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The Case for Campus Activities

The research & tools to help you tell the impact of Campus Activities on student belonging, retention, and persistence.

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The 2022-2025 Strategic Plan for the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) states that the Association will “Build and champion the case for Campus Activities as critical to creating campus communities where everyone belongs” (2022). First, we defined Campus Activities as beyond-the-classroom experiences that intentionally connect, engage, and develop a college community where everyone belongs. Through this work, we posit that Campus Activities are intentional experiences and not specific functional areas.

The Case for Campus Activities outlines the connections between Campus Activities, sense of belonging, and student retention and persistence. It helps to equip students and practitioners to be advocates of the impact of student engagement, research to shore up the foundations of the profession, and provides resources to increase sense of belonging on campus. Here are a few key takeaways:

  • Activities Impact the Institution. Campus Activities contribute directly to institutional performance metrics like retention, degree completion, and student well-being.
  • Belonging Drives Retention. Students who participate in Campus Activities, whether through leadership roles or simply attending events & programs, report higher satisfaction, stronger campus connection, and greater intent to persist.
  • Involvement Must Be Accessible. Passive and active opportunities both matter, especially for first-gen, working, and marginalized students who may not have the time or resources for traditional leadership pathways. Providing a mix of active and passive programming ensures everyone can find a way in.
  • Relationships and Environment Matter. Campus Activities create spaces where students feel valued, affirmed, and connected to peers and staff, which is especially critical for underrepresented students.
  • Your Story Deserves to Be Told. The research calls on Campus Activities professionals to track, measure, and share how their programs impact students. This is your chance to make your case.

Why Does This Matter?

The more a student engages with and is involved on campus, the more they learn and develop. Further, institutional effectiveness is proportional to the capacity for fostering that involvement (Astin, 1984). As outlined in the Making the Case for Campus Activities white paper, Campus Activities increase sense of belonging and, in turn, sense of belonging increases student and institutional success. When a student feels like they belong, they are more likely to remain at the institution. Campus Activities offer opportunities for various student groups to feel engaged and integrated into their college community.

As the higher education landscape changes (almost daily!) budgets are reconsidered, structures are reviewed, and staff are rearranged. Campus Activities professionals may find themselves forced to justify their budgets, programs, or even their existence.

In this challenging environment, the “fun” that campus activities work brings to campus may seem superfluous. That is why it is essential for campus activities professionals to connect to our higher purpose – and communicate that with clarity to others. (Peck, et al., 2020, p. 6).

The Case for Campus Activities can help you communicate the purpose of Campus Activities.

Astin, A.W. (1984). Student involvement: A development theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518-529.

What's in the Case?

  • Making the Case for Campus Activities white paper provides an academic foundation that outlines the connections between Campus Activities, sense of belonging, and retention and persistence by discussing:
    • The Foundations of Campus Activities
    • Sense of Belonging
    • The Influence of Campus Activities on Sense of Belonging
    • The Influence of Campus Activities on Retention and Persistence
  • A recorded presentation and a slide deck for professional staff that outlines the connections between Campus Activities, sense of belonging, and retention and persistence.
  • A recorded presentation and a slide deck for students, that outlines the connections between Campus Activities and sense of belonging and the role students play in fostering a sense of belonging.
  • Considerations for Belonging resource
  • More to come!

How Do I Use The Case?

How can I use the provided resources to make the case for Campus Activities on my own campus?

  • White paper
    • Share with upper administrators
    • Include in onboarding resources for new staff
    • Read as a staff and discuss
    • Think about how you can affect change on environment, involvement, and relationships to increase belonging on campus
  • Presentations/slide decks
    • Watch and discuss the presentation for staff at a staff meeting
    • Use the slide deck to make your own presentation to upper administration
    • Watch the student presentation as part of student organization training
    • Watch and discuss the student presentation at a meeting
    • Use the slide deck to make your own presentation to students
    • Encourage students to use the slide deck to present to peers or upper administration
  • Resources
    • Use the Discussion Guides to facilitate discussions around belonging across campus
    • Complete an evironmental scan 
    • Use the Considerations for Belonging resources to design events with belonging in mind

White Paper

Presentations

Resources & Discussion Guides