Dr. Heidi Blair
Augusta University
Challenge: Many institutions wait until orientation, or even the first class session to begin building connections with students. But as Dr. Blair shared, “What about when they get admitted? How do we let them know right away that they belong?”
The challenge isn’t just onboarding students. It’s helping them feel connected before disengagement has a chance to start.
The human moment
Dr. Blair described a shift in how her team thinks about student engagement. Instead of waiting for students to arrive in class, they began creating spaces where students could connect immediately after admission.
As she explained:
“From day one, when they’re admitted, they feel like they are a part”
What stood out was the intentional focus on belonging early in the student journey—not after problems appear.
The proof
- Engagement efforts now begin before orientation
- Students are invited into community spaces immediately after admission
- Faculty and staff create opportunities for peer connection earlier
- The goal shifted from access to belonging
- Students who feel connected early are more likely to stay engaged
- Belonging cannot be treated as a later intervention
- Community-building works best when it starts proactively
- Early connection reduces isolation in online environments
- Faculty: Build relationships before courses begin
- Instructional Design: Design onboarding experiences around connection.
- Student Success: Create earlier moments of support and visibility
- Online Programs: Help students feel part of a community from the start
