In a recent Chronicle article, the potential of AI to transform admissions offices is front and center:

In the thick of application season, admissions staff are swamped with visits, fairs, and the burgeoning pile of applications—a reality intensified by the looming enrollment cliff. The stakes are high, and the workload can lead to serious staff burnout. The Chronicle's findings are stark: panic attacks, anxiety, and exhaustion are not uncommon among enrollment leaders.

Enter AI, a beacon for admissions and enrollment teams to navigate these challenges. The technology promises to tackle the administrative heavy-lifting, allowing staff to focus on creating meaningful interactions with prospective students. As John Solewin from Rosemont College puts it, "The heightened efficiency has made us better admissions counselors to our students and families, because of the time we’re able to focus on them."

As detailed in the article, Element451 is part of this wave, offering tools that act as virtual assistants in the complex admissions landscape. At Southeast Missouri State University, the platform’s 'co-pilot' feature streamlines email and text campaign creation, a significant boon for their team. According to Lenell Hahn, the admissions director, this allows their staff to manage a multitude of tasks without compromising the quality of student engagement.

The narrative is one of cautious optimism. AI tools hold promise, but as Andrew Brewick from Washington State University suggests, there's a fine balance to strike. "Using an AI tool too aggressively, or without consideration of potential risks, like biased training data, would put a lot on the line," he says. It's about leveraging AI's potential to free up more time for staff to nurture the irreplaceable human connections that form the core of the admissions process.

The Chronicle concludes that while AI is not a cure-all, it's an evolving partner for admissions offices. It's about taking steps toward a future where AI enhances, rather than supersedes, human engagement—a future that companies like Element451 are helping to shape.

Empowering Success: The SEMO Experience

Continue reading to find out how Lenell and her team at Southeast Missouri State University are deploying AI to usher in a new era of efficiency and student engagement. 

Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) stands as a beacon of academic excellence, nestled in the heart of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Established in 1873, SEMO has a long-standing history of dedicated service to the community and to providing top-tier education for their students.

With 10,000 students and over 170-degree programs, SEMO remains committed to staying on top of the revolving trends of student expectations and the evolving job market. 

Before Element451, they were using a wide array of five different platforms to meet the needs of their students, but with a simple switch, they’ve been able to become more efficient, and have seen a 13% increase in applications and reduced time to process applications from 25 days to two.

Your Admissions Office's Newest MVPs

Lenell and her team of 19 began using Copilot to effortlessly craft email and text campaigns for both prospective and admitted students. With a schedule that includes managing daily tours and numerous events, this AI-powered helper is saving her team hours.

In addition to that, InsightsQ empowers admissions professionals to dig deep into their data. Lenell leverages this tool to gain insights on everything from chatbot usage statistics to event details and applicant information. Need to know the top source of applicants this fall? Just ask. Wondering how many chatbot conversations have been had by student type? They get their answer in just seconds. 

With AI-driven solutions like Element451, the mundane tasks become less time-consuming leaving room for making more meaningful connections between students and schools. The future of higher ed has arrived, and it's smarter, simpler, and more efficient than ever before.

Read the full article here and see how Lenell and Southeast Missouri State are leading the charge toward a brighter, tech-driven future in higher ed.