All incoming first-year students were connected post-NSO with online information and communication from their top 5 engagement choices via the Panther Involvement Network - PIN. During their in-person NSO event, each student attended a 'Panther Connect' session to dive deeper in their top desired involvement opportunity, where they were able to connect and share contact information with students that possess similar interests as them. An enhancement in 2024 was the reflective activity 'Pounce on Points' where students interacted with each other, sharing what they learned in the session and how they plan to engage, and met new friends, all while earning points towards various GSU prizes. Also deliver pre-collegiate modules related to developing a productive mindset and building college readiness skills.
Evaluation Plan and measures: Measure engagement by first year students through tracking activities in Panther Involvement Network and completion of modules
Goal or targets (for each KPI): 75% 1st year engagement and 75% completion of modules.
Panther Connect was piloted 3 years ago and expanded in Fall 2023. The program has helped increase the number of unique students engaged from 19,176 in 2021-2022 to 27,742 in 2024-2025—an increase of 45% over 3 years.
In Fall 2025, GSU added two more pre-collegiate modules to better support onboarding, bringing the total to 6 animated modules for students. One of the modules was designed to increase first-week attendance led to a decrease in the number of freshmen who were dropped for non-attendance.
We plan to add two additional modules next year and continue enhancing and streamlining communications.
Strong technological implementation.
