Students thrive when institutions create a strong sense of belonging from the very beginning, with intentional touchpoints that connect them to people, programs and opportunities. By blending academic support, cocurricular involvement and personalization, campuses can help learners build confidence, persist through challenges and prepare for success beyond graduation. In this interview, Melissa Dunn discusses the importance of early connections that foster belonging and guide students to the right resources while showing how cocurricular involvement and personalized experiences drive persistence, confidence and community.
The EvoLLLution (Evo): What are the earliest moments that can shape a learner’s sense of belonging on a campus?
Melissa Dunn (MD): A learner’s sense of belonging often begins with their very first campus visit. Whether it’s through admissions or a high school event, many students say they just knew the moment they stepped on campus that it felt like home.
Those early impressions matter, not only for students but also for families who are part of the decision-making process. As someone with a high school senior exploring colleges, I’ve experienced it firsthand. Walking a campus as a parent gave me a new perspective. Some places simply feel like the right fit, while others don’t.
That initial visit can be the moment that makes students and families say, “I can see myself here.” Institutions need to recognize the power of that first experience and ensure they’re putting their best foot forward from the start.
Evo: What are some challenges that institutions face when they’re engaging students holistically, inside and outside the classroom, from the very beginning of the student’s journey?
MD: One of the biggest challenges in engaging students holistically is helping them build meaningful connections from the very start. At PennWest, we emphasize finding your person during onboarding. That person could be a professor, a tutor, a student advisor or even a custodian or dining hall staff member—anyone who becomes a trusted go-to.
Having that anchor fosters belonging and ensures students always have someone to turn to with questions or concerns, but it also creates a responsibility for everyone on campus, from frontline staff to the president, to know how to guide students to the right resources.
To support that, we introduce students to key offices, people and even social media channels as soon as they deposit. By normalizing those connections early, we ensure students and families know where to go for answers, removing barriers and helping learners stay focused on success.
Evo: How can early involvement in a cocurricular activity or student communities on campus reinforce academic confidence and persistence in a student?
MD: Early involvement in cocurricular activities is a strong predictor of persistence, with studies showing that students who get involved are retaining at rates above 80%. That’s why we emphasize that no matter what you do, join something outside the classroom.
For students hesitant to dive into social events, we often recommend starting with an academic organization tied to their major that’s usually supported by faculty, graduate assistants and departmental staff who can become invaluable connections. From there, students can branch out into clubs that match their interests, whether chess, student government or event planning.
At PennWest, we use Engage, our student engagement platform, to connect new students to opportunities from the start. Orientation includes logging into Engage, exploring organizations and simply clicking “I’m interested,” which then triggers outreach from advisors and peers. That early connection not only builds confidence but also creates a sense of belonging that supports academic success.
Evo: In what ways can personalization help students feel more connected to the institution’s culture and the community?
MD: Personalization helps students connect by aligning their experience with each campus’s unique culture. At PennWest, our three campuses share the same streamlined systems, but each has its own personality, shaped by its academic strengths and student communities. For example, our Edinboro campus has a strong creative culture driven by art, graphics and animation students, and we tailor programming to fit that energy.
Personalization also extends to housing, where students complete detailed questionnaires, so we can match them with the right roommates and residence halls and to student life, where our engagement platform showcases over 100 clubs for students to explore. Ultimately, the university provides the tools and opportunities, but students shape their journey by sharing their preferences and getting involved. This balance allows them to see how their own personality fits into the campus culture, creating a stronger sense of belonging and community.
Evo: How can early development touchpoints prepare the students, not only for academic success but also for well-being, leadership skills and career readiness?
MD: Early development touchpoints should prepare students not only academically but also for their well-being, leadership and career readiness. At PennWest, we focus on years one and two to build momentum, helping students adjust to new ways of learning, whether face-to-face, hybrid or online, while fostering a sense of belonging across all formats.
By years three and four, the focus shifts to preparing for life after graduation through internships, externships, job shadowing and career readiness plans. We also integrate practical skills like financial literacy and support students in transitioning out of the university bubble into broader communities. Career centers play a role with fairs, networking and alumni connections, but responsibility extends across the institution. Ultimately, success comes back to mentorship, helping each student find their person, someone they can lean on as a guide both during college and beyond.
Evo: Is there anything you’d like to add?
MD: One thing I’d add is the importance of parent and family supporters. Every student has a support system, whether that’s parents, guardians, relatives, a best friend or a partner, and we involve them early in onboarding. At PennWest, we created a parent and family supporter portal, giving them access to resources and information to help guide their student through challenges. We remind families to resist rushing in at the first overwhelmed phone call and instead use the tools provided to encourage resilience.
At the same time, when students are thriving and not calling home, we encourage families to trust that growth. Supporting families is especially important for our many first-generation students, whose supporters may be unfamiliar with higher ed. By equipping them with information and guidance, we not only integrate students into our community but also their families, recognizing that it truly takes a village to help learners succeed.
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