At the core of our Online Student Engagement team’s work is a deep understanding of who our online students are—their lives, goals, and challenges. We use these insights to shape our efforts and support students in their lived experiences.
Marshall Online has achieved record-breaking online enrollment for both the fall and spring terms. In the fall, we saw a 9.4% increase, bringing our total enrollment to 1,493 students. This momentum continued into the spring, with a remarkable 22.4% increase, reaching 1,581 students. This growth reflects our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality online education and the success of our initiatives to support and engage our online learners.
We know student success happens beyond the classroom. That’s why we’ve built a holistic support model with the student at its center. Our model focuses on student goals, resources, identifying and addressing barriers and delivering support that makes a real difference.
Our student-first approach drives innovation in online learning. Initiatives include proactive outreach, a Reserved Seats Pilot to improve course access, and expanded support services. Beyond logistics, we also focus on connection and belonging—with the Marshall Online Student Advisory Council, Online Student Connection in Blackboard, and support via our integrated chat. Our full-time team members are certified Academic Life Coaches, helping students build personalized strategies for success.
To bring our vision to life, we’ve invested in building and nurturing strategic partnerships across campus. These partnerships span key operational and academic areas as well as academic colleges and programs. Together, we’ve been able to make student-facing processes more streamlined, personalized, and efficient and strengthen wraparound services. This proactive, integrated approach ensures every online student is supported from initial inquiry through enrollment and graduation.
The Back to Marshall initiative is designed to re-engage students who have earned some college credits but haven’t yet completed their degree. By offering comprehensive, student-focused support, this program addresses their unique needs and challenges, guiding them back to Marshall to finish what they started. The campaign aims to increase graduation rates, enhance student career prospects, and support the university’s strategic goals. A pilot program launched in Fall 2024 with a small cohort of online students provided valuable insights that will inform future expansion.
Marshall Online further supports these students by offering flexible, high-quality programs tailored to diverse needs, whether they’re pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree, or a certificate. Through the Back to Marshall program, we’re inviting students to reconnect with their academic goals and complete their degree on their terms.
In collaboration with the Presidential Task Force on AI, Marshall Online launched the Khanmigo pilot, an AI-powered tutor from Khan Academy. This initiative aimed to personalize learning for select online courses and first-year Marshall For All students, enhancing engagement and academic success. The pilot included faculty community of practice sessions, student demos, and outreach efforts. Despite initial enthusiasm, the pilot concluded at the end of May due to low participation and unmet outcomes. This experience underscores our commitment to exploring innovative educational technologies, embracing a growth mindset, and learning from challenges to continuously seek cutting-edge solutions for our students’ benefit.
The Belongingness Study, conducted by Dr. Wendi Benson and Marshall Online, focuses on understanding and enhancing online students’ sense of belonging at Marshall University. Through student stories and use cases, the study gathers insights into student experiences and challenges. The study’s findings have directly informed the development of targeted interventions and support services, fostering a more inclusive and connected online learning environment. Key initiatives include the Marshall Online Student Connection, the Marshall Online Student Advisory Council, and academic life coaching services. The importance and impact of this study are further reflected in its integration into Marshall’s H.O.M.E. Framework Standard 6, ensuring that online courses support belongingness.
We surveyed Marshall online students to learn more about their experiences. We found that online students are highly satisfied with success resources (92%) and resource access (94%). Students favor flexible online delivery, with 55% preferring Async Online and 34% HyFlex or Sync Choice. Interest is strong in support programs such as career development (58%) and mental wellness (50%), with 59% likely to attend virtual growth sessions. We are happy to report that online students overall feel connected, supported, and seen.
We significantly enhanced our promotion and outreach efforts by partnering with the Marketing and Communications team. This collaboration led to the development of targeted digital campaigns and new recruitment assets, such as viewbooks for online programs and promotional videos, which elevate the visibility and impact of our online programs. These efforts have contributed to record-breaking online enrollment for both the fall and spring terms. By leveraging the expertise of the Marketing and Communications team, we have created more personalized and effective outreach strategies that resonate with prospective students.
Marshall Online hosted a special graduation reception for our online students on Friday, May 9, 2025, from in the John Marshall Dining Room. This in-person event was a wonderful opportunity for our online graduates to celebrate their achievements, enjoy great food, and network with fellow graduates, faculty, and staff. Graduates received their special commencement cords, marking their significant accomplishment. The reception fostered a sense of community and connection, highlighting the importance of celebrating milestones together, even for our online learners.
