Engagement

Why Faculty and Staff Matter for Student Engagement

Faculty and staff are often the people students trust most when exploring opportunities outside the classroom. A conversation, referral, or recommendation can help students discover experiences that support their academic success, sense of belonging, skill development, and career goals.

By encouraging engagement, faculty and staff can help students:

  • Connect classroom learning to real-world experiences
  • Develop leadership and career readiness skills
  • Build meaningful relationships and professional networks
  • Explore academic and career interests
  • Increase their sense of belonging at Iowa
  • Prepare for graduate school, careers, and lifelong learning

How Faculty and Staff Can Support Student Engagement

Faculty and staff can play an important role in helping students identify opportunities that align with their interests and goals.

Start the Conversation

Consider asking students:

  • What are your goals after graduation?
  • What experiences have been most meaningful to you so far?
  • What skills are you hoping to develop?
  • Have you participated in research, internships, service, leadership, or campus employment?
  • What opportunities would help you achieve your next goal?

Connect Students to Opportunities

Encourage students to:

  • Explore opportunities through Engage
  • Meet with Engagement Advisors
  • Attend involvement and career fairs
  • Connect with faculty, staff, and student leaders
  • Reflect on experiences and what they are learning

Help Students Recognize Their Growth

Help Students Recognize Their Growth Students often participate in meaningful experiences without fully recognizing the skills they are developing. Consider asking:

  • 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?

Refer to the Faculty/Staff resource page on Experiential Learning for further guidance on how to help students reflect on their experiences. 

Common Engagement Opportunities at Iowa

Faculty and staff can use Engage to help students identify experiences that align with their interests, goals, and stage of development.

Campus Involvement and Leadership

Students can build connections, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging through:

  • Student organizations
  • Leadership programs
  • Peer mentor and peer advisor roles
  • Fraternity and sorority life
  • Intramural and sport clubs
  • Career Leadership Academy

Resources:

  • Division of Student Life
  • Leadership, Service and Civic Engagement
  • Recreational Services
  • Mentor at Iowa

Civic Engagement

Students can make a positive impact while developing leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through:

  • Volunteering and community service
  • Student United Way
  • Hawk the Vote
  • Service-learning experiences
  • Community engagement initiatives
  • Civic engagement student organizations

Resources:

  • Leadership, Service and Civic Engagement
  • Volunteer Advising
  • Office of Community Engagement

Intercultural Exploration

Students can broaden their perspectives and develop intercultural competencies through:

  • Study abroad programs
  • Global internships
  • Hawkeye Service Breaks
  • Cultural Center programs and events
  • International and cultural exchange programs
  • Multicultural student organizations

Resources:

  • Study Abroad
  • Cultural Centers
  • International Students and Scholars Services

Research and Creative Expression

Students can explore scholarly and creative interests through:

  • Undergraduate research
  • Faculty-mentored research projects
  • Creative scholarship and artistic projects
  • Research festivals and presentations
  • Open research positions

Resources:

  • Office of Undergraduate Research
  • Academic departments and faculty mentors

Professional Development

Students can gain career-related experience and build workplace competencies through:

  • Internships
  • Co-ops
  • Practicums
  • Student employment
  • Professional conferences
  • Workshops and trainings
  • Volunteer experiences
  • Career fairs

Resources:

  • Pomerantz Career Center
  • Engineering Career Services
  • Handshake
  • UI STEP
  • Iowa GROW

Experiential Learning

Students can apply classroom learning through hands-on experiences such as:

  • Research
  • Community engagement
  • Internships
  • Student employment
  • Study abroad
  • Applied coursework
  • Service-learning
  • Student leadership experiences

Resources:

  • Office of Undergraduate Research
  • Office of Community Engagement
  • Pomerantz Career Center
  • Study Abroad
  • Leadership, Service and Civic Engagement

Quick Referral Resources

When students are unsure where to start, consider connecting them with:

  • Engagement Advising
  • Pomerantz Career Center
  • Office of Undergraduate Research
  • Study Abroad
  • Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement
  • Office of Community Engagement
  • Academic Advising