Case Study: University of South Carolina achieves 92% undergraduate connection and #1 first‑year student experience with Anthology Engage

Fostering a sense of belonging at a large institution through Anthology Engage

The University of South Carolina, a large public research institution serving over 52,000 learners, faced the challenge of making a sprawling campus feel welcoming and helping first-year students find belonging and connection. To better understand student interests and streamline engagement, the University partnered with Anthology and implemented the Anthology Engage platform (alongside Blackboard Learn) as a central, accessible hub for student organizations and programming.

Anthology worked with USC to roll out Engage in 2015, expanding access across Student Life, housing, and experiential learning and integrating data via APIs to give staff actionable insights. The Anthology solution drove measurable impact: 92% of undergraduates connected to at least one program, a 36% increase in unique learner involvement in year one, a 79% increase after two years, continuous annual growth in platform use, and contributed to USC’s #1 ranking for first‑year undergraduate experience by U.S. News & World Report.

University of South Carolina

Megan Colascione

Assessment Director, Department of Student Life