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Campus Spotlight

How Campus Involvement Drives Student Retention

Since the adoption of CampusGroups in 2019, UW Stout’s Involvement Center has used CampusGroups to track student engagement. The data clearly demonstrates a strong, positive correlation between program attendance and a student’s likelihood to return.

Institution Type

Public University

Student Numbers

7,000+

Location

Menomonie, Wisconsin

Client Since:

2019

About the University of Wisconsin-Stout

Founded in 1891, the University of Wisconsin–Stout is a leading polytechnic university in the Wisconsin public university system. With a strong focus on applied learning, innovation, and career readiness, UW–Stout is dedicated to preparing students for professional success in a rapidly changing world. Its hands-on programs and commitment to industry partnerships make it a vital center for higher education in the Midwest.

Retention Is Everyone’s Business

Like many Midwestern campuses, UW Stout is navigating a shrinking pool of college-age students. Retention is a shared priority across the university.

At UW Stout, retention is everyone’s business. Student Affairs addresses the non-academic factors that influence whether a student stays. Belonging, engagement, wellness, and access to resources all matter.

Jennifer Lee, Associate Director, Memorial Student Center

CampusGroups helps the university understand how involvement supports connection and student success.

Campus shot of University of Wisconsin-Stout

Engagement Rising Even as Enrollment Declines

UW Stout analyzed first-year outcomes and found a consistent relationship between involvement and persistence. Students who attended at least one Involvement Center program were significantly more likely to return.

Retention Rates: Students Attending vs. Not Attending Involvement Center Programs (F22 Cohort)

Status by Credit (F22)	Attended Programs	Did Not Attend	Retention Correlation
Freshmen retained to F23	77.7%	68.7%	+9.0%
Sophomores retained to F23	92.8%	85.2%	+7.6%
Freshmen retained to F24	70.0%	61.8%	+8.2%
Sophomores retained to F24	85.0%	75.6%	+9.4%

Retention Rates: Students Attending vs. Not Attending Involvement Center Programs (F23 Cohort)

Status by Credit (F23)	Attended Programs (23-24)	Did Not Attend Programs (23-24)	Involvement Added Retention Correlation
Freshmen (F23)	80.8%	71.7%	+9.1%
Sophomores (F23)	92.1%	85.9%	+6.2%

On average, students who attend programs facilitated through the Involvement Center show a
8.0% higher retention rate compared to their peers who do not.

Early Indicators of Attrition

CampusGroups also provides insight into students who may need additional support.

Forty-one percent of the students who were not retained had no involvement activity in the first five weeks. It was tied as the strongest predictor of attrition, alongside an academic alert.

Jennifer Lee

These insights help staff identify early disconnection and reach out before issues escalate.

A Campus-Wide Hub for Student Life

CampusGroups supports more than 40 departments across the university, including:

Orientation
Housing and RA communication
Tech support requests
Dining and transportation information
Student organizations and campus events

Students adopt the platform early. Nearly one thousand newly admitted students attempted to access the system before arriving on campus.

Screenshot of the mobile app showing the events section module

Gamification That Fits Campus Culture

As a polytechnic institution with a hands-on, career-focused student body, UW–Stout students respond strongly to engagement models that feel interactive and rewarding. Every event includes XP values (points) to motivate participation.

Students care about earning their XP. At one event, even after supplies ran out, several students still asked if they could check in just to make sure their XP (points) was recorded. It shows how much the model resonates with our campus.

Jennifer Lee

Points give students a clear path to involvement and gives staff a friendly way to encourage participation.

Looking Ahead

UW Stout continues to use engagement data, XP programming, and early-term indicators to strengthen student belonging and student persistence.

“When students are seen, supported, and connected, they stay.”

Jennifer Lee