A chaotic move-in day became a turning point for Flagler College. By rebuilding trust with families through smarter communication, they reduced summer melt by 4% and dramatically improved payment and retention outcomes.

Text messages drive up to 3x higher engagement than email, yet most colleges still underuse them. Learn how Marymount University and New Mexico State University are turning everyday communications into timely, action-driving texts.

Orientation is a high-impact moment for families, but it can also be overwhelming. FSU turned three days of information into a lasting resource with their New Nole Orientation Hub, extending support well beyond move-in.

New research from nine universities and more than 20,000 students shows that when families are engaged, students are more likely to stay enrolled. In this year’s CampusESP retention case study, students with a connected parent saw 6.9 percentage points higher retention than those without.

WSSU’s culture of “Ramily” extends beyond students to the families who support them. Learn how the university partnered with CampusESP to create a centralized family engagement strategy that supports students from admissions through graduation, resulting in students with engaged families yielding rates 5 points higher than average.

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) research found students with high family engagement were 2.65x more likely to be retained, reinforcing family engagement as a measurable higher education retention strategy.

Early communication sets the tone for first-gen success. See how Montclair State University and Southern Oregon University are making thoughtful, strategic shifts in communication that help first-gen support feel personal, accessible, and culturally aware.

FAU launched a new orientation reservation system for students and families in just 4 weeks and achieved a 21% increase in reservations within the first two weeks.

As Montclair’s Latinx and international student populations surged, the university recognized that an English-only orientation left many families behind.

AI talk is everywhere in higher ed. And yeah, it can sound like one more complicated, overwhelming thing on your plate. But here’s the good news: AI doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, it can actually make your life easier and your family engagement efforts stronger.

This year’s FAFSA is smoother but success depends on more than system updates. Collaboration and consistent communication are what help families feel confident, informed, and supported throughout one of higher education’s most stressful processes.

Families don’t care what office sends the email. And they shouldn’t have to. Every outreach from a college should feel like one voice: clear, consistent, and focused on student success.

Louisiana State University, The University of Kansas, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and Webster University piloted our newest feature. They saw big gains in parent engagement, while spending only 30 mins a month managing it!

The summer before college is filled with questions for both students and their parents. That’s why the transition to college isn’t just about preparing students; it’s about equipping families with the information and support they need to guide them through it.

Last month, we welcomed hundreds of higher ed professionals to the 2025 CampusESP Summit. From campus collaborations to hyper-personalization with AI, these four takeaways show how institutions are turning ideas into action.

A small team doesn’t mean small impact. See how UM built a robust, personalized family engagement strategy for 11,000+ families using student workers, campus partnerships, and CampusESP’s AI features and content automation tools.

This year, over 32,000 families from 81 colleges told us exactly what they need to stay informed, connected, and confident about their student’s college experience. Spoiler: it’s not more Facebook Groups.

Let’s face it — AI is everywhere. You’ve probably heard “AI is here to stay” more times than you can count (maybe even in your sleep). But here’s the thing: when it comes to family engagement in higher ed, AI is a game-changer.

Planning Family Weekend? We know it’s not all smiles and selfies—behind the scenes, it’s a full-blown production! From getting the word out to managing check-ins and everything in between, pulling off a smooth Family Weekend takes serious hustle. Check out how CampusESP makes it easier to plan, promote, and actually enjoy one of your campus’s biggest events.

CampusESP’s annual exploratory study looks at the connection between family engagement and student retention. Our 2025 study looks at 11,442 first-time, first-year students that enrolled at ten universities in the Fall of 2023 and returned for the Fall 2024 term.