Building Community: A holistic approach to the online student-alumni cycle

Research shows that a sense of belonging is a key factor to student retention, as well as alumni giving and engagement. But how do you create community for distance learners? Come to this session to learn how to foster meaningful connections within your online student base, in order to build stronger programs and enthusiastic alumni advocates. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. 

David Schejbal is president of Excelsior College, a fully online, comprehensive, not-for-profit institution in Albany, NY, with an annual enrollment of about 33,000 students.

Roxanne Shiels is the director of alumni strategy for Penn State World Campus. She assists in engaging and informing alumni to maximize their service to the University and each other.

Lori Kendall-Taylor is a Student Success Manager at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She works with graduate students to support their educational journey, help them overcome obstacles and successfully complete their program.