As part of ongoing conversations around the online student experience, Kent State Online’s Student Support team recently had the opportunity to speak with Dolen Helwagen, a graduate student and member of Kent State’s Student Success Programs.
Finding Connection in Online Graduate Education: A Student Perspective
Dolen is in her second year of the Higher Education Administration master’s program and will graduate this May. Originally from outside of Columbus, Ohio, she brings both personal and professional perspective to conversations about belonging, connection, and student success.
In this Q&A, the Kent State Online Student Support team asked Dolen to share her thoughts on what community means in graduate education — especially for students navigating their academic journeys from a distance.
Q: From your perspective, why is connection so important for graduate students?
Graduate school can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially for students who are balancing academics with work, family responsibilities, or life transitions. Having a sense of connection helps students feel supported and reminds them that they’re not navigating challenges alone.
Even small touchpoints — knowing someone understands what you’re going through — can make a big difference in confidence and persistence.
Q: What are some common challenges graduate students experience when trying to find community?
Time is often the biggest barrier.
Graduate students are juggling a lot, and building relationships doesn’t always feel like the top priority when deadlines and responsibilities are piling up.
There can also be hesitation around reaching out. Many students worry about whether they belong or whether others are having an easier experience. That uncertainty can make connection feel harder than it really is.
Q: How can online students think differently about building community?
Community doesn’t have to look traditional.
It might not always be large events or formal gatherings. Sometimes it’s about finding spaces where students can relate to others — whether that’s through shared experiences, conversations, or support networks outside of coursework.
Community can come from many places: peers, mentors, colleagues, or even personal support systems.
Q: What advice would you give to graduate students who feel overwhelmed?
First, recognize that feeling overwhelmed is normal.
Graduate school requires adjustment, and it’s okay if students don’t have everything figured out right away.
Building structure, finding routines, and identifying what works best for your life are key. Support systems — academic and personal — play an important role in helping students move forward sustainably.
Q: What role do institutions play in supporting belonging for online learners?
Intentionality matters.
When students are not physically on campus, connection has to be created in different ways. Institutions can support this by listening to students and creating opportunities that acknowledge the realities of online learning.
Even small efforts can reinforce that students are part of the broader university community.
Supporting the Online Student Experience
Conversations like this help inform how Kent State Online continues to collaborate with partners across the university — including Student Success Programs — to better understand and support the needs of online graduate students.
By listening to perspectives from across the Kent State community, the goal is to continue strengthening the sense of belonging and support available to online learners.
Learn more about how Kent State Online supports students.
