Building Campus Buy-in for Points
Launching a Points program can transform how students engage with campus life — but to make it sustainable, it’s important to bring your campus leaders along for the journey. Whether you’re introducing the idea to Student Affairs leadership, academic partners, or the cabinet, these strategies can help you build support and momentum.
1. Start with Your “Why”
Begin by connecting the Points program to your institution’s strategic priorities. Leaders are more likely to support an initiative when they see how it advances existing goals.
Example connections:
Student Engagement: Supports retention and belonging initiatives.
Assessment: Provides measurable data on student participation and involvement trends.
Student Success: Encourages behaviors linked to higher GPA and persistence rates.
Equity and Inclusion: Makes campus involvement more accessible and visible to all students.
Pro tip: Frame Points as a tool that strengthens ongoing institutional efforts — not a separate initiative that competes for attention or resources.
2. Highlight the “Return on Engagement”
Campus leaders often ask, “What’s the payoff?” Show how a Points program can deliver both qualitative and quantitative value.
Share data and outcomes such as:
Increased event attendance and student organization participation
Growth in platform engagement metrics
Positive feedback from student participants
Improved retention or persistence rates (where data is available)
Pro tip: Use visuals! A one-page dashboard or infographic showing how Points tracks engagement across campus can make a big impact in presentations.
3. Speak to Their Interests
Different audiences care about different outcomes. Tailor your message to the person or group you’re meeting with:
Audience | Focus Area | How Points Aligns |
VP of Student Affairs / Dean of Students | Retention, engagement, student success, divisional alignment | Shows measurable engagement growth and supports retention goals. |
Academic Leadership (Provosts, Deans) | Learning outcomes, co-curricular connections | Provides insight into student involvement beyond the classroom. |
Institutional Research / Assessment Leaders | Data quality, integration, and reporting | Offers real-time engagement data tied to learning outcomes. |
Cabinet / President’s Office | Strategic goals, reputation, and impact | Demonstrates innovation, student-centered design, and institutional alignment. |
Pro tip: If possible, show how Points data can feed into campus dashboards or accreditation reports — that often gets leadership attention.
4. Emphasize Ease of Implementation
Leaders may be cautious about adding new programs. Reassure them that Points builds on systems already in place and allows for a gradual rollout that fits your campus capacity and goals.
Key points to emphasize:
Uses existing event and organization data in your engagement platform
Requires minimal training for staff and students
Scalable — can start small and grow over time
Low technical overhead and high visibility for impact
Pro tip: Offer to run a short pilot or themed challenge to demonstrate value before campus-wide rollout. Starting small doesn’t mean thinking small. A pilot program helps you gather early data, student feedback, and success stories that strengthen your case for broader adoption.
Start with a short-term, themed challenge — for example, a “Welcome Week Engagement Challenge” or “Fall Spirit Series.”
How it helps with buy-in:
Generates quick, visible results that can be shared with leadership
Demonstrates impact without requiring new policies or budget approvals
Provides authentic student reactions, feedback, and stories that humanize your pitch
Evidence to share:
Number of participants or total points earned
Event attendance increases during the challenge
Quotes and testimonials from students about what motivated them
To learn more about tailoring a phased launch, check out our article:Building a Points Program That Fits Your Campus.
5. Bring Student Voices to the Table
By running a pilot first, you’ll already have real student stories and reactions to share with leadership. Nothing communicates value better than hearing directly from students who’ve experienced Points.
Ways to include student voices:
Share quotes or testimonials from pilot participants.
Highlight stories of how Points motivated students to get involved.
If possible, include a brief video or social media post featuring student reactions.
Pro tip: A student perspective makes your pitch more relatable and demonstrates authentic impact.
6. Make It a Partnership
Invite leaders to shape the direction of your Points program. When they feel invested, they’re more likely to champion it.
Ask questions like:
“What outcomes would make this program a success for your area?”
“How could this data support your department’s goals?”
“Would you be open to sharing updates from our pilot with the cabinet or board?”
Pro tip: Consider forming a small advisory group with cross-campus representation — it builds buy-in and broadens advocacy.
7. Plan for Budget Conversations
If your Points program requires funding — whether for incentives, rewards, or expansion — approach the budget conversation as an opportunity to show strategic value, not just request resources.
Best practices for making the case:
Connect to outcomes: Frame the budget request around measurable goals like retention, student satisfaction, or engagement growth.
Start small, scale smart: Use early pilot results to demonstrate impact per dollar spent, then show how additional investment would amplify results.
Highlight flexibility: Emphasize that rewards don’t have to be costly — consider institutional swag, experiences (e.g., lunch with the Dean), or recognition opportunities.
Explore partnerships: Identify co-sponsors across campus (Student Life, Athletics, Bookstore, Alumni Relations) to share costs and broaden visibility.
Show sustainability: Present how Points can be supported through existing funds, sponsorships, or donor engagement once its value is proven.
Pro tip: Leadership is more likely to approve budgets that tie directly to student success metrics or strategic plan priorities.
8. Follow Up with Results
Once your program launches, share updates early and often.
Send a brief impact summary that includes:
Number of students participating
Points earned and redeemed
Events or categories with highest engagement
Quotes or stories that bring the data to life
Pro tip: Regular communication turns leadership awareness into long-term support and funding.
Sample Talking Points
“Points gives us a fun, gamified way to track and reward engagement — and the data helps us tell a more complete story about the student experience.”
“This program helps us make invisible involvement visible — we can finally see and celebrate how students engage outside the classroom.”
“By connecting Points data to student success metrics, we can better understand which activities have the biggest impact on retention.”