervene. Without early warning signs—like missed deadlines, skipped advising, or sudden disengagement—faculty and staff are left guessing. Schools need more than just academic alerts. They need insight into behavioral patterns that can signal when a student might be quietly slipping through the cracks. Preventative engagement depends on visibility.
5. Are we designing for mobile—or just adapting to it?
It’s not enough for a platform to be mobile-friendly; it needs to be mobile-first. Students today expect seamless access on their phones, not as an afterthought, but as the default. Registering for classes, messaging support staff, checking holds—these should all be possible with a few taps. A clunky desktop experience repackaged as a mobile site doesn’t cut it. Students engage when services fit into their existing digital habits, not when they have to work around them.
6. Are we investing in connection—or just communication?
There’s a subtle but important difference between pushing information out and creating real connections. Engagement grows when students feel part of a community—when they’re invited to contribute, not just consume. Digital tools that surface student clubs, spotlight peer voices, and integrate social experiences can foster that sense of belonging. The best platforms don’t just remind students what’s due—they remind them they’re part of something bigger.
A Final Thought
Student engagement isn’t just about technology. It’s about trust, ease, and relevance. Institutions that ask the hard questions—and are willing to rethink legacy approaches—are the ones most likely to see lasting improvements in retention, satisfaction, and student success.
There are tools out there that bring these pieces together. Unifyed Engage, for example, offers a way to centralize services, personalize outreach, and support students across their entire journey—but regardless of which solution a college chooses, it starts with asking better questions.
Boost Engagement Now: Schedule a demo for Unifyed Engage, Student Portal & Mobile App.
