The Blog
Whether you're just starting or scaling, the trends, tips, and to-dos to improve your parent engagement strategy.
Featured
Texting families isn’t optional anymore. Here’s how to do it right
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.
Your new parent orientation playbook
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.
Inside DigiPen’s yield strategy: Why admits don’t enroll alone
DigiPen shares how engaging families during the admit-to-deposit window led to students with a connected parent enrolling at rates 16% higher than the institutional average.
Summer Toolkit: Your guide to decreasing student melt
One of the best ways to ensure your newly deposited incoming class makes it to their first class? Keep in touch with their families this summer. Our guide takes you step by step through when, why, and how.
From “Ramily” to results at WSSU
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.
Win yield through family confidence: communicate financial aid and ROI effectively
When families lack clarity around financial aid and cost, enrollment decisions stall. Learn how UNLV expanding their family communications around cost and ROI to drive yield, all while reducing call volume to financial aid and cashiering offices by 50%.
From parent interest into enrollment impact: Lessons from KU & Assumption
Families are engaging in the college search earlier than ever. This guide shares research-backed insights and real-world examples from two institutions already seeing enrollment results through intentional family engagement, including increase in student yield by +12%!
The missing piece in your enrollment funnel: Parent contact data
Parents play a major role in enrollment decisions, yet most institutions don’t engage them early enough. Discover eight proven ways to collect parent contact information sooner and turn early inclusion into real enrollment impact.
Florida Atlantic University is the first to launch student orientation registration in CampusESP
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.
AI and The Future of Family Engagement
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.
Cut through the FAFSA confusion: Strategies to support families
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.
What we heard from 9,467 parents of prospective college students
Families are your students’ #1 influencers. Understanding what they need, expect, and value can make or break enrollment outcomes. Our annual Prospective Family Survey Report breaks down what nearly 10,000 families told us about their role in the admissions process.
From recruit to retain: FAU’s blueprint for full-lifecycle family engagement
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.
Goodbye rogue parent Facebook Groups – CampusESP’s Discussion Boards are here!
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!
June 2025 CampusESP Feature Launch
From event management volume pricing, to Slate Suitcase integration capabilities to Admissions Dashboard improvements, check out the latest and greatest from CampusESP!
The power of personalization in recruitment and enrollment
Personalization can feel like an impossible task. You’re juggling shrinking teams, packed calendars, and a mile-long to-do list — do you really have time to tailor every message?
4 top takeaways from the 2025 CampusESP Summit
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.
Boost enrollment by personalizing your institutional voice to families
University of Mary Washington and Holy Family University share how they’re using CampusESP to turn authentic communication into a competitive advantage by engaging families early, building confidence throughout the funnel, and highlighting what makes their institutions special.
Introducing the Slate "Suitcase" Integration: A faster, smarter way to integrate CampusESP with Slate
Learn how the new Slate Suitcase for CampusESP makes it easier than ever to connect families with key updates — and bring their engagement data back into your funnel. Faster setup, smarter modeling, and more nudges to help families help students enroll.
5 family engagement strategies that drive enrollment success
When it comes to turning "maybe" into "yes" in the enrollment process, engaging families is more important than ever. But how can already-saturated teams, facing growing enrollment concerns, focus on the right outreach that will drive the action needed?

