Civic & Community Engagement

We aim to strengthen a campus culture where students are empowered to make positive change in their communities. By connecting students with meaningful, mutually beneficial campus-community partnerships, we will provide opportunities for students to engage critical and contemporary social issues while gaining essential skills necessary for leadership in global communities and contexts. Community and civic engagement will be integrated across Student Life, experiences, expanding curricular and co-curricular opportunities and fostering a shared commitment to dialogue, democracy, and community impact.

Objectives

  • Connect community and civic engagement experiences more directly to skills essential for community leadership.
  • Enhance and expand community engagement opportunities for students to work collaboratively with local organizations to address community needs in curricular and co-curricular settings.
  • Integrate community, political, and civic engagement initiatives across Student Life departments, embedding a campus-wide commitment to democracy and civic responsibility.

Inclusive Excellence

We aim to advance our commitment to inclusive excellence as a shared responsibility, support inclusion, belonging, and an environment where all students can thrive. Through our work, we will strengthen intercultural and multifaith learning, expand opportunities for meaningful dialogue across differences, and use data to inform more equitable student experiences and outcomes. By equipping students and staff with the skills to engage across diverse perspectives, we will foster deeper connections and a more inclusive, informed, and connected community.

Objectives

  • Advance structures, education and training that engage students in furthering their intercultural and multifaith learning and engagement.
  • Expand and deepen dialogue opportunities for students to engage with perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds different from their own.
  • Utilize data to expand and enhance a sense of belonging and positively impact the student experience.

Integrated Health & Well-Being

We aim to support a campus culture of holistic, integrated health and well-being. To advance this vision, the new HealthEU building will become a hub for collaboration, and we will enhance campus-wide wellness initiatives across the six dimensions of well-being. By using data-driven strategies, providing accessible resources, and empowering individuals to integrate wellness into their daily lives, we will foster a community that values the well-being and success of all its members.

Objectives

  • Open the new HealthEU building and leverage collaborations with faculty, staff, and stakeholders to create a vibrant hub of activity that supports an integrated, holistic approach to health and well-being.
  • Collaborate with campus stakeholders to strengthen initiatives that advance individual and community outcomes in all six dimensions of well-being (community, emotional, financial, physical, purpose, and social).
  • Utilize comprehensive assessments, including benchmarking, to evaluate community health and well-being and enhance strategies related to health education and promotion.

Leadership Development through Engagement

We aim to integrate leadership development and career readiness throughout student engagement and employment experiences, leveraging the learning potential of co-curricular opportunities. We will establish a unified leadership framework across the Division, promote intentional involvement through the Elon Experiences Transcript, and expand the Elon GROW program to enhance all Student Life employment experiences with mentorship and skill-building. Through these efforts, students will engage meaningfully, develop core competencies, and graduate with the confidence and experience to lead and succeed.

Objectives

  • Implement a division-wide leadership framework that promotes a consistent set of leadership skills and competencies across student leader and student employee positions.
  • Leverage the nationally recognized Elon Experiences Transcript (EET) as a tool for more intentional planning, engagement, and reflection.
  • Enhance the student employment experience by strengthening and expanding utilization of the Elon GROW program to promote professional development, skill-building, and career advancement through mentorship.

Mentoring & Student Success

We aim to develop a campus culture where mentoring relationships are a cornerstone of student success, guiding students in finding purpose and achieving personal, academic, and professional growth. We will work to strengthen data utilization and campus-wide partnerships to improve retention and graduation rates. By advancing mentoring initiatives, we will educate students on the importance of mentoring networks and provide access to the meaningful relationships and guidance that support thriving at Elon and beyond.

Objectives

  • Strengthen and expand data utilization, campus-wide partnerships and initiatives to improve retention, graduation rates, and overall student success.
  • Expand, strengthen and promote experiences that foster mentoring relationships, support student success, and enhance personal, academic, and professional growth.
  • Implement training and professional development initiatives that advance the skills and capacity for staff and student leaders to serve effectively in mentoring roles and relationships.

Residential Campus Experience

We aim to create a vibrant student experience in a residential university environment, creating a foundation for student learning, connection, and personal growth beyond the classroom. We will strengthen campus through restorative practices, deepening academic-residential partnerships, and fostering meaningful connections between students and the surrounding community. By leveraging shared spaces and expanding support for students, we will promote inclusion and belonging to partner with students as they develop into engaged citizens and lifelong learners.

Objectives

  • Leverage campus facilities, programs and athletics to foster school pride, community engagement, sense of belonging, and connection to university values and traditions.
  • Continue to strengthen academic-residential partnerships by deepening and enhancing living-learning communities, faculty-in-residence leadership, neighborhood initiatives, first-year programming and other initiatives that engage faculty and staff in the residential experience of students.
  • Enhance resources and support for unique populations, such as off-campus, transfer, and graduate students.
  • Integrate restorative practices into departmental programs and support structures to nurture skill development and relationship-focused, transformative environments.
  • Strengthen the relationship between campus and nearby neighborhoods by creating intentional connections and positive relationships between students and their neighbors.

Operational & Organizational Excellence

We aim to maintain a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking Division of Student Life that fosters student success and supports staff growth. By investing in professional development, strengthening partnerships, embracing innovative and inclusive practices, and leveraging new technology, we will enhance organizational efficiency, adaptability, and effectiveness. This commitment to excellence will position us as a leader in higher education, setting the standard for excellence.

Objectives

  • Implement strategies that support inclusive, collaborative, and innovative student life practices.
  • Continue to enhance on-going training and professional development, including efforts specifically designed to improve leadership, supervision, intercultural competencies, multifaith learning, and professional skills.
  • Strengthen marketing and communication strategies to more effectively advertise programs and services and convey the impact of Student Life professionals and experiences.
  • Leverage new technology, software, and modernized systems to enhance student success, maximize organizational efficiency and creativity, and deliver high-quality, student-centered solutions that align with mission and goals.