Using the Case for Campus Activities to Better Position Your Acts & Services at NACA Live
Associate members play a powerful role in Campus Activities. Your acts, services, and products create the moments students remember most: like the show they attended with friends, the program that helped them feel seen, or the experience that made campus feel like home.
As NACA Live approaches, associate members will soon be in front of hundreds of Campus Activities professionals and student leaders who are thinking deeply about impact, outcomes, and value. This moment presents an opportunity to move beyond transactions and position yourself as a true partner in student success, retention, and persistence.
That is where the Case for Campus Activities comes in.
Why This Matters Heading into NACA Live
Campus Activities professionals are navigating increased pressure to justify budgets, demonstrate impact, and align programs with institutional priorities. They are being asked to explain not just what they offer, but why it matters.
When associate members understand the language campus professionals are using to advocate for their work, conversations shift. Instead of focusing solely on entertainment value, discussions expand to include belonging, engagement, and retention.
NACA Live is not just a marketplace. It is a gathering of professionals and students who are actively shaping the future of Campus Activities and creating college communities where everyone belongs.
How the Case Connects to Your Work
The Case for Campus Activities provides research-based framing that helps articulate how programs, events, and services contribute to student belonging and persistence. While the Case itself is a members-only resource, its purpose is clear. Campus Activities is not about filling calendars. It is about creating environments where students feel connected, supported, and invested in their institution.
Associate members contribute directly to that mission.
Your offerings:
- Create shared experiences that help students build community
- Offer low-barrier entry points for students seeking connection
- Reinforce institutional messages around belonging
- Support student engagement beyond the classroom
When you understand this framing, you can better support campus partners in telling their story.
What This Looks Like in Conversations with Campuses
As you prepare for NACA Live, consider how you talk about your work. Instead of focusing only on features or logistics, think about outcomes. Ask questions that help campus partners connect your offering to their goals.
For example:
- How does this program support students who may be struggling to find their place on campus?
- What kind of student experience are you hoping to create with this event?
- How does this program fit into your broader engagement or retention goals?
These questions signal that you understand the pressures campus professionals face and that you are invested in their success.
Positioning Yourself as a Thought Partner at NACA Live
NACA Live brings together campus professionals who are actively advocating for the value of Campus Activities on their campuses. Associate members who understand that context stand out.
You can differentiate yourself by:
- Listening for language around belonging, engagement, and student success
- Reflecting those priorities back in your conversations
- Offering ideas that align with institutional goals, not just event calendars
- Following up with language campus partners can use internally to advocate for programs
This approach builds trust and strengthens long-term partnerships.
An Invitation to Go Further
The Case for Campus Activities is one of many members-only resources NACA provides to support campus professionals and the partners who work alongside them. It offers research, language, and framing that help elevate the role of Campus Activities across higher education.
If you are an associate member, engaging with this shared framework helps you better serve your campus partners and strengthen your role within the NACA community.
If you are not yet part of NACA, now is a great time to join. Membership connects you to campus professionals, research-driven insights, and professional development opportunities like NACA Live that help you grow as a partner in student retention and persistence.
As NACA Live approaches, consider how you can help campuses not just host great programs, but tell a compelling story about why those programs matter.
