The Case for Hidden Roarys

Building student affinity is a top priority for any university looking to build a solid relationship with students well beyond their graduation. Having high affinity means having a sense of pride and belonging to your university. The desired outcome is higher participation in campus events, more student visibility on social media, and laying the foundation for future alumni association engagement.

Roary The Panther is the official mascot of Florida International University. One of the newest tools for FIU to build affinity is with 3D printed mascot heads aptly called, Hidden Roarys. These heads get hidden throughout campus and contain a QR code in a little drawer. The student who finds it gets a prize. An announcement with a clue gets posted on Instagram stories, each time getting progressively more difficult with better rewards.

Students often get together to better the chances of finding Roary. The most difficult ones often can take up to 3 days to be found.

Finders get showcased on Instagram and the Hidden Roary website with their picture and prize. This, in turn, generates recognition among peers, excitement for the next opportunity, and user-generated content. Hidden Roarys enable highly engaging experiences with the student audience through the gamification of affinity building.