Powering student success through connection and community
As institutions face the growing challenge of retaining students and improving their outcomes, Ready Education CEO Gary Ambrosino explains how the right engagement platform can make all the difference
students are more likely to feel welcomed, confident and connected. “Effective onboarding and a strong first-year experience help students navigate expectations, build relationships and establish a sense of belonging early on.” Can you share examples of how institutions are helping students to improve outcomes? “One of the most important shifts we’re seeing is institutions moving away from siloed services towards whole-student support. At Germanna Community College, another of our customers, that approach is deeply embedded in how students are served. “According to the former dean of student development, Dr Frank Cirioni, ‘We give individualised, one-on-one support to all our students. We look at the whole student – where they are, where they want to go and where they want to be – and we meet them there.’ “Student engagement platforms, such as CampusGroups, help institutions like Germanna extend that philosophy by connecting students to advising, wellness resources, academic support and community spaces in one place. “From the student perspective, access to that ecosystem can be transformative. A student at Bridgewater State University shared the following: ‘The platform helped me find my people and get a job as a student engagement assistant. Getting
“One of our customers, Louisiana State University (LSU), explained that students who join at least one student organisation have a 90 per cent retention rate, compared to 74 per cent for those who don’t. As the director of Campus Life, Josh Finch explains: ‘At LSU, we see a clear connection between involvement and persistence. Engagement truly drives success.’ “Our focus at Ready Education is on helping institutions close awareness gaps and make engagement accessible to all students, not just the most confident or connected.” Why are onboarding and the first-year experience so critical to student retention and success? “The first year is a pivotal period. Research shows the highest rate of college dropouts – around 24 per cent – occurs during this time, making early engagement essential to persistence and long-term success. “Today’s students are digital natives. They expect personalised, mobile and real-time access to information and support. When institutions provide clear pathways to resources, community and involvement from day one,
Student retention is more important – and more challenging – than ever. Institutions are navigating tighter budgets, evolving student expectations and pressure to improve outcomes. One reality stands out: students persist when they feel connected, supported and seen. Connection, however, doesn’t happen by accident. It requires visibility, access and a sense of belonging. We spoke with Gary Ambrosino about how institutions are addressing this challenge through platforms such as CampusGroups, Ready Education’s campus experience platform. Student engagement and retention are top priorities across higher education – why is connection so critical to student success? “Students who feel connected are more likely to persist. When they can easily access resources, build relationships and engage with their campus community, they’re more successful, both academically and personally. But when support is fragmented or hard to find, retention suffers. “We see this consistently in data and partner conversations. Engagement isn’t a ‘nice to have’; it’s a leading indicator of persistence, belonging and long-term success.
16 Ambition • ISSUE 1 • 2026
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