Why Ensuring College Students Feel Welcome Is Paramount

As graduating high school students prepare to begin college, the number of decisions they face can inspire a mix of excitement and fear. From big questions like what their interests are and how to pursue them, to simpler ones - like how to decorate their dorm room - it is in college that many young people begin figuring out what they want, and who they are. 

But before students can even begin asking these questions, they must answer another: where to go to college? 

Finding a campus where they fit in and feel comfortable is imperative; it is the foundation for students’ social, academic, and professional success. Ensuring a good match between students and the campus culture also benefits the college itself, by improving engagement, retention, graduation rates and alumni contributions.  

One of the ways Sodexo works with colleges and universities to help students feel at home is through robust ongoing research into students’ perspectives. A great example is the Sodexo Student Lifestyle Survey. We began conducting a survey in the United Kingdom in 2004 to identify and track trends in key areas of campus life as experienced by undergraduate students. In 2017, Sodexo conducted a global version of the survey, polling more than 4,000 students in six countries around the world (China, India, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.). 

One major area of focus is what attracts students to a particular college and makes them feel like part of a community. According to our early results, a welcoming environment is one of the most crucial factors for students choosing a college, ranking as the second most important factor. Only financial considerations ranked higher. 

What do these findings mean for higher education leaders? It has become apparent that college readiness and success on campus are about more than academics—students must feel like they fit in as an engaged member of the campus community. Classroom time is of course the foundation of higher education, but the hours students spend outside the classroom are teeming with opportunities to help students feel connected. 

Dining is a top driver of student engagement on campus. Food brings students together to talk, socialize and form meaningful bonds. Dining halls are ideal gathering spaces, but only if they offer a warm, welcoming environment where students can thrive. They must be comfortable places where students actually want to eat and spend time. 

Sodexo leverages the results of the Student Lifestyle Survey and other consumer trend research to create dining programs and other solutions for campus environments that support student success. We design diverse menus that reflect students’ needs and preferences, offering a careful balance of comforting favorites and adventurous new dishes. And we ensure that dining halls and other spaces on campus are welcoming and create positive impressions.   

We are committed to using consumer insights to build innovative solutions that reflect the evolution of the campus lifestyle. In a data-driven world, it is important to collect information, analyze findings and draw conclusions that help us continually expand and adapt programs and services in a way that best meets students’ needs. To learn more about students’ values, interests and attitudes, check back here in July for the latest version of this compelling study.