Success Story

Boosting Student Engagement Through Side-Hustles at BMCC Blackstone Launchpad with KANU Compete

Last edited 320 days ago by KANU Team

Overview

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) Blackstone Launchpad had a unique challenge: how to engage their student body in meaningful ways that resonated with them. Traditional entrepreneurial language was missing the mark, so they turned to KANU Compete, a platform designed to meet students where they are. The term "side-hustle" proved to be more effective in attracting students who, although not identifying with traditional entrepreneurship, were keen on venture creation.

The Problem

BMCC Blackstone Launchpad needed an engaging, scalable way to connect students with their programming. They wanted to provide tangible value, attract new members, and offer an experience that showcased the impact of their initiatives to stakeholders. Furthermore, they were looking to leverage their existing funding more effectively.

The Solution

KANU Compete offers a comprehensive platform tailored to student engagement needs. It allows BMCC to run exciting competitions around side-hustles, thus pulling in the student demographic interested in venture creation. Not only does this bring fresh faces into BMCC's orbit, but it also adds value to students' experiences and creates a showcase that's compelling to stakeholders.

The Results

With the registration still open and two weeks left for sign-ups, BMCC Blackstone Launchpad has already secured 20 participants. This initial response suggests that the approach resonates with the student body and holds promise for future programming.

Testimonials

Katerina Lewis Archer, Director of Programming at BMCC Blackstone Launchpad, shared:

"The new design is truly impressive, and the dedicated page for BMCC is a particularly excellent addition. Your thoughtfulness in integrating new features to enhance student engagement has not gone unnoticed, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your diligent work."

"I checked the contest page, and OMG, you saved me so much time! We truly appreciate how much work you are putting into it. I used the information to create a page on our website."

Lessons Learned

One of the key insights from the early stages of this program is the importance of giving more lead time for sign-ups, allowing for more robust student engagement.

Future Plans

BMCC is exploring the possibility of expanding this partnership into a CUNY system-wide collaboration, further amplifying the impact and reach of KANU Compete.

Media

Check out the dedicated BMCC page:

BMCC KANU Compete Page⁠

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