DePauw University’s spending on student support is drawing scrutiny after the university reportedly spent more than twice what peer institutions do on student services. The story focuses on whether the investment is producing improved connections, engagement, and student outcomes—or whether it risks masking institutional disconnection. The reporting centers campus leadership concerns about student isolation and argues for a structured approach to social life and belonging. If effective, higher service spending could become a model; if not, it could intensify calls for measurable outcomes tied to retention and learning support. The case reflects wider student success pressure on universities to quantify impact from non-academic programming. For leaders, it raises the operational question of what support dollars should buy—especially as enrollment competition intensifies and budgets tighten.