Student success is deeply tied to the quality of support services universities provide. As student needs become increasingly complex, institutions must find ways to deliver personalized, scalable, and effective support. However, many universities face significant challenges in harnessing data to improve student outcomes. Fragmented systems, underutilized analytics, and a lack of real-time insights prevent institutions from making informed decisions that truly impact student success.
Recognizing these challenges, higher education institutions are turning to data-driven approaches to enhance student support. Research from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) highlights that higher education institutions are increasingly using student-level data to drive gains in student success.
In this blog, we’ll examine these challenges, explore how data drives strategic decisions, and highlight how modern student support platforms help universities identify at-risk students, optimize resources, and create a more connected student experience.
Common Pitfalls: Why Are Institutions Struggling with Data?
Many universities collect student data across multiple platforms, advising services, mental health support and academic assistance but these systems rarely communicate. This disconnection prevents institutions from getting a holistic view of student needs, leading to inefficiencies and missed intervention opportunities.
Even when institutions collect vast amounts of data, many lack user-friendly tools to turn this information into actionable insights. Without clear, digestible analytics, support staff may struggle to identify trends, track engagement, and provide timely interventions.
University staff are often overwhelmed with large volumes of student data, lacking the time or expertise to interpret and act on it effectively. This results in reactive rather than proactive support, where help is only offered when a crisis arises rather than preventing issues before they escalate.
Vygo centralises all student support services—peer mentoring, tutoring, and mental health resources into one seamless platform. This integration makes data collection and analysis straightforward, allowing universities to:
Vygo’s analytics tools detect low engagement levels or repeated missed mentoring sessions, prompting automatic alerts. Institutions can then initiate proactive outreach, ensuring students receive support before issues worsen.
Vygo’s data-driven approach allows universities to offer tailored support. For example, students struggling with coursework can be automatically recommended study groups or peer mentors based on their subject load and interests.
By leveraging data, universities can scale student support services efficiently. Automated processes reduce administrative burdens while ensuring every student gets the personalised help they need.
As student populations grow and diversify, universities must embrace data-driven, student-centered approaches to support. Institutions that leverage real-time insights will be better positioned to provide equitable, effective support for all students.
Vygo is transforming how universities use data, not just to track engagement, but to drive meaningful interventions that improve student outcomes. Ready to take your student support system to the next level? Contact Vygo today to discover how turning insights into action can redefine student success.