Recruitment | News

Jenzabar Updates Continuing Ed Application with Personalization

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 01/22/13

Jenzabar is shipping a major new edition of its continuing education application, Jenzabar Higher Reach. Code-named "Lion," after the mascot of one of its beta-tester schools, the new release emphasizes enhancements in the online user experience and in operational efficiencies.

Higher Reach is designed to handle online registration, course management, student billing; and marketing, alumni, and business management for programs designed for non-traditional students. According to Jenzabar, it integrates with enterprise resource planning applications, or it can be used in stand-alone mode. The application is available in on-premises form and as an Amazon cloud-based service.

The overall goal of the new version is to help institutions convert Web site visitors into enrolled students. The latest release allows schools to configure the platform to greet prospective students and create a progressive "shopping" experience with suggested courses and popular selections for cross-selling, recently viewed items, keyword search, and social media integration. On the back end, updates have streamlined payment and reporting processes.

The company said in a statement that it worked with several of its current Higher Reach customers in developing the feature set for the new version. That includes Hofstra University, a private college in Hempstead, NY with a sizable continuing education program. Hoftstra's mascot is the lion, which Jenzabar borrowed for its beta edition code-name.

"As Jenzabar designs a new release, the strategy is to leverage our relationships with current clients who know how our platforms need to evolve to best support their expanding businesses," said Chris Hartigan, vice president and general manager of the company's Continuing Education Solutions Group.