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.

RNL’s AI Leadership Council brings together a diverse range of higher education leaders to shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry.

September 5, 2024—Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), a leading provider of higher education enrollment management, student success, fundraising, and AI solutions, is proud to announce the formation of its AI Leadership Council. This prestigious group brings together a diverse range of higher education leaders to shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry.    

The AI Leadership Council will serve as a collaborative forum for university executives to discuss emerging AI trends, explore innovative applications, and address the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology. Members will have the opportunity to directly influence RNL’s AI solutions and help institutions nationwide harness the power of AI to enhance student experiences, improve operational efficiency, and achieve their strategic goals. 

“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of higher education leaders to our AI Leadership Council,” said Dr. Stephen Drew, Chief Operating Officer at RNL. “Their expertise and insights will be invaluable as we work together to unlock the full potential of AI to benefit students, faculty, and institutions.” 

The inaugural members of RNL’s AI Leadership Council include: 

• Dr. Cherise Peters: Vice President for Enrollment and Retention, Clark Atlanta University
• Dr. Christina Robinson: Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Central Connecticut State University
• Dr. Dan Garcia: Vice President of Enrollment Management, University of New Mexico
• David Barron: Vice President of Enrollment Management, University of Texas at Tyler
• David Kirschner: Associate Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Innovation, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
• Dr. Faruk Taban: President, North American University
• Dr. James Ammons: Chancellor, Southern University at New Orleans
• Dr. James Steen: Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing, Houston Christian University
• Dr. Jason Woods: Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management, St. Cloud State University
• Dr. Joseph Miller: Vice President Enrollment Management and Marketing, Winthrop University
• Kylon Alford-Windfield: Vice President for Enrollment Management, Jackson State University
• Natalie Knox: Director of Academic Support Services, Albany State University
• Nancy Rewis: Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Berry College
• Dr. Ralitsa Akins: Vice Provost, University of West Georgia
• Dr. Scott Verzyl: Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean for Undergraduate Admissions, University of South Carolina Columbia
• Dr. Shonda Gibson: Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Chief Transformation Officer
• Ramon Stuart: President, West Virginia University Institute of Technology

About Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) 

Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) is a leading provider of higher education enrollment management, student success, fundraising solutions, and AI solutions. RNL’s solutions bring together technology, analytics, strategic expertise, and omnichannel communications and give thousands of institutions everything they need to reach their goals—from marketing and recruiting students to engaging donors. For decades, colleges and nonprofit organizations have turned to RNL to enroll the students they want, help more students graduate and succeed, and build lifelong relationships with donors. RNL’s financial aid solutions have helped institutions manage $3.5B in financial aid.  

RNL’s AI expertise, coupled with Credo AI’s governance platform, helps universities navigate the AI revolution in higher education.

August 22, 2024 – RNL, a leading provider of higher education solutions, today announced the launch of its new Strategic AI Governance and Education Services. Designed to address the growing complexities and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, these services are bolstered by RNL’s partnership with Credo AI, which brings the most advanced AI governance platform available to higher education institutions.

RNL provides expert guidance to help institutions maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating risks. Our services encompass AI assessments, policy development, compliance monitoring (through Credo AI), and educational programs. By partnering with RNL, institutions can confidently integrate and govern AI to achieve their strategic objectives.

As AI rapidly transforms the higher education landscape, institutions face increasing pressure to develop robust governance frameworks and adapt to using the technologies both in the classroom and in managing the university. RNL’s expertise in higher education combined with its deep understanding of AI technology, and the innovative capabilities of Credo AI’s governance platform positions RNL to be the trusted partner to guide universities through this critical process.

Universities are at a Crossroads

“Universities are at a crossroads when it comes to AI,” said Roger Lee, Senior Vice President of AI Success and Sustainability at RNL. “On one hand, AI offers immense potential to enhance student experiences, streamline operations, and drive innovation. However, it presents significant challenges related to data privacy, academic integrity, and ethical considerations. Our goal is to equip universities with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate this complex terrain successfully.”

“We are honored to continue partnering with RNL as they expand their work to bring responsible AI to the world of academia,” said Navrina Singh, Credo AI Founder and CEO. “Programs like RNL’s AI Strategic and Governance and Education Services are critical to the safe adoption of AI at scale. Together, we are empowering thousands of higher education institutions to not only embrace AI but to do so with trust, integrity, and compliance at the forefront.”

