At the beginning of each fall and spring semester, Student Affairs coordinates dozens of events to welcome the campus community. While IU Indianapolis’s iconic WOW programming always brings the fun to campus, it does so much more.
Prepare to be WOWed by data
Last fall, Student Affairs took a deeper dive into the impact WOW has on the student experience. Based on the 1,409 first-year students surveyed, those who attended WOW events had a fall-to-fall retention rate 11 percentage points higher (75%) than those who did not (64%).
So what does this mean? WOW programming continues to offer our students opportunities to find their identity on campus through these curated events and experiences. Their sense of belonging will only strengthen as they meet friends, explore resources and make memories.
While this tradition has proven to positively impact students’ persistence toward their degrees, it’s not the only factor contributing to a positive retention rate.
Jaguars find their spot through student involvement
The benefits students gain from joining student organizations and our Fraternity and Sorority Life community are endless. They thrive in leadership positions, create meaningful relationships with Indianapolis organizations and bring value to our vibrant campus community.
Our numbers only speak further to how students who are members or leaders of an organization see positive gains in retention, specifically for our first-year students.
In fall 2022, 23% of first-year students were involved in a student organization. Those who held a membership and/or position in a student organization were retained to fall 2023 at a rate 14 percentage points higher (81% compared to 67%) than first-year undergraduate beginners who did not get involved in at least one student organization. Similar trends exist with fall 2022 to spring 2023 retention.
The numbers don’t lie. Campus life programming and student involvement are key contributors to a student’s overall experience and rate of retention on our campus. H ow can we all aid in encouraging increased first-year involvement?
How students can embrace campus life
1. Get connected on social media. Students can follow Student Affairs ( @iuistudentaffairs) on Instagram for student organization spotlights, event information and programs and resources we offer.
2. Stop by the CUBE. Located on Level 3 of the Campus Center, the CUBE Student Organization Center is the hub of activity for student organizations on campus. Jaguars can stop by to talk with a student worker about which organizations would be a good fit and how to join. Or Jaguars can browse student orgs from the comfort of their own home in The Spot.
3. Explore our Fraternity and Sorority Life community. All 24 of IU Indianapolis’s fraternity and sorority chapters are committed to developing lifelong friendships and creating far-reaching networks.
