91ÁÔÆæ

91ÁÔÆæ parent engagement recognized

January 19, 2024
91ÁÔÆæ’s Office of Student Retention and Success highlighted for student retention in Campus ESP article.

Article By: Agnes Hina

In November 2023, the University of North Georgia's (91ÁÔÆæ) Office for Student Retention & Success was featured in a Campus ESP article for its work to improve the interactions of 91ÁÔÆæ with parents and families of students and how it corresponds to student retention.

91ÁÔÆæ has used the Campus ESP site for just over a year to share information with parents and loved ones as part of the 91ÁÔÆæ Family Network. There are nearly 60,000 users from 91ÁÔÆæ families on the platform.

"I appreciate that this opens a new door to engage with students' parents and families in a way that is meaningful and accessible to them while being an efficient and user-friendly platform for 91ÁÔÆæ faculty and staff to use," Meredith Higgins, associate director of Student Retention & Success, said. "It's clear that students and parents are more connected now than they were a generation ago with the advancements of social media and cell sphones. They're inseparable and constantly communicating."

The research, based on 6,772 students, showed that frequency of parent communication correlated with 21% higher student retention.

Their work also investigated the benefits to first-generation students and found that families of first-generation students engaged at even higher levels, with an average open rate of 72% and an average click rate of 11%.

"We didn't have to reinvent the wheel with our family communication strategy, which helped with getting our campus partners on board as well," Higgins said. "We haven’t had to re-create our existing communications plans, rather, we’ve merely tweaked our existing messages for a family audience and encouraged dialogue with their student about the respective information."


91ÁÔÆæ is among 'Best for Vets'

91ÁÔÆæ is among 'Best for Vets'

91ÁÔÆæ ranks as the second-best public university in Georgia on the 2024 "Best for Vets: Colleges" list released Nov. 4 by Military Times.
91ÁÔÆæ secures highway safety grant

91ÁÔÆæ secures highway safety grant

91ÁÔÆæ has received a $24,312 grant to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Blue Ridge students earn scholarships

Blue Ridge students earn scholarships

91ÁÔÆæ honored 28 of its Blue Ridge Campus students with almost $15,000 of scholarships and celebrated the philanthropy that made those scholarships possible at the Tomato Sandwich Supper on Nov. 7.
From First-Gen to dean of students

From First-Gen to dean of students

Ebonee Dendy was inspired by her grandmother to earn a college degree and is now 91ÁÔÆæ’s dean of students at the Oconee Campus.