RNL’s AI Strategic Governance and Education Services include:

• AI Governance Maturity Assessments: Evaluate an institution’s current AI landscape to identify strengths, and opportunities for improvement.
• AI Policy Development: Create tailored AI policies that align with institutional values and comply with relevant regulations.
• AI Culture Building: Foster a culture of ethical AI usage among faculty, staff, and students.
• AI Monitoring and Oversight: Establish comprehensive systems to monitor AI applications and ensure compliance.
• AI Educational Training for Administrators, Faculty, and Staff: RNL provides targeted educational programs designed to equip key stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively integrate and govern AI within the institution.

“The cost of inaction when it comes to AI governance is significant,” added Lee. “Universities that fail to establish clear guidelines and policies risk reputational damage, legal issues, and missed opportunities. RNL is committed to helping institutions avoid these pitfalls, unlock the full potential of AI, and lay the foundation for success with AI for the coming years.”

About RNL: 

Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) is a leading provider of higher education enrollment management, student success, and fundraising solutions. RNL’s solutions bring together technology, analytics, strategic expertise, and omnichannel communications and give thousands of institutions everything they need to reach their goals—from marketing and recruiting students to engaging donors. For decades, colleges and nonprofit organizations have turned to RNL to enroll the students they want, help more students graduate and succeed, and build lifelong relationships with donors. RNL’s financial aid solutions have helped institutions manage $3.5B in financial aid. Learn more at: https://www.ruffalonl.com/about-ruffalo-noel-levitz/. 

Media Contact:
Danielle Dougan for RNL
ddougan@eniciomarketing.com
978-430-9680 

August 12, 2024 — In a recent article published by Information Week, Dr. Stephen Drew, Chief AI Officer at RNL, provides valuable insights into the ongoing challenges of AI auditing and the notorious blackbox problem. The piece delves into the difficulties organizations face when trying to understand and audit AI systems that operate in a “blackbox” manner, where the decision-making processes are not transparent.

Dr. Drew emphasizes the importance of transparency in AI, noting, “Traditional machine learning models, like linear regression and decision trees, are easier to audit and explain due to their transparency. In contrast, large language models (LLMs) using neural networks are more opaque, making it challenging to trace and understand their decision-making processes.” He argues for the use of simpler, more explainable AI architectures to avoid the pitfalls of complex and opaque models, which can pose significant financial, reputational, and legal risks.

The article also highlights the broader industry efforts to address these challenges, including various auditing methods and standards. Dr. Drew’s comments underscore RNL’s commitment to developing AI solutions that are not only effective but also understandable and transparent. For a comprehensive look at the issues and solutions surrounding auditable AI, read the full article here.

About RNL: 

Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) is a leading provider of higher education enrollment management, student success, and fundraising solutions. RNL’s solutions bring together technology, analytics, strategic expertise, and omnichannel communications and give thousands of institutions everything they need to reach their goals—from marketing and recruiting students to engaging donors. For decades, colleges and nonprofit organizations have turned to RNL to enroll the students they want, help more students graduate and succeed, and build lifelong relationships with donors. RNL’s financial aid solutions have helped institutions manage $3.5B in financial aid. Learn more at: https://www.ruffalonl.com/about-ruffalo-noel-levitz/. 

Media Contact:
Danielle Dougan for RNL
ddougan@eniciomarketing.com
978-430-9680 

RNL Edge Provides a Roadmap for Universities to Gain Competitive Advantage from AI Through Streamlined University Operations, Improved Engagement with Institutional Stakeholders and Valuable Data-Based Insights

Cedar Rapids, IA— May 29, 2024 —RNL, a leading provider of higher education enrollment management, student success, and fundraising solutions, today announced the launch of RNL Edge, a suite of AI-powered solutions crafted for colleges and universities by RNL’s team of AI and higher education experts. The RNL Edge solutions include fully managed tools that are tailored to help solve unique challenges—ranging from connecting with prospective students and donors to being able to quickly develop and implement strategies—based on their own data. The solutions are designed to help institutions grow enrollment and fundraising.

