In Your Element

How Penn Highlands went from Spreadsheets to 32% Enrollment Gains

Episode Summary

In this episode, Brendan and Daniella welcome Matt Bodenschatz, Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Penn Highlands Community College. Matt discusses the impactful journey of implementing Element451 and how its powerful CRM tools have streamlined the college’s admissions process, enabled quicker student responses, and significantly boosted enrollment rates. By leveraging features like task automation, milestones, and insights, Matt’s team has moved away from manual, spreadsheet-heavy workflows to an efficient, data-driven system that fosters deeper student connections.

Episode Notes

In this episode, Brendan and Daniella welcome Matt Bodenschatz, Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Penn Highlands Community College. Matt discusses the impactful journey of implementing Element451 and how its powerful CRM tools have streamlined the college’s admissions process, enabled quicker student responses, and significantly boosted enrollment rates. By leveraging features like task automation, milestones, and insights, Matt’s team has moved away from manual, spreadsheet-heavy workflows to an efficient, data-driven system that fosters deeper student connections.

Key Takeaways: 

• Automating Workflow to Enhance Student Engagement: Using Element451’s rules and task automation, Penn Highlands has eliminated manual tracking for new inquiries and applicants. Tasks auto-generate when students reach specific milestones, ensuring timely follow-up and reducing the need for constant manual oversight.
• Leveraging Milestones for Real-Time Tracking and Data Accuracy: Milestones have become the “source of truth” for Penn Highlands, allowing the team to see each student’s progress at any point. This functionality also enhances their data analytics, giving them a clear, visual picture of their recruitment funnel.
• A Data-Driven Approach to Increasing Enrollment: After the first full year of utilizing Element451, Penn Highlands saw a dramatic 32% increase in enrollments, attributed to more efficient communication processes and data-driven insights. Matt used this information to set benchmarks, motivating his team to optimize task completion rates, which have translated into higher enrollment numbers.
• Preparing for the Future with AI Tools: Matt’s team is now exploring Element451's AI Suite, with hopes that automation will further reduce administrative tasks, allowing them to devote more time to personalized student interactions. This aligns with their goal of moving away from transactional communication towards meaningful relationship-building.
• Continuous Improvement with a Team-Oriented Mindset: Matt emphasizes the collaborative approach taken by his team, especially with IT support, as they creatively adapt Element451 to meet their unique needs. This has fostered an environment of experimentation and growth, where team members feel empowered to contribute innovative ideas.

Guest Name:  Matt Bodenschatz, Director of Recruiting & Admissions, Penn Highlands Community College

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bodenschatz-346373bb/

Guest Bio: Matt Bodenschatz is a 17-year college admissions recruiter currently serving as the Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Johnstown, PA.  With a Master of Arts in Education Administration and a focus on Adult and Higher Education, Matt focuses his recruiting efforts on the post-traditional community and other underserved populations.  Throughout his career, he also has worked with traditional, transfer, graduate, continuing education, and international students.  Matt is the primary decision maker in the Admissions Office at Penn Highlands and was integral in selecting Element451 as the College’s CRM.