How Utah State Is Using a Connected Campus to Boost Student Engagement and Persistence

Digital transformation in higher education often focuses on technology. But for Utah State University, the transformation has been about outcomes: improving retention, strengthening equity, and building scalable systems of support without overhauling infrastructure.

In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Rene Eborn, Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Deputy of Digital Transformation at Utah State University, about how the institution designed and implemented a connected campus strategy that integrates advising, communications, and academic support into a single mobile-first platform.

Drawing on her decades of experience in higher ed and edtech leadership, Eborn shares how USU replaced nine siloed tools with five integrated platforms, enabling early alerts, AI-powered nudges, and real-time visibility across departments. She explains how this model supports faculty, staff, and especially underserved student populations—including first-generation, commuter, and online learners—by surfacing what students need, when they need it.

This conversation is especially relevant for institutional leaders looking to align digital infrastructure with student success goals, without ballooning their tech stack or losing sight of their mission.

Topics Covered:

• Why USU’s connected campus approach focuses on student equity and support

• How the university integrated CRM, LMS, advising, and communications systems

• The role of AI nudges and early alerts in preventing student disengagement

• How faculty and staff use the system to support students in real time

• What the rollout process looked like—and why stakeholder involvement was key

• What’s next: building toward a full 360-degree student lifecycle view

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• A first-generation student juggling three jobs flagged by the early alert system and connected to scholarship resources in time

• Student dashboards that surface personalized academic, advising, and financial steps

• A platform expansion that now includes parents, alumni, and prospective students

• High adoption rates driven by student feedback and design input

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

• Technology should be integrated, not layered—start with user needs and existing infrastructure.

• Faculty and staff buy-in depends on systems that make their work easier, not more complicated.

• Student success improves when support is timely, personalized, and accessible—especially for those who need it most.

This episode offers a practical look at what’s possible when digital transformation is driven by strategy, not software—and why connected campuses may be one of the most effective ways to support today’s diverse student population.

Recommended For: Presidents, provosts, CIOs, trustees