For Its Focus on Personalization, Adelphi Wins Prestigious National Award for Innovation

The National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA) has named Adelphi University one of the winners of the Eduventures 2018 Innovation Awards. The national honor recognizes achievements of organizations that share NRCCUA’s vision for generating improved outcomes through innovative programming that supports critical areas of an institution.

Adelphi was selected for its “Personalizing the Enrollment Process” campaign, created to address the changing demographics, declining counts of high school graduates, and increased competition across the higher education enrollment landscape—including the increased presence of programs such as New York state’s Excelsior Scholarship program. Adelphi’s effort was a collaboration of numerous individuals and areas on campus, in particular, the Enrollment Management and University Communications and Marketing staffs, along with Academic Services and Retention, Student Affairs, and members of the faculty.

“The 2018 Eduventures Innovation Awards winners showcase true thought leadership at their institutions,” said Patrick Vogt, CEO of NRCCUA. “They exemplify creative and forward-thinking approaches that are making demonstrable changes in the way colleges and universities recruit, teach and retain students. On behalf of the team at NRCCUA, I congratulate this year’s group of individuals and organizations.”

Adelphi’s personalization initiative took advantage of existing strengths such as the University’s person-to-person approach to education, small classes of 21 or fewer, and a strong commitment to diversity, particularly involving first-generation college students, veterans, LGBTQ+ students, and students with autism spectrum disorder—all in a highly individualized and personalized manner. The campaign emphasized Adelphi’s distinctiveness among both state universities and other private institutions, with particular attention to personal outreach and support for each individual.

By further personalizing the enrollment process, the University went from combating an initial drop in admissions deposits after the launch of New York state’s Excelsior Scholarship program a year ago to anticipating the second-largest incoming class in its history in Fall 2018.

Adelphi was one of two honored by NRCCUA for enrollment management strategies, along with Georgia State University. Four other institutions were honored in two other categories, along with two honorable mention winners.

See more about the Eduventures 2018 Innovation Awards.