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Western Kentucky U Uses BI To Improve Enrollment
Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green is partnering with SAS to develop new student recruitment and retention models to help boost enrollments and completion rates.
Using SAS business intelligence tools, Western Kentucky U will apply predictive analysis to "identify trends and opportunities to not only increase enrollment, but determine why certain programs have low or high completion rates and identify student success pathways," according to information released by the university and SAS. Western Kentucky U will also attempt to predict the effectiveness of individual programs and classes in attracting and graduating students.
The university will use both Web-based tools and desktop software to share data with university stakeholders, including SAS Enterprise BI Server and SAS Enterprise Data Integration Server.
"WKU's goals are to build an excellent international university, grow substantially and give every student the best possible chance to graduate," said Bob Cobb, director of Western Kentucky's Office of Institutional Research, in a statement released this week. "Using SAS, we will be able to make better decisions – supported by advanced data analysis – that will help us be successful."
Western Kentucky University serves about 19,000 students, including roughly 2,800 graduate students.
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David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.
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