Every SaaS vendor now claims to "have AI." Most of it is lipstick on a pig. The winners embed AI where your data lives, where your people work, and where decisions happen. This comprehensive guide will help you tell the difference and make strategic AI investments that actually transform your institution.

What Are You Really Buying When You Invest in AI for Higher Education? A Complete Guide to Making Smart AI Decisions in 2025

Learn what an AI agent is, how it differs from a chatbot, and real ways to use them in higher ed, plus key benefits for enrollment and retention.

What Is an AI Agent and How Can Colleges Use Them?

AI agents use early alerts to spot risk, send proactive nudges, and improve engagement and retention in higher education.

Which AI Agents Help Nudge At-Risk Students Toward Success?

Discover how AI agents are transforming senior search by engaging high school seniors with 24/7, personalized outreach. Learn how colleges are using AI to boost applications, save staff time, and improve equity — and explore practical strategies your team can implement today.

How Colleges Use AI Agents to Recruit High School Seniors

Not sure if Salesforce CRM for higher education is right for you? There are pros, cons, and alternatives. Join Element451 for a comparison to help you decide. 

The Pros and Cons of Salesforce for Higher Education — And Why It May Not Be Enough Anymore

Wondering whether Slate is the best choice for your higher ed institution? There are pros, cons, and alternatives. Join Element451 for a helpful comparison.

Do I Need Slate for Higher Education Marketing?

Discover how AI agents streamline admissions by automating application completion and scoring—boosting efficiency, fairness, and applicant experience.

AI Agents in Admissions: Streamlining Application Completion and Scoring

AI agents speed decisions, flag fraud, and free staff to focus on students.

How AI Agents Change Application Review (for the Better)

Ardis Kadiu, JC Bonilla, and Dr. Tracy Brundage explore how AI can be a force for real change in higher ed, not just faster business as usual.

The Future Is Ours to Shape: A New Mandate for Higher Ed 

AI-native companies aren’t just using AI—they’re built on it. After spending two days with nearly 100 SaaS CEOs, it’s clear: the next wave isn’t coming, it’s here. And the fastest movers are winning by design, not by scale.

Why AI-Native Companies Are Winning

AGI is no longer science fiction—it’s a near-term reality. In this blog, we explore what happens when intelligence becomes cheap, instant, and everywhere—and why higher ed can’t afford to sit this one out.

AGI Is Coming Faster Than We Think—Is Higher Ed Ready?

The Class of 2025 is stepping into an AI-transformed workforce with no roadmap and no rewind button. In this episode of Generation AI, we unpack what it means to graduate into a world where entry-level jobs are vanishing and everything is up for reinvention.

The Class of 2025 and the AI Reckoning

In June 2025, AI took a giant leap forward. Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic dropped game-changing updates—and we’re still catching our breath.

The Summer AI Changed Everything

AI didn’t break education. It revealed the cracks we’ve ignored for too long.

AI Is Changing the Way We Learn—and Why That’s a Good Thing

This blog explores how Model Context Protocol (MCP) is simplifying AI agent development by replacing clunky third-party integrations with a more unified, efficient standard.

From Bots to Data-Savvy Agents: How MCP Is Changing the Game

The newest frontier in AI-driven development is vibe coding—a style of building software not with lines of code, but by describing what you want to AI. 

The Rise of Vibe Coding: Why Describing Software Is the New Way to Build It

This blog explores a recent episode of Generation AI, where JC and Ardis discuss how o3 is redefining the way we think, teach, and create.

From Hollywood to the Classroom: Why Multimodal AI Is Already Reshaping Everything

Discover how Bolt Agents reason through and complete jobs in Element451, the only digital AI workforce platform for higher ed. Boost yield, streamline enrollment marketing, and transform how admissions and enrollment teams achieve results.

A Day With Your AI Teammate: How Bolt Agents Get the Job Done

This blog post summarizes the ASU+GSV Summit's focus on the urgent need for higher ed institutions to strategically build AI teams that solve real problems and expose organizational weaknesses.

