The Engagement Effect: Scaling Student and Alumni Engagement

The Engagement Effect: Scaling Student and Alumni Engagement

As students increasingly question the ROI of higher education and alumni become harder to reach, institutions can no longer rely on disconnected engagement strategies. How are some of today’s most forward-thinking colleges and universities reimagining the ways they connect with their key audiences—and what can others learn from them?

Join PeopleGrove CEO Dawn Hiles and lead researcher Scott Jeffe for an engaging conversation based on new qualitative research with eight institutions leading the way in fostering student and alumni engagement. Drawing on more than 12 hours of in-depth interviews, Scott will share insights into how institutions are leveraging the PeopleGrove platform to:

• Foster belonging and meaningful connections among students
• Bridge student-to-alumni relationships that support career readiness
• Create accessible, ongoing opportunities for alumni to stay connected
• Measure and communicate the institutional impact of engagement

Together, Dawn and Scott will explore critical questions, including:

• How can institutions better facilitate engagement among and between students and alumni and firm up relationships with the institution itself?
• What quantitative and qualitative outcomes demonstrate the importance of strong engagement ecosystems?
• How can engagement underpin institutional success in both the short and long term?

Bring your own questions—this interactive session will leave time to discuss what’s top of mind for you.

Date: November 19, 2025 1 PM EST