After spending a full year in a different major, Isabella Cwynar felt behind when she switched paths during her second year at Kent State, not yet realizing the opportunities ahead.

Students often look for support as they navigate challenges and uncertainty during college. At Kent State, resources and support systems help students find their path and stay on track.

For Cwynar, that support came through getting involved. After switching her major to construction management, she joined the Construction Management Student Organization, where she connected with peers in her field and gained access to opportunities that helped her get back on track.

Through the organization, she attended a resume workshop where she met a recruiter from Turner Construction – a connection that led to an internship before she had even completed a full semester in the major.

Her experience reflects a broader trend at Kent State: Students who get involved early are more likely to build connections, access resources and succeed academically.

Katie Syvanych, associate director at the Center for Student Involvement, said the university uses student engagement data to measure that impact.

“Attending just one kickoff event is associated with a 7.5% increase in GPA (from 2.67 to 2.87) and an 8.3 percentage point increase in retention,” Syvanych said.

Students who attended four or more kickoff events saw up to a 24% increase in GPA compared to non-participants.

“The highest persistence gain occurs at four events,” Syvanych said. “Students are 14.5 percentage points more likely to continue to the spring semester than those who attended zero events.”

The data also shows a connection to credit completion, with students who attended four or more kickoff events completing 9.4% more of their attempted credit hours than non-participants.

While early involvement can have a strong impact, not every student finds their place right away. Student organizations have different recruitment and engagement processes, allowing students to get involved at various points in their college experience.

For some students, that sense of connection comes through more structured organizations, such as Greek life.

Delta Gamma, for example, follows a three-round recruitment process that begins with short introductory conversations and ends with more personal, invite-only meetings designed to help both the chapter and potential members find the right fit.

Logan Cohen, sophomore director of recruitment for Delta Gamma, said students can find support at any stage of their involvement.

“Whatever you put into Delta Gamma is what you get out,” Cohen said. “Members who join earlier may feel a stronger connection, but even those who join later can still find that same level of support.”

Cohen said involvement can also lead to leadership opportunities that help students grow.

“A lot of new members are looking for friendship and community, so when they take on leadership positions, that’s when I notice they really start to thrive and find their place,” she said.

Greek life can also offer academic support through study tables and emotional support from chapter members.

For students like Cwynar, involvement is closely tied to academic and career goals.

“I’m really grateful I joined this organization in the beginning,” she said. “It gave me access to so much academic and professional help that I didn’t know was there otherwise.”

Cwynar also said students can choose how involved they want to be, with a minimum number of service hours each semester to help them stay engaged.

Beyond organizations, Kent State measures student support through campus-wide climate surveys, which help identify gaps in belonging, especially among commuter students who may feel less connected than those living on campus.

To address those gaps, the Center for Student Involvement offers programs like spring pop-in hours, held in the Pepsi Leadership Room on the second floor of the Student Center, where students can ask questions and explore ways to get involved.

For students unsure where to start, the advice is simple: Try something.

“I think it’s really important for people to know that there is something for everybody,” Cohen said. “No matter what you join, it will not have a negative impact on your experience here.”

Figuring out where to connect isn’t always easy, Syvanych said, and there is no single path to getting involved.

“Forget what you’ve done and try something new,” she said. “Kent State has a lot to offer; get outside of your box.”

Syvanych encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones and explore new opportunities.

“Sometimes it’s hard to get out there, but it’s so comforting in knowing I do have a community that supports me. I just had to get my foot in the door,” Cwynar said.

Kelsey Delaney is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].