On Feb. 11, 2025, Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI) will be hosting a HuskyLEAD session titled “Strategies for Member Engagement & Retention.” This event, held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Fisher 125, will focus on providing student leaders with strategies to address one of the most significant difficulties that student organizations face: sustaining consistent involvement once new members join. The event is part of their HuskyLEAD program, educating students about leadership development. Students are encouraged to RSVP on the SLI section of the Michigan Tech website.
The workshop will explore proven approaches for increasing engagement and member retention, such as promoting a feeling of belonging, recognizing contributions, and designing inclusive events. Participants will also learn how to use feedback and mentorship to match their organization’s goals with the needs of its members, therefore building a motivated and dedicated membership.
As Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President and an employee of the SLI office, Cole Pierucki facilitated the event. When asked for the motivations behind its creation, Pierucki said, “Usually at the start of the year, there’s a big influx of membership, but it’s hard to keep that kind of membership. I think that’s one of the more challenging parts of being an RSO (Registered Student Organization) and especially, as an RSO officer, trying to make sure that all the members of your org feel like they’re valued and that they have a reason to keep going with the org. So I hope that with this HuskyLEAD, we can help students learn some of those tips and approaches to best engage your members and have retention within your organization.”
While the event was originally conceived for RSO officers, the strategies discussed will also help enterprise leaders, Greek Life, and students involved in group projects. “It’s good to be able to find a way to keep the members in your group involved and want to keep working with you on the project,” said Pierucki.
Pierucki encourages anyone interested to attend, with or without RSVPing. “College is such a great opportunity because there are so many different leaders to learn from, like other students, staff, faculty… You can just show up and learn as much as you can.”
A special highlight of the event is its presenter, Alexandra Putwen, the Director of Residence Education at Michigan Tech. Alexandra has significant experience overseeing student leaders and groups, making her well-prepared to provide ideas and techniques that appeal to campus leadership.
This session is part of the HuskyLEAD series, which aims to improve leadership abilities among Michigan Tech students. Participants will also get credit for participating, giving it an invaluable chance to develop as leaders while directly helping their companies. Other upcoming events under HuskyLEAD include Leading the Charge for a Sustainable Future with the Office of Sustainability and Resilience on January 17 and Effective Leadership Transitions with Amy Hjerstedt on March 19.
If you’re ready to enhance engagement and retention in your organization, mark your calendar on Feb. 11, 2025, and join us in Fisher Hall, Room 125. Do not miss this opportunity to discover concrete tactics from a student leadership specialist and elevate your group’s performance.
