Bridging the Engagement Gap in Online Education

For many online students, college can feel isolating or designed for someone else. They often assume their peers are traditional students—fresh out of high school, working part-time, and fully focused on earning a degree. In reality, 75% of U.S. post-secondary enrollments are non-traditional learners balancing work, family, and studies.

This disconnect presents a challenge for online administrators striving to improve engagement, retention, and student outcomes. Without meaningful connections to peers with similar experiences, faculty, or their institution, online students often struggle with a lack of belonging and confidence—two critical drivers of persistence and success. With nearly 65% of adult learners not completing their degree, the need for better solutions is clear.

How can we create an online experience that feels as connected, supportive, and inclusive as a traditional campus?

Join us to learn how digital communities are redefining engagement and retention. By fostering a sense of belonging, building social capital, and encouraging help-seeking behaviors, these virtual spaces help students thrive both academically and personally—while providing institutions with cost-effective solutions to improve outcomes.

We’ll share proven results from leading institutions, including:

• UMGC: 13% increase in course success, 2% improvement in persistence.

• ASU: 8.5% reduction in drop, fail, and withdrawal rates in first-year math.

• Rio Salado College: Significant increases in students’ sense of belonging after 4 weeks.

What’s more, these communities are economically sustainable. Retaining just a few additional students often offsets the cost of implementation, making them a smart investment for any institution focused on student success.