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:
Scheduling software for higher education can help support several of these experiences, and boost student retention and success because it offers
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.
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.
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“My best meetings happen when the person gives lots of information on the booking form. The notes they add become a kind of agenda for our meeting. It lets us both think about the issues ahead of time so we can get to a better solution.” - Jeremy Hommowun, Illinois College Case Study |
This factor is rooted in giving students the agency to exert influence and control over their own progress.
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“YouCanBookMe provides a consistent student experience. Whenever a student schedules something, it always looks the same, even if they’re talking to a different department. It really removes barriers and uncertainty in the student experience and smooths it out.” - Aspen Padilla, Chemeketa Community College Podcast Interview |
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
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“It really took a lot of the administrative back and forth off our plates. And that freed up time to allow us to pursue other initiatives that we had kind of put on the back burner because our time was being eaten up with the redundant efforts of trying to schedule.” - Jaime Ross, Missouri State University Case Study |
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.
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.
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:
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:
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:
By using YouCanBookMe effectively, it will work akin to student retention software, ensuring students feel valued, catered to, and supported, no matter what.
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.