RNL Featured in Inside Higher Ed

RNL Featured in Inside Higher Ed

Dec 10, 2024 | Press Release

Rebecca Jenkins

Blog Feature: 4 Questions on AI and Higher Ed for RNL’s Rebecca Jenkins: A conversation about AI and online program marketing.

December 10, 2024

Excerpt taken from the Inside Higher Ed blog by Joshua Kim and Edward J. Maloney:

The new RNL report, “Online Program Marketing and Recruitment Practices: How Online Programs Are Leveraging AI, Communications Planning, ROI, and More to Maximize Yield,” is a must-read for anyone working in online program marketing and recruiting. With the significant focus that the report gives to AI usage and planning, we sat down with Rebecca Jenkins, director of product marketing at RNL, to discuss some of the most interesting things that the report surfaced about current usage of and attitudes about AI. Rebecca has a unique perspective as someone with a deep background as an institutional marketing leader. We asked her four questions:

Q: Was there any finding that stood out among all the others in terms of AI in higher education? 

A: One thing that was surprising in the study is how many people are planning to or currently use AI for online marketing and recruiting. This doesn’t just extend to the people who are in the trenches and are trying to figure out how to get all the work done and still engage with students at the same time. This also extends up through senior leadership.

The study showed that nearly half of senior leadership or cabinet-level individuals are receptive to implementing AI solutions, and nearly 90 percent of marketing and recruitment leaders are receptive—with a considerable share being “very receptive.” This strongly indicates that AI enrollment solutions are not just something that some are hoping can be implemented but that they will be implemented.

Conversations about AI are happening all over now, and with these data, enrollment and marketing leaders can be confident in saying that there is a lot of receptivity across the nation in marketing and recruitment operations, as well as among institutional leadership.

Read the full blog.

RNL Launches New AI Essentials Online Courses

RNL Launches New AI Essentials Online Courses

Dec 6, 2024 | Press Release

Gain the Knowledge and Confidence to Harness AI for Your Professional and Academic Success

December 6, 2024 – RNL, a leading provider of higher education solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its new AI Essentials for Higher Education on-demand course. This comprehensive course is designed to demystify artificial intelligence and equip higher education and nonprofit professionals with the essential knowledge to leverage AI for their organizations.

The 90-minute asynchronous course offers a clear and concise introduction to AI, covering fundamental concepts such as machine learning and generative AI. Participants will gain insights into the practical applications of AI in higher education, including enrollment management, fundraising, and operational efficiency.

Upon completing the course, participants will receive an RNL AI Essentials Certificate of Completion and a digital badge to showcase their achievement on social media and professional networking platforms.

To further delve into the world of AI, RNL offers a suite of advanced courses: AI in Enrollment, AI in Fundraising, AI Cultural Shifts, and AI Governance. These courses explore the transformative impact of AI on higher education and provide actionable strategies for implementing AI-driven solutions.

Course Details:

  • AI Essentials for Higher Education (90-minutes):

    • AI Basics: Understand the fundamentals of AI and its real-world applications.
    • Machine Learning: Learn about different types of machine learning and how computers learn from data.
    • Generative AI: Explore the power of AI to create new content.
    • AI Tools: Discover the best AI tools for higher education and nonprofits.

RNL AI Master Practitioner Courses (Approximately 4 hours total):

  • AI in Enrollment:

    • Leveraging AI for Enrollment and Recruitment
    • AI Tools for Admissions
    • AI and Bias in Enrollment
  • AI in Fundraising:

    • AI in Fundraising
    • Personalized Donor Segmentation
    • Improved Donor Engagement
    • Alumni Outreach
  • AI Cultural Shift:

    • Navigating the AI Cultural Shift
    • Effective Communication in the Age of AI
  • AI Governance:

    • Understanding AI Governance
    • Developing an AI Governance Framework
    • AI Governance Best Practices

Completing all five courses earns participants an RNL AI Master Practitioner Certificate of Completion and a digital badge.

For more information and to enroll, visit Enroll in our free AI Essentials course today!

Congrats to our RNL AI & EDU Contest Winners!

Congrats to our RNL AI & EDU Contest Winners!

Nov 6, 2024 | Press Release

November 6, 2024 – RNL is excited to announce the winners of our AI & EDU contest, recognizing the most innovative ideas for transforming higher education. These winners have demonstrated exceptional creativity and a deep understanding of how AI can revolutionize student enrollment, donor engagement, retention, and campus efficiency.

