Fellow Chat: SUNY Canton: Reducing Online Student Isolation
Channel: SUNY Online Teaching
Date: 2017-10-25

With more traditional students taking online degrees, the needs of online students are changing. Students are now looking for a fuller college experience beyond the usual links to campus resources and services. At the same time, institutions are struggling with the challenge to retain students in their online programs. Both traditional and nontraditional online students are more likely to drop out of their programs than their classroom counterparts due to feelings of isolation. To reduce isolation, campuses must use strategies that strengthen the connection online students have with their peers and their institution. 

The Campus Life Model for Reducing Student Isolation is an innovative, cross-campus retention effort to increase the success and retention rate of online students by creating community and connected-ness in a virtual environment. SUNY Canton seeks to increase the retention rates of fully online students through a campus life model that will transform their online learning experience. Engagement strategies grounded in technology, innovation, and pedagogy, and mapped to the different dimensions of campus life (academic, social, and co-curricular) are shared by Courtney Battista Bish and Molly Mott in this Fellow Chat.