The Real AI Agenda: Human-Centered, Impact-Driven, and Already Underway

In the latest episode of Generation AI, JC Bonilla and I had the chance to sit down with someone who’s doing exactly that—Lev Gonick, Chief Information Officer at Arizona State University. ASU is not just talking about AI; they’re living it.

How ASU Is Using AI to Bury “Frankenstein Tech” and Build a Digital Workforce

AI-powered agents designed to help colleges thrive and become #dogeproof.

Higher Ed’s AI Workforce Has Arrived: Element451 Introduces Bolt Agents

Learn more on what AI-powered admissions actually looks like, why it matters right now, and how it can help teams like yours make better decisions.

Rethinking Admissions: How AI Is Rewriting the Rules Without Replacing the People

With the release of OpenAI’s new image generation tools, AI is becoming much more than a productivity booster—it’s becoming a true creative partner.

New AI Tools, New Rules: A Creative Revolution in Higher Ed

Learn how universities can break data silos to improve decision-making and student outcomes. Discover key strategies—start transforming your data today!

Overcoming Data Silos in Higher Education: Key Strategies

Discover how AI-driven academic support systems enhance personalized learning, tutoring, advising, and research while shaping the future of higher education.

AI-Driven Academic Support Systems for Student Success

Discover top alumni management software to boost engagement, track donations, and build strong networks. Find the perfect solution for your organization today!

Top Alumni Management Software for Better Engagement

Discover how to implement an enterprise CRM for higher education. Learn its benefits, key features, challenges, and steps to streamline student engagement.

Enterprise CRM for Higher Education: A Complete Guide

Discover key strategies for effective student experience management, from academic support to career readiness, to enhance engagement and student success.

A Guide to Transforming Student Experience Management

Ensure AI-powered student engagement stays FERPA-compliant with Element451. Learn how our secure CRM protects student data while delivering personalized experiences.

AI, Student Data, and FERPA Compliance: Why Element451 is the Trusted Choice for Higher Education

Boyer will lead sales strategy and expansion efforts as Element451 empowers higher ed with user-friendly AI that transforms how they attract, enroll, and retain students.

Element451 Announces Trey Boyer as Chief Sales Officer

AI isn’t replacing jobs—it’s redefining them. Explore how higher ed leaders can successfully manage hybrid AI-human teams and maximize AI’s impact.

Leading and Working with Multi-Agent AI Systems in Higher Ed

Community colleges across North Carolina are setting new records in engagement and enrollment, thanks to the power of Element451’s AI-powered platform.

Enrollment at a 10-Year High and Over 200,000 Minutes Saved: AI Powers Transformation in NC Community Colleges

Learn how AI systems that reason, adapt, and act improve student engagement, enrollment, and success.

Reason, Adapt, Act: Agentic AI Explained for Higher Education

Explore how AI assistants are transforming higher education teamwork by taking on essential roles, enhancing efficiency, and fostering collaboration between humans and technology.

From Chatbots to Colleagues: How AI Assistants Are Redefining Teamwork in Higher Education

A new chapter in AI is unfolding: the rise of the AI agent. Unlike traditional AI tools, AI agents are dynamic, autonomous, and proactive. They don’t just assist—they reason, adapt, and act. And assembled as a team, they can form a new digital workforce that works alongside human teams to tackle complex challenges, anticipate needs, and take meaningful action.

The Year of the AI Agent in Higher Ed

This article explores the potential of these agentic AI assistants to streamline operations, improve student outcomes, and support data-driven decision-making, ultimately enhancing the overall higher education experience. 

AI Assistants and Agents in US Higher Education: Beyond the Classroom

Navigate the complexities of FAFSA updates with confidence. Explore strategies to streamline the financial aid process and empower institutions to provide effective, 24/7 student support through AI-driven solutions like BoltBot.

Simplifying FAFSA: Strategies for Supporting Students

Discover the key features of campus management software for higher education. Improve efficiency and streamline operations—find the right solution today!

