ALL ON BOARD
New Raftr platform designed to spark student engagement
ECU College of Engineering and Technology students have a new tool to stay up to date with college events and student organizations.
The college’s Student Success Center started use this semester of the application Raftr, a free centralized CET engagement platform that focuses on peer-to-peer connections, First Year Program connections and college engagement.
“It is mobile and web friendly, providing easy access to students on whichever device they prefer,” said Max Rohrman, project coordinator with the Student Success Center. “The goal is to provide a single platform where students connect with interest groups, explore CET and campus events and programs, and interact with fellow CET students seamlessly.”
Ben Gillen, a resident advisor for the college’s Living Learning Community, has already seen the benefits of Raftr. He used it to promote a 3D printing competition and dinner event in the CET Digital Lounge in the Rawl Building that included a tour and training in the nearby Isley Innovation Hub.
“There are a lot of events on there,” Gillen said of Raftr. “There is a lot of stuff you can see if you want to find something to do that’s engineering related. If you want to plug into something that is event-related to your major, it’s a great place to be.”
Sign Me Up
- Download the Raftr app via the Apple App Store or Google Play
- Create an account
- Enter ECU as your community code
- Sign in with your ECU credentials
Gillen, along with fellow resident advisor John Riddle, plan several events each semester for the more than 20 students they each oversee in the Living Learning Community.
“We’re a bunch of engineering students and IT students, and we can all come together to network and get experience on engineering and technology,” said Gillen, a senior information and computer technology student from Jacksonville. “With Raftr being specifically for events, it’s a great place to further network.”
He said he is encouraging students to sign up for Raftr.
“My main thing is that it’s a one-stop shop for engineering and tech events,” he said. “You can go on to Instagram or wherever, but this is really good for just engineering and tech. You can find out what organizations are doing events through Raftr.”
CET students gather for dinner in the CET Digital Lounge.
Rohrman pointed out that the college’s computer science, construction management, engineering and tech systems students also can find available resources such as Pirate Port and Handshake as well as make advising appointments through Raftr, without having to access all those sites individually.
She said the college’s roughly 30 student organizations can use Raftr to promote events to all students in the college and interact with current and prospective members from anywhere.
“Student organizations can drive engagement with their group via Raftr features like polls, events, checklists, guides and messaging,” she said.
Rohrman and Brad Collier, assistant director of first year and transition programs for the college, are overseeing the implementation of Raftr.
“We would love for CET students to provide feedback on the platform and tell us ways we can improve it,” Rohrman said. “It’s an app for them and should reflect their needs.”
To sign up for Raftr, simply download the app via the Apple App Store or Google Play, create an account, enter ECU as the community code and sign in with your ECU credentials.
Anyone with questions can contact Collier via email.