Wednesday, June 25, 2025
11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET

Shift Traditional Programming To Co-Created, Responsive and Embedded Models

Colleges and universities across the country are facing a paradox: student attendance at campus events is declining, yet surveys, focus groups, and informal feedback consistently indicate that students want to be engaged. This discrepancy raises a crucial question: What does meaningful student engagement look like in the 21st century?

Today’s students crave authentic connection; purpose-driven experiences; and opportunities that reflect their identities, interests and values. Small group programming has been shown to be effective and desirable for students, even amidst everything they juggle on a daily basis.

Universities must reimagine the who, what, when, where, and why of engagement. It’s not just about offering more—it’s about intentionality. The challenge lies in moving from traditional programming models to experiences that are co-created, responsive and embedded within the lives of students.

Join us on June 25, 2025 when our presenters will show you how to create unique, co-created experiences that have worked on their campus. Use student-centered responsive design to take advantage of the experiences that students create daily in lounges, residence halls, dining facilities, student centers and recreation facilities, and invest in them to create meaningful engagement. Explore how to recognize those opportunities, co-create them with students, tell their story through marketing, and to assess their impact on the student experience. 

Topics Covered

Gain crucial, actionable takeaways that will help you: 

• Discover simple and cost effective ways for intentional investment in spaces and experiences that students already find valuable.  
• Identify ways to make better use of the most popular spaces that students frequent so students will easily and effortlessly engage.
• Explore non-traditional engagement strategies that realize co-creation and responsive design in experiences and marketing.
• Explore what's working in creating intentional engagement practices.
• Shift the conversation from output to outcome – create meaningful engagement opportunities that will pack the biggest impact. 
• Frame engagement as a strategic imperative so you can have critical conversation with key stakeholders across campus in supporting the implementation of this model. 
  

Presenters

Dr. James McGhee is currently the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Students at Randolph-Macon College located in Ashland, Virginia.
Click here for full bio.

Harley Hess is the Senior Area Coordinator of Residence Life and Housing at Randolph-Macon College.
Click here for full bio.