Top Campus Management Software Features for Higher Education

Explore how to measure student engagement and enhance retention rates in higher education by tracking attendance, performance, and extracurricular involvement.

How to Measure Student Engagement in Higher Education

Enhance retention and growth in higher education with proven student success strategies focused on engagement, academic support, and personalized experiences.

Effective Student Success Strategies to Enhance Retention

Explore what direct admission is and how it benefits students and higher education institutions by offering simplified and faster enrollment processes.

What Is Direct Admission? A Strategic Approach to Growth

Discover how AI texting is transforming communication in higher education, enhancing engagement, and streamlining processes. Learn how to implement it today!

How AI Texting Transforms Communication in Higher Education

Learn how to advertise to college students with effective strategies, including social media marketing, student discounts, and many other engaging campaigns.

How to Advertise to College Students? 10 Effective Campaigns

With Advanced Voice Mode, schools can now offer prospective and enrolled students the option of calling a number that connects them to one of the limitless Bolt AI Assistants available in our Engage CRM. Unlike call centers, there are no caps on how many calls AI assistants can handle at one time. And they’re at-the-ready 24/7.

An Alternative to Higher Ed Call Centers: Students Can Now Engage with AI Agents Who Do More than Chat

The 2025–26 FAFSA updates aim to simplify the application process but bring challenges for those used to the old format. Learn how higher ed institutions are using AI tools, like chatbots and site search, to answer FAFSA questions efficiently.

How AI Can Make Sense of the FAFSA 2025-2026 Changes 

Element451 earns a spot on the 2025 GSV 150, celebrating our AI-powered innovations that are transforming higher education and student engagement.

Element451 Named a Transformational EdTech Company by GSV Ventures

Element451, a leading AI-first student engagement platform transforming higher education recruitment and retention, today announced a strategic investment from PSG, a leading growth equity firm partnering with software and technology-enabled services companies. The investment positions the company to meet the growing demand for AI-powered student engagement solutions in higher education and other learning-based settings.

Element451 Receives $175 Million Strategic Investment from PSG to Accelerate AI Adoption in Higher Ed Admissions and Student Success

Understand the student enrollment management system, its features, and implementation to choose the perfect solution for your educational institution.

An In-Depth Look at the Student Enrollment Management System

Recently featured in the Tambellini Group’s Exploring the AI Chatbots StarChart report, Bolt AI Assistants earned praise as one of the most user-friendly and innovative chatbot solutions designed just for higher ed.

Element451’s Bolt AI Assistants Recognized as a Leader in Higher-Ed Chatbot Innovation

Discover the basics of higher education lead nurturing and key steps to enhance enrollment success and recruitment efforts for your institution.

The Ultimate Higher Education Lead Nurturing Analysis

Discover how AI is revolutionizing college admissions by streamlining processes, enhancing decision-making, and improving diversity. Learn more today!

How AI Is Transforming College Admissions

Explore AI for School Administrators and discover ways it can enhance administrative processes, implementation strategies, and future possibilities.

Transforming Management With AI for School Administrators

Discover the benefits of AI in education and learn how AI tools enhance learning and efficiency. Explore AI solutions for your educational needs today!

Top Benefits Of AI In Education For Teachers and Students

Discover how to choose the right student lifecycle management software by understanding the lifecycle stages and key benefits of effective systems.

Exploring the Student Lifecycle Management System

Simplify your school’s operations with Element451. Enhance efficiency, security, and compliance—explore our document management solutions today.

The Benefits Of Document Management For Education Systems

Discover proven strategies to increase private school enrollment. Learn how to attract more students and improve admissions. Explore our expert strategies now!

Top Strategies To Increase Enrollment In Private Schools

Uncover the power of student journey mapping to boost engagement, enhance experiences, and improve retention with personalized touchpoints and tech solutions.

Exploring the Power of Student Journey Mapping

Learn what enrollment management is and its role in higher education. Discover strategies to improve enrollment—boost your process with Element451 today!

