Best of CASE District V Award
 

Institution: Miami University

Title of entry: Major Insight: Find Your Place and Purpose On Campus

About this entry: There are storms on the horizon for higher education. Soaring tuition costs, rising student debt, and a politically polarized climate are driving many to question its worth and value, and while, at the same time, the looming enrollment cliff makes the battle for an ever-shrinking pool of students even more competitive.

Higher education must therefore find more compelling ways to promote the value it does bring to students, and to society, and one way is to elevate the voices and perspective of the students themselves.

This is the strategic goal of Major Insight, which is about helping students everywhere “find their place and purpose on campus,” while simultaneously providing a cross-functional communication platform that can be leveraged by many different campus collaborators.

Episodes feature a student host leading honest conversations with other students who share raw and real-life experiences about facing fears, overcoming challenges, finding friends, and attaining personal growth. By amplifying authentic student voices, it becomes a relatable resource for their peers and prospective students, and it becomes a bridge between institutional transparency and student engagement.

It also helps our audience, including parents, make more informed personal decisions by showcasing the vast range of available opportunities by bringing college experiences to life in ways that viewbooks and websites cannot.

The power of student perspectives has yet to be fully realized in higher ed communications, and this podcast attempts to push what’s possible. The results have been profound. Downloads now exceed 20K, and additional impactful outcomes will be subsequently detailed.