Removing Barriers to Belonging With Streamlined Engagement
Challenge
With more than 25,000 students, Wayne State University (WSU) needed to manage student organization and engagement processes at scale without overwhelming staff or creating friction for students. Legacy systems and manual workflows made it difficult for students to register organizations, reserve events, and participate in campus governance. The university’s priority was to streamline administrative processes so staff could focus more on leadership development, involvement, and belonging.
Solution
WSU took a student-centered, phased approach to expanding its use of its Engage technology, prioritizing projects that removed the greatest barriers for students and staff. The university first simplified student organization registration, then modernized event reservation workflows to significantly reduce staff workload. Additional initiatives — including on-demand training resources and campus-wide elections — were developed in collaboration with campus partners and peer institutions, ensuring scalability, adoption, and long-term value.
Engage
Results
Simpler, more accessible processes led to dramatic growth in registered student organizations and increased student participation across campus. Administrative efficiencies freed staff time to better support student leaders, while modernized elections drove record-breaking voter engagement. Through continuous collaboration and peer learning, WSU has built a highly engaged campus ecosystem that supports leadership, belonging, and sustained student involvement.