Key Insights Into Higher Education Enrollment Management

Explore 10 effective strategies to increase college enrollment—from personalizing outreach to using SEO. Boost your institution’s appeal—learn more today!

How To Increase Student Enrollment? 10 Effective Ways

Explore the benefits of CRM in higher education and how it boosts admissions and engagement. Learn how to transform your recruitment strategy today!

Discover Key Benefits of CRM in Higher Education

Explore effective strategies to enhance customer service in higher education, elevating student expectations and improving their admission experience.

7 Strategies to Improve Customer Service in Higher Education

This blog post compares StudentHub, Element451's AI-first student success platform, to other popular options on the market, highlighting its advanced AI capabilities, ease of setup, and ability to transform how students engage with their academic journey. Discover why StudentHub’s unified interface, AI-driven assistants, and proactive support tools set a new standard for simplifying student success.

What’s the best student success portal? Hint: it’s more than a portal.

Discover the causes and consequences of college enrollment decline and learn how Element451's platform can help boost your enrollment strategies.

Marketing Tips To Handle College Enrollment Decline

Discover how AI chatbots are transforming higher education by improving student engagement and support. Learn how to implement chatbots at your institution today!

The Role of AI Chatbots For Higher Education Success In 2024

Discover effective strategies and techniques for increasing student engagement in higher education throughout the admission process, ensuring long-term success.

6 Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement in Higher Education

Grasp the higher education marketing funnel and learn how to guide students from awareness to decision-making, securing a smooth and successful enrollment.

Master the Higher Education Marketing Funnel Strategy

Discover effective private school marketing strategies to boost enrollments, engage families, and set your school apart in a competitive market.

Private School Marketing Strategies That Drive Enrollment

Higher education is changing rapidly. The need to increase opportunity, provide greater value to students, and incorporate emerging technology is driving trends that will reshape education’s future. 

Top Trends in Higher Education Shaping the Future

To compete in a crowded marketplace, higher education institutions must craft a varied and targeted marketing strategy that gets their messages to the right audiences at the right time. High-quality content and personalized approaches will drive your engagement, leading to more applicants and a higher public profile for your school.

Modern Marketing Strategies for Educational Institutions

Data analytics is revolutionizing higher education by enhancing student success, optimizing resources, and driving more effective institutional strategies. With data-driven insights, colleges and universities can foster better academic and operational outcomes for a brighter educational future.

The Role of Data Analytics in Transforming Higher Education

In this blog post, we’ll explore what generative AI search means for SEO, the implications for websites—particularly those in higher education—and how to prepare for a future where traditional SEO practices may need to adapt.

The Future of AI Search: A Game Changer for SEO and Higher Ed Websites

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the growing issue of application fraud in higher education, examining how fraudsters exploit admissions systems and the impact on institutions. Learn how Element451’s advanced, AI-powered detection tools can help admissions teams identify and block fraudulent applications in real-time, safeguarding resources and ensuring data integrity.

Combating College Application Fraud with Element451’s Advanced AI-Powered Detection Solutions

Explores how AI-first Student Success can transform the college experience by addressing the outdated, fragmented systems that students navigate daily.  By offering instant guidance, reminders, and support in any language, StudentHub empowers students to stay on track, from enrollment to graduation, making the promise of AI-first student success a reality for institutions everywhere.

AI-First Student Success Changes the Support Paradigm

Student Information Systems (SIS) are powerful platforms that integrate multiple data sources and administrative processes to revolutionize campus operations and create efficiencies at scale. SIS solutions automate routine tasks, improve communication, and enhance student outcomes by saving time and keeping everyone informed with real-time information.

How a Student Information System Enhances Educational Efficiency

To increase enrollment and build brand awareness, your school needs a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that covers multiple platforms and tailors content to your specific student audience.

A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Marketing for Schools

Universities can effectively attract and retain non-traditional students by creating detailed student personas, highlighting flexibility in program offerings, emphasizing ROI, and personalizing communication.

Reaching and Engaging Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education

Element451, is now an official Amazon Web Services (AWS) Validated Software Partner. 

