The New ROI: Why Relationships Are Higher Ed’s Most Strategic Investment

Return on investment in higher ed is under the microscope. Students are questioning the value of their degrees. Alumni are asking where their support offers the greatest impact. And institutions are under pressure to prove value—not just in graduation rates and salary stats, but in something deeper.

But what if the real ROI isn’t just about what you know—it’s about the connections you make?

Join PeopleGrove and campus leaders for a bold conversation on The New ROI—where connection, confidence, and community are becoming higher ed’s most powerful value drivers. We’ll unpack data from the 2025 PeopleGrove Impact Report and show how forward-thinking institutions redefine ROI by embedding engagement from day one through alumnihood.

You’ll Learn:

• Why today’s learners equate ROI with outcomes and belonging

• How community-powered engagement drives yield, retention, and giving

• What students are actually saying about their return on connection

• Proven strategies to make relationship-building core to your student experience—from day one through alumnihood

Who Should Attend:

• Enrollment
• Career
• Alumni
• Advancement

Supporting Leaders Across Every Phase of the Student Journey.

Speaker List

Moderator

• Dawn Hiles, CEO at PeopleGrove

Panelists

• Mike Summers, Associate Vice President, Gateway Career Center, Gateway Career Center at Lafayette College
• Rob Bagley, PhD, Director of Career & Internship Services at Ensign College
• Jason Langdon, Senior Vice President, Customer Success at PeopleGrove