Navigating College with Barriers

Senior Capstone - On Going

01 - Project Overview

Project Overview

Miami offers many resources to help students succeed, but having support available doesn't always mean students are connecting with it.

This capstone explores how Miami can better connect students facing additional barriers with support that feels relevant to their individual needs, circumstances, and college experience.

ROLE

UX Researcher · Designer

PROJECT TYPE

Senior Capstone

TIMELINE

Fall 2026 — In Progress

FOCUS

Student Success · UX Research · Service Design

02 - The Problem

Support Exists

Connection is the challenge.

Miami University can:

Provide resources
Send information
Offer advising
Create programs
Reach out to students

For students to connect, they still have to:

Notice the resource
Understand what it does
Realize it applies to them
Have time to use it
Trust the support
Take action

But…

Different backgrounds. Different barriers. Different needs.

03 - Who are these students?

The label tells us something about the student. It doesn't necessarily tell us what they need.

These groups often overlap, meaning one student may experience multiple barriers at the same time.

Students within the same population can have different responsibilities, motivations, support systems, and levels of engagement.

Research. Research. Research

I started by researching the barriers students face, the support Miami already provides, and the experiences of students navigating these challenges. My goal was to understand the problem before deciding on the final solution.