Student Retention Tools for Higher Education Recruitment

Figuring out how to improve student retention is like constructing a building on ever-shifting landscapes. As students change, priorities shift and everyone that considers your school as an option has their own set of challenges to navigate as they continue the next step in their academic career.

Having tools that are effective at addressing student concerns so that they feel supported is incredibly important, especially as Gen Z reports needing authentic communication in order to be valued. The payoff of using a system that allows potential students to get connected to their peers and start building their networks is crucial, but you might be hesitant if such a system is a pain to install, use and maintain.

Easy Implementation

Our Unibuddy Platform is easy to implement, with just a few strings of code added to your existing website. It’s hosted through our servers, with constantly innovating features that keep users’ privacy secure while offering recruiting staff the ability to use chat and community data to see what services would be best offered to individuals at risk of melt or withdrawal.

Without needing to overhaul your institution’s website or add expensive programs, your recruiters can have asynchronous student ambassadors that connect with potential new students and keep them engaged as they go through the beginning stages of their academic careers in higher education.

Related: The Gen Z Journey to Higher Education

Low-Upkeep and Continuous Support

You might wonder about the kind of maintenance needed once the system is set up, but that too, is taken care of. Our platform runs without your intervention and is updated with new features and fixes if problems arise. Once installed, there is little to worry about in its functionality, as everything is hosted through Unibuddy and runs seamlessly on your institution’s website.

Unibuddy takes care of complying with privacy laws as well, as we know that that’s a top priority for students, faculty, administrators and schools. We ensure that everyone is informed about how their information is used, who gets access to it and any updates that happen. Privacy is important to us and it’s the first step in our design–we know that without transparency about how information is processed, the service starts to fall apart. In building confidence and trust between future students and their schools, we begin with building users’ trust in our service and promoting adherence to evolving privacy laws is a key factor.

Intuitive Design with Easy-to-Use Tools

Unibuddy Chat and Unibuddy Community are easy to use for recruiters and those are trained to connect with potential students asking questions. This can help get student ambassadors and other staff onboard with Unibuddy’s additional software, meaning that you as an administrator can worry less about how to implement the transition and create a less stressful environment as everyone adjusts to the new service.

Another great aspect of Unibuddy is that it builds on resources that you already have. It doesn’t require a vast amount of training, or hiring of new staff, or the construction of new websites or social media. Your higher education institution is already full of current students who have experiences worth sharing and who are looking to give back to incoming classes. Talented recruiters are already spending time innovating ways to connect with students and use data to figure out how to improve retention. Unibuddy simply facilitates the connection of student-to-student, while giving recruiters valuable, real-time data that they can act upon to give precise support to negate students’ fears and anxieties regarding the variety of elements that could be stressing them out.

Accessible and Ideal Event Space

Hosting events is made easy through Unibuddy Events. Planning activities like making and printing materials, selecting and securing a space, and setting and cleaning up are off your plate with the virtual events that come with Unibuddy’s solution. Events can bring in many students, and with less setup on your end, makes for a welcoming space for everyone. With less hassle and more engagement, having virtual events can be a powerful tool for student retention.

Unibuddy is an efficient, easy-to-use solution that helps get your incoming students connected and networking in their new community. You give them the chance to start setting their own path and building relationships that can buy them through the stresses and challenges of higher education.