OPTIMIZE Newsletter

We hear you.

Getting students to complete orientation is a challenge every school faces. The good news? We’ve seen strategies that make a measurable difference, helping institutions raise engagement and completion rates.

For students or staff, completion isn’t just about checking a box. A well-designed orientation builds confidence, connects them to campus resources, and fosters a stronger sense of belonging, all critical drivers of success and persistence.

For orientation directors, the platform provides consistency, saves countless hours of repetition, and delivers real-time insights into student progress. That means less time managing logistics and more time focusing on personal connections and student support.

Confidence comes from preparation. Together, we’re creating stronger starts and smoother transitions for every student, while equipping schools with the tools to make orientation more effective and impactful.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• Top 5 Strategies to Boost Engagement in Online Orientation
• New Learning Modules Now Available
• Upcoming Events
• Social Circles Sharing Advantage Experiences
• Welcome to the Family
• Get Ready to Boost Engagement

CONNECT THE DOTS TO YOUR NEXT BIG IDEA

Online orientation isn’t just a check-the-box task; it’s your first, best chance to set students up for success and build confidence from Day One.

We’ve gathered the top five proven strategies from high-performing campuses to help you flip the script to boost early engagement, improve outcomes, and demonstrate ROI. Think early launches, campus-wide buy-in, and adjusting messaging to make orientation feel essential, among other strategies.

Plus, you’ll find pro tips, insights, bonus ideas, and big wins from your peers. Want to see which strategies move the needle, and how you can use them right away?

4-MINUTE READ

Find your next big idea in these strategy stories:

• When campus partners aren’t aligned, students notice: Learn how institutions are turning misalignment into momentum through collaboration.

Learn the Art of Stakeholder Alignment

• Advantage HR Engage^TM turns online orientation into an interactive digital experience that seamlessly integrates with your existing onboarding framework.

The Online Orientation Solution Redefining New Hire Experiences

• Right message. Right time. Right results. Learn how UMGC reached a 78% orientation completion rate by tailoring the onboarding journey for military and civilian students alike.

Explore UMGC’s Success Strategies

• From 60% to 88% orientation completion. MWCC redesigned onboarding to meet students where they are and turned completion into enrollment growth.

Discover MWCC’s Online Orientation Wins

READY WHEN YOU ARE

Do more with less without adding to your team’s workload. Learning Modules are expert-designed, self-paced courses that boost student readiness while saving your team time and effort.

From Financial Literacy, Student Success, and Title IX, to International and Veterans, each module delivers consistent, engaging content that meets compliance, supports a stronger first-year experience, and all are available in both English and Spanish.

• Pre-built and ready to launch
• Tracks student progress
• Seamlessly integrates with your existing platform or your course offerings

Browse Advantage Learning Modules

Coming Soon!

Beyond Awareness Week: A Year-Round Solution

It’s National Hazing Prevention Week, and a reminder that the responsibility to act lasts all year. Our new Campus Hazing Module, launching soon, will equip students and faculty with the tools to recognize, prevent, and report hazing, ensuring your institution meets the latest federal guidelines. Designed with both compliance and care in mind, this resource will help foster a safer, more accountable campus community all year long.

Book a consultation to discuss your interest in Learning Modules.

JOIN US AT THESE CONFERENCES & WEBINARS

There's practically no better way to gain the insights and education you need to develop your skills and talents than to learn from your peers. Staying connected through affiliations, networks, association memberships, conferences, and webinars helps to fill the knowledge gap. Select the title of each event to learn more or to register.

Webinar: BREAKING OUT of the Website Maze: Digital Pathways to Student Enrollment
Wednesday | October 1 | 1 PM ET

SHRM Georgia 2025 Conference & Expo
October 8 - 10 | Stone Mountain, GA

Webinar: From Template to Launch in 30 Days - Online Orientation Intentionally for Grad Students
Wednesday | October 22 | 1 PM ET

NODAC 2025
The Endless Possibilities of Online Orientation
October 24 - 27 | San Francisco

Take this Quick Survey

Which conferences do you plan to attend? Are you a member of any professional associations? Let us know! We'd love to partner with you!

TAKE THE SURVEY

We’re excited to share some of the latest posts you've made popular on social media! Here’s a quick look at the kind of content you've been enjoying.

On Facebook	On LinkedIn	On X

Join the Conversation! 

These are just a few examples of the content we share regularly: client highlights, product sneak peeks, event coverage, and tips to help you make the most of your platform.

Follow us wherever you get your social media to stay in the loop, see how others are using their orientation experience, and find out when we’re in your city next.

Working on your platform? Show it off! Tag us when sharing your Advantage Orientation experience or platform development journey; we’d love to celebrate your success with our community.

share your experience

What's been your experience working with us? Leave us a Google review and help others discover your story to inspire new ideas!  When you're signed into your Google account, you can leave a star rating without writing anything.
Comments need only be a sentence or two.

LEAVE US A REVIEW

Recent Launches

Hear from Gretchen Bates, Assistant Director of New Student Orientation, University of Alaska

Hear from Martin Fisher, Director of Campus Visit & Orientation Programs, University of Mississippi

Join us in welcoming these newest partners to the Advantage Community!

	Institution	Audience
	Barton Community College	Students by Campus, Online & High School
	CUNY Bronx Community College	New & Readmitted Students
	Lassen Community College	Employees
	Louisiana State University Shreveport	Undergrad, Graduate, Transfer, International, Military, and Dual Enrollment Students
	Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University	International, Domestic, Distance & Medical Students
	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College	Freshman, Commuter & Residential Students
	University of Alaska Fairbanks	First-Year, Transfer & Graduate Students
	University of Mississippi	First-Year & Transfer Students
	Western Nevada College	New and Dual Enrollment Students

GET INTERACTIVE!

Engage your audience with interactive slide types! Interacting with the content makes it more memorable and engaging! Don’t have interactive slide types in your platform version?  Ask your Account Manager for more information!

Your Client Success Team is here to help you make the most of your Advantage Platform and put these strategies into practice. Technology can be complex, so we're here to listen and show you how to reach your vision. Schedule a consultation anytime to

• Use Us as a Resource
• Discuss your Goals
• Review your Platform
• Make Recommendations
• Experience Examples from your Peers
• Evaluate & Take Action!

Let's Connect!

Schedule your consultation

Thank you for your Trust

Together, we are bridging essential life transitions through effective digital experiences. We hope you found value in this issue of OPTIMIZE. Feel free to let us know topics you'd like to learn more about here.