Low levels of engagement cause damage across the
board – results, satisfaction, and most markedly, dropout rates. Student drop-out is creeping up across North
America with college dropout rates averaging 40%
for undergraduate students, and up to 50% for public
universities. This has a severe impact on an institution’s
bottom line. A study by Stanford revealed a student
who leaves before graduating can cost an institution
up to $40,000.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, maintaining high levels
of student engagement appeared to be a losing battle
for many institutions. Spring break 2020 heralded the
most sudden of changes in the span of a few days,
putting an end to traditional face-to-face tutoring and
in-person events and activities, and heralding remote
synchronous and asynchronous digital teaching and
learning experiences. This undoubtedly made student
engagement a challenge.
