"Since 2020, faculty, staff and administrators have noticed a trend among incoming college students: They don't know how to make friends. Data affirms this-fewer students said they studied with classmates, volunteered or participated in clubs or organizations in 2023 than in 2019, according to a 2025 report from the Student Experience in the Research University Consortium. At the same time, student engagement and belonging correlate with academic success."
"Some colleges are moving beyond offering free T-shirts and raffle prizes to encourage event attendance and moving straight to giving out cash, recognizing that finances are often the biggest barrier to student participation. State of play: An August 2025 Student Voice survey by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab found that 36 percent of students have not participated in an extracurricular or co-curricular activity on campus."
Since 2020 many incoming students struggle to form friendships and engage with peers. Fewer students reported studying with classmates, volunteering, or joining clubs in 2023 compared with 2019. Student engagement and belonging correlate with academic success. Extracurricular involvement increases feelings of belonging, eases making friends, and builds leadership, communication, and professional skills. Institutions face the challenge of reversing disengagement and promoting on-campus connections. Some colleges now offer cash incentives for event attendance because finances are a major barrier. A 2025 Student Voice survey found 36 percent had not participated in campus activities and 70 percent of respondents worked while enrolled.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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