Element451 and AWS Join Forces to Deliver AI-Powered, Secure Solutions for Transforming Student Engagement in Higher Education

Explore top platforms and software to optimize your college marketing strategy

Leveraging Digital Tools for Effective College Marketing

Generative Search for Higher Ed: A New Way to Keep Students Engaged

Beyond ChatBots: How Proactive AI Agents Will Drive the Next Wave of Student Engagement

How AI is Transforming Classroom Engagement: Insights from Sara Custer

Offering Affordable Access to Generative AI Search for Higher Education

Element451 Launches the Element Discovery Package

Enhancing Student Safety with AI Moderation in Bolt AI Assistants

Generative Search.

Hanging the Open Sign on your Digital Front Door

Community college students deserve an engaging and helpful student experience. Learn how to make this possible based on current trends and best practices.

2024 Guide to Community College Student Engagement Trends

Experience the top AI-powered dashboards for enrollment and admissions. Learn their features, benefits, and how they deliver valuable insights to enhance high-value decision-making in higher education institutions.

10 Must-Use AI-Driven Dashboards for Enrollment & Admissions

Explore the top 10 student enrollment management systems to streamline admissions and boost student engagement. Discover why Element451 leads with AI-driven features and seamless integration.

10 Student Enrollment Management Systems for Higher Education

Explore the highlights and key takeaways from Engage Summit 2024, where higher ed professionals and AI innovators gathered to explore AI-driven student engagement.

Engage Summit 2024 Recap: A Transformative Experience in AI-Driven Student Engagement

The best texting software can help your admissions and enrollment teams reach more students. Here’s our list of top texting and SMS software for higher ed.

14 Higher Education Texting Platforms in 2024

The right software can go a long way in streamlining your admissions and enrollment process. Take a look at our list of the best admissions software for higher ed.

10 Best Admissions & Enrollment Software in 2024

Element451 Named Overall Enrollment Management Solution Provider by EdTech Breakthrough

Element451's New Partner Network Accelerates How Higher Education Translates AI into Better Student Experiences

Element451’s Latest AI Product Turns College Websites into Personalized Q&A Machines

Innovation Is The Key To Achieving Success For Community College Students

 Learn from Enrollify's top creators at Engage Summit.

Meet Enrollify Experts at the 2024 Engage Summit

Element451 Introduces the World's First AI Assistants for Higher Ed

Your blueprint for effectively engaging, supporting, and retaining graduate students.

Guide to Graduate Marketing in 2024

Expert insights and actionable AI strategies for your institution.

Engage Summit 2024: Deep Dive into AI in Higher Ed

How to bridge the gap between two critical departments. 

Uniting Athletics and Admissions for Recruitment Success

AI assistants are reshaping how institutions engage with and serve students.

Revolutionizing Higher Ed with AI Assistants

Dig in to our collection of articles about ways to best serve students and reach enrollment goals.

<strong>Blog</strong> Posts + Articles

Subscribe to our newsletter to take control of student engagement.

Blog Posts + Articles

Dig in to our collection of articles about ways to best serve students and reach enrollment goals.

Workshop: Create Connections Through Strategic Narratives

Workshop: Dashboards, Analytics & Insights

Element451 named Enrollment Management Innovation of the Year

Workshop: Creating Connections with Behavioral Marketing

Why Higher Ed Needs Conversational Marketing

CRM for Higher Education: 15 Best Options to Consider

Conversations 2.0: Intelligent Chat and Conversational Marketing

Element451 Achieves SOC 2 Type II Compliance

Workshop: Record, Recruit, Repeat—Personalized Video Messaging

Meet Our Black Students in STEM Scholarship Winner

Workshop: Measuring Your Marketing Like A Fortune 500 Company

Marketing for Public vs. Private Schools

Higher Education Marketing – Do’s and Don'ts for Campaign Success

Workshop: Engaging and Inspiring the Next Generation of Students

Student Recruitment and Digital Marketing–What You Need to Know

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