Colleges create new ways for students to connect in light of post-pandemic social anxiety.

Students have been back on campus for several years since the pandemic, but many say they still feel alone.

Loneliness among college students has reached record highs, with nearly half reporting persistent feelings of isolation, according to the 2023 National College Health Assessment by the American College Health Association. The problem is particularly acute among Gen Z students, who came of age during lockdowns and remote learning. Though campuses are physically open, the social infrastructure needed to support meaningful connections hasn’t fully rebounded.

“Students are showing up to college with fewer in-person social experiences and more anxiety about forming connections,” said Dr. Sarah Ketchen Lipson, principal investigator for the Healthy Minds Network at Boston University.

Dorm Life Isn’t What It Used to Be

Traditionally, residential life served as a key site for student bonding. But pandemic disruptions fractured that model. A 2023 Northeastern University case study on Rutgers University’s Brothers, Organized, and Nurtured through Development (BOND) program found that structured peer mentorship dramatically improved students’ sense of belonging, especially for first year and underrepresented students.

“We used to rely on passive programming—open doors, shared lounges,” the report stated. “But students today need intentional scaffolding to build community.”

Small cohort-style models are also gaining traction. While no public statement from Stanford University on its “connection pods”—initiatives the institution initiated post-COVID to foster student connections—was available, research supports this approach. A 2023 qualitative study published in the Journal of Student Affairs Research & Practice found that pod-style residence structures, or small, intentional peer groups within dorms, helped facilitate deeper social connections and reduced feelings of isolation.

Clubs and campus events once offered an easy on-ramp to friendship, but student engagement has declined since the pandemic. A 2023 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) report revealed that while 61% expressed interest in campus events, fewer than 25% attended regularly. This drop-off suggests a “social inertia” among students struggling to reengage with campus life.

To combat this, many institutions are experimenting with micro-social programming. Davidson College’s informal “10-Minute Meet” initiative reflects a broader trend identified in student affairs research. Studies show that brief, structured peer interactions lower the barrier for connection and are more accessible to anxious or socially inexperienced students.

Digital connection has also become key. Arizona State University’s “Devil2Devil” is a Discord community created for fall 2025 admitted students to connect with each other.  Another social engagement platform, GroupMe Campus, is being used by more than 70%% of U.S. college campuses according to their website. For new student bonding, recent research suggests that pre-arrival digital engagement can help jump-start things. According to the same study, students who participated in virtual affinity groups before arriving on campus reported higher initial confidence in forming friendships.

Loneliness is not just a mental health issue; it’s a belonging issue. And it disproportionately affects students from underrepresented backgrounds. According to a 2024 Gallup-Lumina Foundation report, first-generation college students are 30% more likely to feel isolated during their first year compared to continuing generation peers.

“Belonging isn’t about one big program, it’s about everyday signals that say, ‘You matter here,’” said Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, author of College Students’ Sense of Belonging.

Faculty play a critical role. “When instructors show empathy and build community in the classroom, students carry that confidence into the rest of campus,” said Dr. Jennifer Keup, director of the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience at the University of South Carolina.

Best Practices for Rebuilding Connection

Institutions seeking to reverse the loneliness trend are adopting whole-campus strategies, including the following recommended by experts:

• Redesigning orientation: Shifting from information-heavy sessions to experiential activities focused on relationship building.
  
• Training resident assistants: Equipping them to foster inclusive, emotionally safe spaces.
  
• Peer mentorship programs: Programs like Rutgers’ BOND initiative offer a model for structured, identity-based community building.
  
• Promoting group therapy and support circles: Normalize these resources as proactive tools, not just for crisis.
  
• Launching visibility campaigns: Ohio State University’s “You Belong Here” initiative uses signage, videos, and social media to remind students of their value and visibility.
  

As institutions look ahead, many are recognizing that the antidote to loneliness isn’t more events, but rather a shift in approach. It’s about recognizing what students’ needs are currently and providing them with tools and supports they will embrace to authentically build a community, one relationship at a time.