How to create an engagement plan?

The start of the academic year is a critical period for fostering student engagement. This guide provides actionable strategies, tools, and tips to promote programs and services effectively, helping students feel supported and connected from day one.


Step 1: Setting the Stage for Engagement

Define Clear Goals

  • Identify the key outcomes you want to achieve (e.g., number of students engaging with services, participation in events, feedback collection).
  • Align goals with university priorities and student needs.

Prepare Your Team

  • Host a kickoff meeting to align your team on goals, roles, and responsibilities.
  • Ensure all staff and student leaders understand the programs and their value to students.

Build Awareness

  • Leverage campus-wide communication channels to introduce students to available services.
  • Highlight success stories or testimonials from past participants.

Here is a helpful worksheet


Step 2: Outline Communication Strategies

Define Your Audience

  • Who are you trying to reach? (e.g., first-year students, peer mentors, international students)
  • What challenges or needs do they have?
  • What key message do you want them to hear?

Create a Multi-Channel Campaign - Choose Your Channels

Identify the most effective communication channels to reach your audience. Select multiple channels for maximum reach.

  • Email Campaigns
  • Social Media
  • SMS/Text
  • Faculty/staff announcements in classes
  • Campus posters or digital signage

Craft Your Key Messages: Develop concise and engaging messages tailored to your audience. Include a clear call-to-action and high the benefits of engaging in the support.

Here is a helpful worksheet


Step 3: Make the most of Orientation Week and Beyond

Host Impactful Events

  • Service Info Sessions: Showcase how support services work and their benefits.
  • O-Week Fair: Set up a booth to promote key programs and support offerings.
  • Icebreaker Activities: Foster connections among students while introducing them to available resources.

Leverage Student Ambassadors

  • Equip ambassadors with tools and scripts to promote programs during informal conversations.
  • Encourage ambassadors to share their own experiences on social media or during events.

Incentivise Participation

  • Offer incentives such as merchandise, vouchers, or entry into prize draws for attending events or signing up for services.

Here is a helpful blog on utilising O-week


Step 4: Ongoing Engagement

Monitor and Adapt

  • Use data to track engagement with services (e.g., sign-ups, attendance, active users).
  • Identify and address barriers to participation early on.

Share Success Stories

  • Regularly highlight stories of students benefiting from services.
  • Share these through newsletters, social media, or campus publications.

Keep the Conversation Going

  • Send regular updates to students about upcoming events, tips, and opportunities.
  • Maintain an active social media presence to stay top-of-mind.

Here is a helpful worksheet on planning engagement activities


Tools and Templates


The start of the year sets the tone for student engagement. By implementing these strategies, universities can ensure students feel connected, supported, and ready to succeed. Let’s make this year the best one yet!

Did this answer your question? Thanks for the feedback There was a problem submitting your feedback. Please try again later.