Challenges

Before CampusGroups, BU Law relied on the Student Activities Office (SAO) and a legacy engagement platform to manage student life. However, these systems did not meet the specific needs of law students, particularly in managing significant fundraising activities, calendaring, events, room reservations, student groups and communications. The lack of a unified platform limited community engagement, and resulted in additional administrative work, as well as a lack of visibility into the various processes that support campus life.

Solutions

To address these challenges, BU Law implemented the CampusGroups platform, already successful at Boston University Questrom School of Business. Due to the unique needs of law students, BU Law decided on a two-year phased roll-out of CampusGroups branded as “The Docket”.

Customization and Training

Initial customization of the platform was completed over July and August, focusing on building out essential features. When it launched in the fall, the system was mostly focused on the 18 student groups with the largest funding.

Mandatory Processes

Key processes for student leaders, such as room reservations and budgeting and finance tools, were integrated into CampusGroups, ensuring high engagement with the platform and facilitating efficient management of student activities. Stakeholders now agree on making more processes mandatory.

Newsletter Integration

The weekly "On the Docket" newsletter played a crucial role in driving students to the platform and raising awareness of events and updates.

Enhanced Communication

Tools like event management, email capabilities, and newsletters improved communication among students, staff, and faculty. They have also attracted diverse stakeholders, resulting in increased platform use and engagement.

Streamlined Operations

Automated workflows, such as tracks and checklists, are starting to be used for online pre-orientation, student organization leader training, and event management. These features provide greater visibility into student engagement and make it easy to track student progress toward completing training or reaching goals.

Conclusion

CampusGroups has significantly transformed BU Law's approach to managing student organizations and enhancing student engagement. By providing a unified platform that addresses the diverse needs of students and administrators, BU Law has successfully created a more efficient and engaging campus environment.