How digital learning communities help prepare students for higher ed success

group of students having fun running down pipe by beach

Before the school year starts, incoming students are thinking about more than just getting the right textbooks for class or the trendiest bedding for their dorm rooms.

With most being away from home for the first time – and in an entirely new environment – there’s plenty of fear and anxiety that comes with the adjustment to campus life. One of the biggest worries for Gen Z students that comes with this phase of life is finding community. In a recent survey, nearly one-third said making friends at school is what they think about most.

Digital student-to-student spaces like Unibuddy Chat and digital learning communities, like Unibuddy Community, can help students – incoming and current alike – navigate this time and help get them ready for success.

Here’s how digital learning communities help prepare students for higher ed success:

Students can foster authentic connections safely

Regardless of where they are in the higher education journey, students want to feel that they belong. Over half of Gen Z students want to connect with others before arriving on campus, which is why positive social encounters are mission-critical.

But the reality is that they’re not going to get them from social media or other digital spaces.

What they need is a place that allows them to connect authentically – like Unibuddy Chat, a live chat app designed specifically for higher education that allows students to interact with and get to know student ambassadors and faculty members.

It’s not an inquiry management tool with canned, automated responses. Instead, students can chat in real-time about anything, from dorm life to food at the dining hall to class load – and it bridges the authenticity gap in a way that’s important to Gen Z.

This type of platform can also help inform your institution’s marketing strategy with Conversation Insights. The data provided is instrumental in learning about what matters most to your students, including their fears and interests. You can even highlight between demographics!

Digital learning communities allow students to arrive on campus prepared

When it comes to helping students prepare for life on campus, there’s more to think about than just making friends. They must be orientated academically as well – and Unibuddy Community makes it easier than ever.

When they use Community, both domestic and international students can, as we like to say, find their people within their area of study.

The platform is made up of Groups, which are group messages that students can join based on shared purpose, such as their major. Doing so helps students form “learning communities” and create the network they need to succeed.

Students make friends within these chats, nipping isolation and loneliness in the bud before they even step onto campus.

Community doesn’t have to be used solely for academics, though – groups can be joined based on backgrounds, interests and even life experiences.

When Hunter College began using Unibuddy Community, its “Student Life, Student Clubs, & Student Activities” group became the main hub for most questions. Students began answering each other’s questions based on information they had gathered during their time.

Plus, over 3,000 students joined the “Fall 2022 Admitted Students” and “Fall 2022 Freshman Honors Scholars” communities – that’s a quarter of all admitted students!

Students stay engaged – and safe

You know how crucial it is to keep students engaged during the recruitment process, but what about after they’ve put down a deposit? Your work isn’t done.

When the conversation isn’t continued, many students melt away (drop out before enrolling) or arrive completely disoriented. That’s why it’s so important to encourage students to continue engaging with your institution on platforms like Chat and Community.

When Hunter College integrated Community into its conversion and orientation strategy, students had access to various groups to join and build bonds with other admitted students. The students who used Community didn’t stagnate or melt – all went on to deposit.

Most importantly, students can forge these connections safely thanks to Unibuddy’s safety measures. These include word flagging, thorough verification processes and even a code of conduct that users must acknowledge before signing up. So far, less than 1% of users have reported misconduct.

Any student can use them, regardless of location

The best part about these digital spaces is that they’re accessible to anyone, regardless of their location. International students, who may not have been able to visit the campus, can find their place and build a sense of belonging before they even step foot on campus.

At Indiana University, over 80 admitted students from India joined a “Future Hoosiers 2022 – India” group and exchanged nearly 1,000 messages!