5 Ways scheduling software boosts student retention & success

Whether a student is successful depends on a number of factors: student retention, academic achievement, and the holistic development of each individual. 

But how do those factors play out in a student's day-to-day life on campus?

Student retention, or student persistence, simply means that the student continues in their university career, returning each term after achieving the appropriate milestones the term before. It’s a critical part of student success because, clearly, a student can’t succeed at an institution if they’re not enrolled. 

And what keeps a student enrolled?

Research shows that more than 75% of students who withdraw from higher education are in good academic standing. They aren’t struggling with the learning. Something else is making them leave higher education early. 

So it is up to the institution to ensure that every part of a student’s journey is supported as much as their academic achievement. 

Experts who study student success consider six specific experiences to be common to successful students. They are:

Colleges and universities that are looking at ways to increase their retention rates need to focus on creating these experiences in as many interactions as possible.

Using online scheduling to support student retention & success

Scheduling software for higher education can help support several of these experiences, and boost student retention and success because it offers 

1. Customization to instill confidence and transparency
2. Personalization to recognize each student as an individual
3. The choice to allow students to determine how, where and when meetings happen
4. Flexibility to let students easily schedule meetings 24/7 
5. Automation to ensure you have the data you need to get a 360 view of each student's progress.

In this article, we look at how the best education scheduling software options can be deployed to leverage these 5 benefits to improve students’ experience.

1. Offer students a personalized approach

This is all about making students feel they are seen and that they matter to your institution. We know from research into today’s Gen Z students that they appreciate very personalized experiences. 

The best online scheduling tools will allow a lot of extra personalization which lets you convey that you understand them as an individual. YouCanBookMe offers loads of ways to customize the entire booking journey to your department, to specific groups of students, and even to individual students.

Customizable booking pages

• Create multiple booking pages to develop individualized journeys. Some pages might be for 1-1 meetings. Another might be designed to schedule the first available advisor on your team. Create different pages for different cohorts, or offer group sessions.

• Add your school colors, logo, and appropriate messaging to give confidence and transparency. 
• Optimize for accessibility and security.

Customizable booking forms

• Get the answers you need ahead of time with detailed questions relevant to each booking.
• Unlimited questions let students explain their needs.

Personalized email & SMS messaging

• Unlimited, automated, and tailored to every situation 
• Send different messages based on choices from the booking
• Send messages directly from the selected team member
• Eliminate generic instructions and send only the information they need

2. Empower students to book when and how they need to 

This factor is rooted in giving students the agency to exert influence and control over their own progress.

Offer choice at every step

• Bookings available 24/7 let students schedule meetings on their own terms
• Booking pages optimized for mobile devices for students who want the convenience and ease of online bookings on the go
• Let students decide! Give options for the type of appointment, meeting length, and location  
• Provide an opportunity for them to give you feedback by automatically sending surveys after their meeting

3. Encourage active involvement 

Student engagement can be an excellent indicator of student success. When universities develop programs that engage students in their academic journey, those students are more likely to feel actively involved in the process. 

Scheduling software for higher education can help faculty and staff be more effective in supporting students in their success. Our research shows that 65% of higher education users believe it leads to higher student engagement. It can 

• automate complicated processes
• eliminate low-value tasks, and 
• save time so you can develop new initiatives to support students.

4. Provide ongoing student support

Whether you are working as an academic advisor, a careers specialist, or financial aid support, it is never a “one and done” situation. 

In most cases, you need to see a student multiple times. Sometimes sessions will happen after specific milestones, but others will be on an as-needed basis. 

• Scheduling software helps you to automate a series of meetings by triggering reminders and follow-up messages letting them know when and how to book their next appointment. 
• It integrates with video conferencing tools, email marketing software, and your CRM.
• It eliminates the manual tasks of booking, freeing up time to develop and improve your programs. 
• When students don’t book - or if they do book but don’t show up for the appointment - you can send that information into a central database or dashboard that tracks student success metrics. 

5. Make student meetings as accessible as possible

Helping students succeed means making sure support is easy to find, but we all know that asking for help can be tough. Many students might feel nervous or unsure about reaching out, especially when it comes to academic or personal challenges. 

This is where online student scheduling software can really make a difference—ensuring no one falls through the cracks and that getting support is as simple as possible.

Remember—whenever students need support, it’s your job to make sure guidance is readily available for everyone.

Ease the pressure with group advising sessions

For some students, one-on-one meetings with an advisor can feel intimidating. They might feel nervous about being in the spotlight, especially if they’re not sure what to expect. 

That’s where group academic advising sessions come in—they offer a more relaxed, welcoming way for students to get to know the advising process.

Group sessions don’t just make advising more approachable; they also:

• Allow you to reach more students than you could solely through one-on-one meetings
• Build a community of students who can support and build each other up
• Encourage social learning by creating a safe space where students learn from one another

With YouCanBookMe, you can set up group sessions ranging from 2-50 students, adjusting the group size as needed to cover important topics such as:

• Orientation sessions
• Career exploration
• Study tips and strategies
• Intro to support services
• Overcoming academic struggles
• Coping with transitions

Offer a variety of office hour appointments

Let’s face it—every student is different, and when it comes to advising, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. 

That’s why it’s so important to offer a range of office hour options so every student can find something that works for them. Some may prefer a group setting, while others might need one-on-one attention, and then there are those who just need flexibility with their busy schedules.

With our student scheduling software, you can easily offer different formats for your office hour appointments, including:

• Group advising—perfect for course reviews and test prep
• One-on-one advising—for students who need more individualized attention
• Appointment-only office hours—for students with packed schedules who need an exact time and date
• Walk-in office hours—for students who need last-minute assistance
• Virtual office hours—for students who find it difficult to attend in-person meetings

By using YouCanBookMe effectively, it will work akin to student retention software, ensuring students feel valued, catered to, and supported, no matter what. 

It’s time to take responsibility and lead the way

Not so long ago, if a student left higher education, colleges and universities considered it to be the student’s problem. Today, higher education leaders know that every institution has a role to play in ensuring students stay - and succeed - in their academic journey. 

A key way to engage with today’s students is to leverage technology in a way that improves the overall student experience. Online scheduling software can support student retention initiatives on a number of levels and has earned its place as an essential tool for improving students’ success.