Designing Connected Campus Environments: Leveraging Student Experience to Support Thriving

As higher education institutions continue to invest in student success initiatives, there is growing opportunity to integrate community and connection more intentionally into how student experiences are designed across physical and digital environments, both of which play a crucial role supporting student thriving. This session translates key insights from research findings on student solidarity and thriving grounded in student experience to inform the design of connected and inclusive campus ecosystems. Actionable implications for higher education professionals involved in designing and shaping student experiences will be presented, demonstrating how student experience data can inform the design of more connected and inclusive campus environments. This session will also explore strategies for aligning institutional practices, digital platforms, and engagement approaches to foster meaningful connection and support student thriving. Practical considerations will be shared for embedding community-centered approaches into institutional strategy to enhance student thriving and support more connected campus environments.