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Research Report

Why you should start planning for a multi-modal future campus today

As institutions emerge from the pandemic and shift their attention back to longer-term threats and priorities, it is critical that higher ed leaders understand how stakeholder preferences for digitally-enhanced services are changing, how peer institutions are reacting, and how to respond.

To that end, we’ve outlined three takeaways on adopting digital-first and multi-modal strategies based on a virtual event we recently held for cabinets about the role of technology in achieving mission and financial goals. Check out the insights and our recommended next steps below.

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Review the Key Takeaways

Both out-of-sector consumer trends and COVID-19 have elevated students’ expectations for multi-modal services and experiences

Hyper-personalized, digital-first, and frictionless services have become table-stakes in today’s consumer economy. As a result, students increasingly expect institutions to provide the same high-quality, multi-modal service they get in other sectors across every dimension of their higher education experience (e.g., academic, social, administrative).

Moreover, the pandemic has shifted students’ focus from long-term return on investment to short-term return on experience. And since institutions had to offer more flexible online courses and virtual support services during COVID-19, students have become accustomed to having multi-modal options and therefore expect campuses to keep providing these going forward.

Multi-modal solutions can enhance the student experience and advance mission

Multi-modality can benefit both residential and online students, while also achieving other mission goals such as student engagement and affordability. Read the examples below to explore innovative, digital approaches that institutions have taken to transform the college experience.

  • Administrative experience: Deakin University’s AI-powered virtual assistant helps students navigate all facets of student life, from reminding them when assignments are due to connecting them with other campus resources or events.
  • Well-being experience: Saint Leo University is experimenting with embedding student affairs staff and RAs into their esports Discord server to provide mentoring and connect students with campus resources and events.
  • Academic experience: Southern New Hampshire University launched six undergraduate degree programs priced at $10,000 per year in fall 2021. Students in these programs will take most of their classes online while living on campus and interacting with faculty members, advisors, and group project teams in person.

Institutions should invest in both in-person and online experiences going forward

Multi-modal approaches will not entirely replace the on-campus experience. Rather, institutions will need to provide students with online and in-person services and experiences to meet their evolving needs and preferences.

This is an expensive proposition since it will require campus leaders to make new or additional investments in campus space, technology, and staffing. Given budgetary constraints and competing campus priorities, cabinets must begin planning for the long-term costs and infrastructural implications of multi-modality today.

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