News

James Madison U Automates Admissions Notifications

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 07/27/09

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA delivered its admissions decision letters to 2009/2010 college applicants over the Web using CollegeNet's ApplyWeb. The new process replaces the task of processing, routing, and responding to paper admissions documents.

"Each year applications to James Madison University are increasing; and 99.5 percent of the freshman applications we receive flow to us transparently through the Web--not through physical mail," said Joe Manning, associate director of admissions. "Access to this database of information has been instrumental for us as we automate our notification process. Without a single glitch, JMU was able to send out 20,500 electronic decision letters to the freshman class of 2009, saving us both time and money. Our admissions officers are using time that would have been spent distributing acceptance letters for reviewing applications and reaching out to prospective students."

ApplyWeb enables institutions to automatically establish connections between applicants and coaches, professors, club leaders, and other campus organizations based on the preferences expressed in a student's application. The system also includes a feature that allows high school teachers to write letters of recommendation for students via the Internet.

Other users of the service include Western Washington University in Bellingham, Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA; and ETH-Zurich in Switzerland.