How to Master Community College Student Engagement in 2024

Community colleges have always filled an exclusive place in the higher education market. By helping high school students get a head start, or allowing college-aged students to save on rising higher education costs, community institutions have plenty to offer in terms of student learning.

The perks are obvious to new community college students, too. Recent trends show that community college enrollment was up by 2.1% from the previous year, an encouraging realization in a post-pandemic landscape. To capitalize on positive growth, higher education leadership must find strategies for growth and engagement that cater to specific audiences. Helping students realize the immense value available in community-based classes can promote enrollment and retention.

Join us for a quick conversation on how to promote improvements in community college student engagement, based on research, trends, and practical strategies.

What is Community College Student Engagement?

The basic principles of student engagement at community colleges look similar to how they appear at other campuses. The focus of engagement is to provide relational support and assistance throughout every stage of the student life cycle, which includes initial inquiry to enrollment and beyond.

At Element451, our definition of student engagement includes "the level and quality of encouragement, support, collaborative learning, and interpersonal communication that students receive throughout the student life cycle, from the moment of initial interest to eventual degree completion."

Community and technical colleges can tap into this success by developing a well-rounded understanding of the factors that go into engagement. This includes student outcomes, student attrition, and the need for robust student services.

How is Engagement Unique in this Context? 

Community colleges face different trends, challenges, and admissions factors than other types of institutions encounter on a regular basis. As a result of these distinctions, the specific marketing messaging should change based on the benefits and offerings of particular schools. Community colleges should directly address the following student concerns.

• Reason for attending community college over other types of schools
• Dual enrollment credits from early high school courses
• At-risk or marginalized groups that may be eligible for special incentives or programs
• Availability of faculty, staff, and other resources to address student needs
• Non-residential campus life and student activities

Tips for Community College Student Engagement

Even though admission and community and technical colleges is holding steady in the current term, program trends can change quickly. There is steep competition, and students have more options (including higher base salaries) than they might have in previous years. 

Getting creative with community student engagement means taking a look at unique selling points, benefits, and advantages. Here’s a few tips to engage students productively.

• Start engagement strategies early. As an increasing number of high school students sign up for dual enrollment courses, provide opportunities unique to this cohort. Doing so can improve engagement and student success in future terms.
  
• Partner with other institutions or resources. Expand your students’ options, even if it means building a bridge to future choices. Assuming that students want to progress beyond two-year degrees, work to make options (like other universities or businesses) available to them during their course of study.

Personalize messaging for community college students. Community colleges might have their own set of expectations and demands, but it’s still ideal to invest in the delivery of timely, helpful messaging. Personalize the pre-enrollment experience by gathering all the data you can about individual students and walking with them through the process.

Prepare for Growth with Element451

Community colleges are in an exclusive spot, and it helps to have advanced tools and features that make the recruiting process and student experience even easier. That’s where a dedicated student engagement platform like Element451 comes into play.

Together, we’ll develop personalized student messaging that keeps students interested and engaged throughout the process. Regardless of what the next steps look like, it’s possible to serve community college students with exceptional education right where they are—starting today.

>> Schedule an Element451 demo today. <<