Student retention and well-being remain critical challenges in higher education, particularly within accommodation settings where pastoral care often operates in silos. This presentation outlines a proactive, whole-of-organisation approach to pastoral care in student accommodation, emphasizing collaboration, early intervention, and integrated communication channels.
In 2024, a pilot program was implemented to bridge gaps between accommodation providers, student support services, and academic schools. This initiative resulted in a 62% increase in student retention comparative to the 3 years prior and facilitated 89 additional resident check-ins for issues that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Of these, 31 residents accepted further support from student support services, illustrating the program's effectiveness in addressing early signs of disengagement or distress. In 2025 we continued the initiative and saw similar results again to what we saw in 2024. Furthermore, enhanced communication between academic schools and accommodation staff improved the holistic support provided to students.
This presentation will share key strategies, challenges, and outcomes from the pilot, offering a scalable framework for embedding proactive pastoral care across institutions. By fostering a unified student centred approach, we demonstrate how accommodation providers can play a pivotal role in improving student outcomes, meet pastoral care code compliance and creating supportive residential communities.