In October 2024, UNK transitioned from using “Presence” to “LoperLinks,” a new student engagement platform. The software continues to grow, helping students, faculty and staff stay connected through campus events and organizations.
“LoperLinks” operates under Campus Labs, a software suite that supports higher education institutions.
“I think it is definitely going to help drive more engagement,” said Renae Zimmer, director of student engagement. “We’re really hoping that this can not only enhance communication but support those institutional goals of increasing engagement, which leads to higher retention and higher graduation rates.”
Through “LoperLinks,” student organizations, Greek life and departments can stay connected with their members.
“LoperLinks” includes more interactive features than “Presence.” The platform provides features and tools such as comprehensive calendar access, event and meeting scheduling, RSVP registration, QR code check-in, feedback surveys, roster and budget input and news articles. The software also provides an email feature, where organization leaders can directly communicate with members and invite them to meetings and events.
“It has really allowed us to be able to promote ourselves more on campus,” said Emma Bond, president of the Loper Programming and Activities Council. “We’re able to keep track of attendance more easily, which we find to be very helpful. It’s just more efficient and we’re able to see a lot more on the backend.”
In addition to student leaders and members, organization advisers were introduced to “LoperLinks” last fall.
“It is such a cool thing to have, where you can see all of the events that are happening on campus,” said Sally Wiarda, the adviser of Peer Health Educators. “I think this is a great gateway for students to be able to get involved and see what else campus has to offer.”
While users can access “LoperLinks” through the website on a web browser, they can also obtain it through the “Corq” app.
“The ‘Corq’ app is pretty user-friendly,” Zimmer said. “If you download the app, you have access to the comprehensive university calendar of all the events. It shows what is going on day by day.”
Users can download the “Corq” app directly from the app store on their mobile device. In addition to “LoperLinks,” the “Corq” app provides a map feature that shows where an event is being held on campus. Users can also tag events that work with their schedules within the app.
Using the “Corq” app, users are also able to scan a QR code to confirm attendance at an event or meeting. Every student, staff and faculty member has their own designated QR code to scan into events.
The Nebraska University system, which includes four campuses, all collectively moved to Campus Labs in fall 2024.
UNK is in phase one of the implementation of “LoperLinks” and is preparing for phase two. Phase one is the initial process of integrating all of the student organizations, Greek life and departments into the system. As of Jan. 28, 2024, UNK has 86 active organizations in “LoperLinks” and 777 active users.
Phase two of the “LoperLinks” implementation focuses on direct marketing the software to students, staff and faculty across campus.
“We will probably do a little bit of tabling in the Union with the ‘Corq’ app that they can download,” Zimmer said. “We’ll do some direct mail and put information out in the student bulletin. We’ve got some things up on the digital screens around campus as well advertising it.”
The Student Engagement office hosts “LoperLinks” training sessions for organization leaders, advisers, students and administrators.
The training sessions cover the basic functions of the software. During training sessions for organization leaders and advisers, they learn how to download their logo, add events and meetings, input members into the roster and tag officer positions.
“I went to one last semester, which was super helpful,” Wiarda said. “I definitely recommend advisers to go to it because it is super beneficial. They do a really great job walking through what you can do, all of the tools, and how to set up your student organization.”
The Student Engagement office is hosting “LoperLinks” training sessions throughout February.
There will be a campus-wide “LoperLinks” training session on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Antelope Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. Attendees are required to bring their personal laptops for training.
