
July 23-25, 2025 / Philadelphia, PA
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The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) is home to more than 17,300 undergraduate and graduate students, offering 120+ programs with a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Over 3,700 students live on campus, benefiting from a supportive community. UML is dedicated to preparing students for college success and fostering lifelong learning in a global society.
Ranked as the #1 public research university in Massachusetts for return on investment (ROI), UMass Lowell (UML) has earned a prominent place among higher education institutions. It is also recognized as the 87th best public university in the country by U.S. News & World Report. UML is known for fostering an inclusive and diverse community, with 44% of its students identifying as people of color, 41% being first-generation college students, and more than 1,450 veterans enrolled. The university places a strong emphasis on accessibility, with 96% of its campus buildings fully accessible to all students.
A key initiative supporting student success is the River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA), founded in 2017 to specifically serve the needs of first-generation college students. The program has grown to support more than 2,000 students, offering a range of services and resources designed to enhance their academic and personal growth. Through strong connections with faculty, research opportunities, leadership development, and community-building activities, RHSA provides students with the tools they need to thrive.
Before adopting Suitable, RHSA managed student programs using Excel sheets and Blackboard, which presented several challenges. Their tracking systems were cumbersome, and communication with students lacked clarity and consistency. While the team tried to engage students through Blackboard, the platform proved difficult to navigate, making it challenging for students to access the information they needed efficiently. As a result, the academy faced hurdles in effectively managing student engagement and program participation.
In addition to Blackboard, RHSA used a variety of other platforms to reach students, including social media, email, and messaging apps like GroupMe and Telegram. However, relying on multiple platforms made it hard to centralize communication and streamline student outreach. The academy recognized the need for a more integrated solution that would allow them to track participation, communicate effectively, and provide students with easy access to all program-related information in one place. This led them to seek a unified platform that could bring all these functions together, improving both the student experience and program management.
RHSA first became aware of Suitable when it was introduced to their university through a partnership with the Honors College. The platform's intuitive interface and easy goal-tracking functionality immediately caught their attention. Students could seamlessly check their progress, and the platform’s accessibility—available on both mobile and desktop—made it convenient for all users. RHSA was particularly impressed by Suitable’s communication features, such as push notifications, which allowed for real-time engagement with students.
When RHSA integrated Suitable into their programming, they had just one month to plan and implement the platform for their first-year student cohort. The goal was to pilot the program, track student engagement, and foster buy-in from the beginning. They kicked off the academic year with two competency badges and later expanded to four by the spring of 2024. These badges were carefully selected to align with the academy’s goals, offering students a diverse range of competencies to explore. Initially, RHSA focused on an "attend and reflect" model, but they plan to adjust this approach to create more intentional, competency-based activities in the future.
Since implementing Suitable, RHSA has seen a marked increase in student engagement, particularly among first-year students. Fall-to-spring retention rates among first-year students soared to 95%, and 100% of the 328 first-year students—211 of whom were honors students—actively logged into the platform. This level of participation represents a dramatic improvement over previous years.
One of the keys to their success was making Suitable mandatory for all students. The platform's gamification elements, such as leaderboards and monthly competitions, have fostered healthy competition and motivated students to participate consistently. Training student leaders to become proficient in Suitable has also been invaluable, as these leaders help guide first-year students in navigating the platform. Additionally, integrating Suitable into Welcome Day activities ensured that students were introduced to the platform from day one, setting them up for success.
Looking ahead, RHSA plans to gradually roll out new badges for additional programs and affinity groups. Their long-term goal is to ensure that all RHSA students—from first-year through senior year—are actively using Suitable to track their progress and engage with the academy’s offerings. They also aim to enhance collaboration with campus partners, increasing literacy and awareness of Suitable across the university. By integrating Suitable into more of the university’s systems, RHSA hopes to create a seamless experience for students and faculty alike.
RHSA’s experience has underscored the importance of requiring engagement while making participation enjoyable through gamification, raffles, recognition, and other incentives. This approach not only increases participation but also inspires students to become passionate advocates for the program. Leveraging student leaders as ambassadors, providing how-to videos, and clearly communicating the rationale behind the platform’s use have all contributed to the success of the program. By focusing on clear communication and making the experience fun and rewarding, RHSA has successfully achieved buy-in from both students and campus partners, positioning them for continued growth and success.