In Your Element

Streamlined Success: Kellogg Community College’s Journey to User Empowerment with Element451

Episode Summary

Jenni Katowski, Director of Admissions at Kellogg Community College, discusses her experiences with Element451 and how it has empowered the team and improved processes. Jenny shares examples of how Element451 has improved Kellogg’s application process, increased student applications, and personalized communication. Jenni highlights Element451’s adaptability and user-friendliness, which allows Kellogg to make changes and create custom applications without relying solely on their IT department. She also discusses the benefits of “set-it-and-forget-it” workflows for personalized student communication, resulting in 82% email open rates for an important student initiative. Jenni emphasizes the student-centered approach and the power of education in helping students and their families and shares tips for ways to train staff and use reports and exports to track and analyze data.

Episode Notes

Jenni Katowski, Director of Admissions at Kellogg Community College, discusses her experiences with Element451 and how it has empowered the team and improved processes. Jenny shares examples of how Element451 has improved Kellogg’s application process, increased student applications, and personalized communication. Jenni highlights Element451’s adaptability and user-friendliness, which allows Kellogg to make changes and create custom applications without relying solely on their IT department. She also discusses the benefits of “set-it-and-forget-it” workflows for personalized student communication, resulting in 82% email open rates for an important student initiative. Jenni emphasizes the student-centered approach and the power of education in helping students and their families and shares tips for ways to train staff and use reports and exports to track and analyze data. 

Key Takeaways:

1. User Empowerment and Independence:
   • Jenni highlighted how Element451 has empowered the admissions team at Kellogg Community College to operate independently of the IT department. This autonomy allows for quicker adaptations and updates to their system without the need for specialized IT support.
2. Customization and Flexibility:
   • The ability to customize applications for different student types (e.g., traditional, dual enrollment, selective admission programs) has significantly improved the admissions process. This flexibility ensures that the college can gather specific information relevant to each student type while maintaining a seamless integration into their systems.
3. Efficient Communication Workflows:
   • Element451 has enabled Kellogg to set up efficient communication workflows that automate much of the follow-up process with students. Changes to communications, like email updates, are easily implemented, demonstrating the platform's adaptability to evolving administrative needs.
4. Impact on Staff and Student Experience:
   • The implementation of Element451 has not only simplified the workload for staff but has also enhanced the student experience. For example, the streamlined application process now takes less than four minutes, significantly reducing the number of calls from students facing issues with applications.
5. Data-Driven Decision Making:
   • Jenni discussed how the data collected through Element451, such as email open rates for specific campaigns, has informed better decision-making processes at Kellogg. This approach allows the college to tailor communications effectively and respond to student needs proactively.
6. Continuous Improvement:
   • Looking ahead, Jenni emphasized the importance of continually reevaluating and improving communication strategies using AI and other new features from Element451. This mindset of ongoing enhancement reflects a commitment to leveraging technology to meet the dynamic needs of students and the institution.

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Guest Name: Jenni Kotowski, Director of Admissions, Kellogg Community College

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenni-kotowski-a33a9555/

Guest Bio: Jenni currently serves as the Director of Admissions at Kellogg Community College which is located in Battle Creek, MI. A Michigan native, Jenni has also worked in Illinois and Florida as a Residence Hall Director, Academic Advisor, and Director of Enrollment Management. Additionally, Jenni is working on her doctorate in Community College Leadership at Northern Illinois University. In her free time, Jenni enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and watching football.