The winning ideas, submitted by:

  • Melody McMillan from Seattle Colleges
  • Dr. Katie Lentz from Palm Beach Atlantic University
  • Grant Greenwood from McMurry University
  • Carley Houseman from Medical University of South Carolina
  • Ally Metcalf from The University of Tulsa

Their ideas will be integrated into the RNL Edge product roadmap. These groundbreaking solutions, ranging from streamlining tasks with RNL Answers to unlocking new fundraising opportunities with RNL Insights, will soon be available to institutions across the country.

RNL is committed to empowering higher education institutions with cutting-edge technology. By recognizing and implementing these innovative ideas, we are paving the way for a future where AI drives student success and institutional growth.

Dr. Stephen Drew on The Chief AI Officer Show: Unpacking the Explainability Challenge in AI

Dr. Stephen Drew on The Chief AI Officer Show: Unpacking the Explainability Challenge in AI

Nov 1, 2024 | Press Release

RNL’s Chief AI Officer, Dr. Stephen Drew, tackles the explainability challenge in AI on The Chief AI Officer podcast.

November 1, 2024

In a thought-provoking episode, Dr. Drew explores the trade-off between high capability and explainability in neural networks. While powerful, these models can sometimes be opaque in their decision-making.

Here’s the key takeaway: Transparency is crucial. Solution providers, like RNL, can bridge the gap by openly discussing limitations and helping clients understand the complexities of AI.

Industry leaders acknowledge these uncertainties, but the focus remains on crystal-clear communication and managing expectations for successful AI adoption.

Ready to dive deeper? Listen to the full episode and gain valuable insights from Dr. Drew.

 

RNL Partners with Five9 and Acqueon to Elevate Outreach to Students and Donors

RNL Partners with Five9 and Acqueon to Elevate Outreach to Students and Donors

Oct 10, 2024 | Press Release

Leading firms in higher education and CX technologies partner to increase the impact and engagement of outbound communication services to constituents.

October 10, 2024—Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), a leading provider of enrollment and fundraising solutions for higher education, nonprofits, and foundations, is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Five9 (NASDAQ: FIVN), a global leader in cloud contact centers and customer experience solutions. This collaboration integrates RNL’s expertise with Five9’s Intelligent CX Platform and its recently acquired Acqueon, an innovative real-time campaign management platform.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in enhancing engagement and driving results across the sectors RNL serves. Leveraging Five9 and Acqueon together underscores RNL’s commitment to providing its enrollment and fundraising clients with the most advanced and effective tools available for engaging their constituents.

“Our goal is to elevate the effectiveness of our technology platforms and align them with the exceptional consulting expertise that RNL is renowned for,” said Stephen Drew, COO at RNL. “By combining their industry-leading technology with our deep expertise in enrollment management and fundraising, we will be able to offer our clients even more powerful and personalized communication tools. This partnership reaffirms our commitment to providing our partners with the most advanced technologies available, ensuring their continued success.”

By leveraging AI-driven, omnichannel proactive customer engagement powered by Five9 and Acqueon, RNL can help clients engage with constituents at the right time, on the right channels, to achieve better outcomes and drive meaningful results. RNL is integrating Five9 and Acqueon technologies with all of its outbound communication services for enrollment and fundraising management. Our university clients looking to enroll graduate students for online degrees will be our first to receive the upgraded services, starting in November 2024. This investment will provide RNL’s clients with enhanced features, improved scalability, and greater flexibility in their outreach efforts.

“We’re proud to help RNL transform the way they engage with their constituents to deliver more personalized experiences that drive strong outcomes,” said Andy Dignan, COO, Five9. “Together, Five9 and Acqueon are enabling RNL to leverage AI-driven, omnichannel communication in a way that is both timely and impactful. By providing RNL’s clients with the tools they need to connect more effectively, we’re not just enhancing outreach efforts, we’re helping to drive meaningful change in enrollment and fundraising strategies.”

RNL offers a comprehensive suite of tools for outbound communication, including:

  • Personalized calling: Reach out to prospective students and donors with tailored messages.
  • Targeted texting: Engage with students and donors through SMS campaigns.
  • Effective email marketing: Send personalized email communications to build relationships.
  • Data-driven insights: Analyze campaign performance to optimize results.

This partnership is another testament to RNL’s dedication to providing exceptional value to its colleges, universities, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. RNL previously launched its RNL Edge suite of AI solutions earlier this year as a commitment to bringing the power of AI to enrollment and fundraising. By investing in cutting-edge outbound communication technology with Five9 and Acqueon, RNL is able to offer a more robust and efficient solution for engaging college-bound students, alumni, donors, and other key populations.

About Ruffalo Noel Levitz

Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) is a leading provider of enrollment and fundraising solutions for higher education. With a focus on data-driven strategies and personalized engagement, RNL helps institutions attract, retain, and graduate students, as well as raise funds to support their mission.

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