Why Student Engagement Matters

Research shows that students who are actively engaged in meaningful experiences both inside and outside the classroom are more likely to succeed academically, persist to graduation, develop career-ready skills, and feel a stronger sense of belonging. Experiences such as research, leadership, service, internships, study abroad, and student organizations help students build the knowledge, skills, and connections that support their success at Iowa and beyond.

The University of Iowa defines student engagement as the intentional participation in meaningful learning experiences that foster students' academic success, sense of belonging, holistic well-being, and community involvement. Student engagement helps students develop knowledge, values, skills, and behaviors that support their success at Iowa and beyond.

Students who connect classroom learning with meaningful experiences outside the classroom are more likely to develop career-ready skills, strengthen their sense of belonging, and persist to graduation.

How Faculty & Staff Can Support Student Engagement

Encourage

  • Mention engagement opportunities in class, advising appointments, mentoring conversations, or supervision meetings.
  • Discuss the benefits of involvement, leadership, research, service, internships, and campus employment.
  • Ask students:
    • What are your goals after graduation?
    • What skills are you hoping to develop?
    • What opportunities would help you achieve your next goal?

Reflect

  • Help students recognize what they are learning from their experiences.
  • Ask students:
    • What did you learn from this experience?
    • What challenges did you overcome?
    • What skills did you develop?
    • How does this experience connect to your future goals?
    • How would you describe this experience to an employer or graduate school?
    • For additional reflection resources and strategies, visit the Faculty/Staff resource page on Experiential Learning.

Connect

  • Refer students to opportunities through Engage.
  • Encourage students to meet with Engagement Advisors.
  • Recommend involvement fairs, career fairs, and campus events.
  • Connect students with faculty, staff, alumni, and student leaders.
  • Refer students to resources such as Undergraduate Research, Career Services, Study Abroad, Leadership, Service and Civic Engagement, and Student Organizations.

Document

  • Encourage students to review and maintain their Engagement Record.
  • Help students identify skills and accomplishments gained through their involvement.
  • Promote use of the Engagement Record when preparing résumés, CVs, LinkedIn profiles, scholarship applications, graduate school applications, and job interviews.
  • Encourage students to use their record to identify future engagement opportunities and areas for growth.

Student Engagement Record

The Student Engagement Record helps students track meaningful experiences across their time at Iowa and connect those experiences to their academic, personal, and professional growth.

Faculty and staff can use the Engagement Record to:

  • Support advising and mentoring conversations
  • Encourage student reflection and goal setting
  • Help students identify skills gained through engagement
  • Connect experiences to career and graduate school preparation
  • Track involvement over time

The Engagement Record and Engage website work together to help students discover opportunities, reflect on their experiences, and communicate their growth.

Learn More About the Engagement Record →

Helping Students Find Opportunities

  • Campus Involvement & Leadership
  • Civic & Community Engagement
  • Research & Creative Scholarship
  • Study Abroad
  • Career & Professional Development
  • Student Employment
  • Experiential Learning

 Learn more about student opportunities →