“With decades of higher education expertise, we’re uniquely positioned to integrate cutting-edge AI into our suite of existing services to drive university growth while preserving the personal touch that defines the college experience,” said Bill McHale, President and CEO, RNL. “Using RNL Edge will enable potential students and/or donors to have access to information in significantly less time than current approaches and our solutions will provide the senior staff in the enrollment and advancement departments access to information that allows them to make better decisions, based on better data, in almost real time.” 

The RNL Edge portfolio includes three secure, multi-tenant SaaS solutions that are deployed on public cloud platforms: 

• RNL Compass is a digital assistant that seamlessly integrates with an institution’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and website. Unlike traditional chatbots, RNL Compass is highly conversational and intuitive.

  RNL Compass provides 24/7 support and guidance to potential students and parents, as well as alumni and donors. It answers questions, facilitates event registrations and provides application status (via CRM application integration with apps like Slate, Salesforce, Blackbaud and Oracle). From scheduling visits, to answering enrollment questions, to facilitating giving opportunities, enrollment and fundraising teams that leverage RNL Compass will have more time to nurture and support their students, prospects, and alumni. 

• RNL Insights is an intuitive data board and conversational tool, facilitating dynamic conversations with an institution’s data sources, such as their CRM tools and Student Information Systems (SIS).

  From analyzing current melt rates to fine-tuning enrollment strategies within a 30-minute radius of campus, to predictive analytics for proactive decision-making, benchmarking against similar institutions, immediate access to institutional data and trends, every query is met with immediate answers. These insights are then displayed in visualizations within the reports that RNL Insights produces. Visualizations can be produced based on pre-built widgets that dive into a variety of metrics across time comparisons or based on the ad hoc natural language inquiries through the tools open query field. In both cases, visualizations and reports are created quickly. RNL Insights doesn’t just provide data analysis, it empowers institutions with transformative insights.   

• RNL Answers is an internal copilot that combines an institution’s data with RNL’s private and secure generative AI models. This provides immediate answers, data evaluation, and institutional insights that are securely protected.
  

  Whether aiding university presidents and senior staff for strategic planning, helping admissions through automating parts of the application review processes, crafting targeted marketing copy for recruitment efforts, guiding academic advisors, helping faculty develop course materials, or supporting HR, RNL Answers is a fully managed, adaptable tool. 

As higher education begins to embrace AI, RNL Edge provides a roadmap for universities on how to do it well, and to ensure that their university data is used in a secure, ethical and responsible way. In addition to the framework RNL built, it assembled a dedicated team focused on responsible AI practices, guided by the principles of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). When institutions implement RNL’s products, they do so with assurance that consumer data  protection laws and intellectual property (IP) protections are being followed and data is being used responsibly.

“While AI has emerged as a transformative force in higher education, offering unprecedented opportunities for personalized engagement, data analysis, and resource optimization,  concerns about the ethical implications of AI usage is a significant concern that contributes to the 83% of university leaders that believe that higher education isn’t ready for AI,” said Dr. Stephen Drew, Chief AI Officer, RNL. “RNL has made a commitment to responsible and transparent AI that can be adopted seamlessly. We’ve invested in a robust strategic framework that prioritizes responsible AI governance, and RNL Edge is built on a secure platform. Each institution gains a private solution to align with privacy and intellectual property standards that many conversational AI tools don’t provide. This allows campuses to confidently embrace AI.”

The institutions that are early-adopters of AI will be the ones who gain a competitive advantage and RNL Edge allows universities to do so with confidence.  RNL Compass and RNL Insights will be available in mid-June and RNL Answers will be available in mid-August. Learn more about these solutions and their capabilities here. 

About RNL: 

Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) is a leading provider of higher education enrollment management, student success, and fundraising solutions. RNL’s solutions bring together technology, analytics, strategic expertise, and omnichannel communications and give thousands of institutions everything they need to reach their goals—from marketing and recruiting students to engaging donors. For decades, colleges and nonprofit organizations have turned to RNL to enroll the students they want, help more students graduate and succeed, and build lifelong relationships with donors. RNL’s financial aid solutions have helped institutions manage $3.5B in financial aid. Learn more at: https://www.ruffalonl.com/about-ruffalo-noel-levitz/. 

Media Contact:
Danielle Dougan for RNL
ddougan@eniciomarketing.com
978-430-9680