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This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

Cal State campus uses social gaming to curb freshman dropout rate

By Adolfo Guzman-Lopez

Published Apr 19, 2019 5:55 PM

Listen • 3:43

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Cal State Dominguez Hills signed on last fall to be the test site for Charge On, a program that uses students’ online social gaming skills to guide them to academic, financial, and wellness help.

Created by researchers at USC, Charge On uses points and badges to reward users and keep them engaged. Charge On players earn rewards for learning about how to adapt to college’s academic, financial, and social challenges. Nearly a third of the freshman class at Dominguez Hills signed up for the program.