Boost grad student success by fostering campus connections

NEW ORLEANS — Student engagement efforts tend to focus on undergraduate students, which can unintentionally leave graduate students disconnected from campus. Bearing the heavier academic loads of graduate school and the increased personal demands of parenting and jobs that they likely didn’t have as undergrads, grad students may feel isolated and overwhelmed, yearning for campus connections. That's according to New York University's Bethany Lee, Residence Hall Resource Manager; Destinee Thom, Residential Life Assistant; and Takisha Pierrre, M.Ed., Residence Hall Director, who spoke at the annual conference for NASPA — Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. They shared insights and effective strategies for fostering connections tailored to the graduate student experience.