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Johnson County Community College

Leveraging Predictive Analytics for Student Success
Transforming Admissions and Recruitment​

The Situation

Johnson County Community College (JCCC), located in Overland Park, Kansas, is a renowned institution known for its commitment to providing high-quality education and comprehensive support to its students. With over 100 degree and certificate programs, JCCC offers a wide array of academic opportunities, including workforce development and continuing education courses. The college is dedicated to student success, evidenced by its small class sizes, experienced faculty, and extensive resources such as free tutoring and career development services​.

In today’s educational landscape, the return on investment (ROI) of a college degree is under intense scrutiny. Prospective students and their families are increasingly questioning the value of higher education. They seek specific, data-driven answers about the time required to earn a degree, the skills and knowledge they will gain, and the potential career and salary outcomes after graduation. For community colleges, providing this detailed, institution-specific data is crucial to effectively demonstrate their value proposition and attract new students.

However, one of the significant hurdles that community colleges face is the lack of timely access to critical data. Before JCCC partnered with ZogoTech, data requests had to go through IR, which could take weeks to process due to the number of requests. By the time the needed information was available, it was often too late to influence prospective students’ enrollment decisions. Additionally, the manual processes for data retrieval and verification were time-consuming and prone to errors.

“Life in enrollment and admissions is incredibly challenging without a strong, integrated data analytics platform,” notes Pete Belk, Director of Admission and Recruitment at JCCC. “We struggled with fragmented data systems and delayed access to critical information. It was like trying to navigate in the dark.”

The consequences of these data challenges were far-reaching. Delays in targeting and enrolling students meant potentially lost opportunities for the institution. Tracking and supporting student progression and retention was also problematic, as timely interventions were not possible. Moreover, producing accurate reports for stakeholders, including accreditation bodies and regulatory agencies, was a labor-intensive and error-prone process. The high volume of data requests further burdened the IR department, limiting its ability to conduct in-depth analysis and strategic planning. These issues collectively hampered data-informed decision-making and the overall effectiveness of the admissions and enrollment processes.

Webinar: Predictive Analytics: Leveraging Data to Enhance Enrollment and Student Success

Advisors and planners needed earlier signals to guide students and shape enrollment. By implementing predictive analytics, Johnson County Community College now forecasts enrollment more accurately, identifies at-risk students sooner, and delivers timely interventions that improve outcomes.
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"ZogoTech truly puts the power of data in every user’s hands. I can do anything I can imagine with this software."
Pete Belk
Director of Admission and Recruitment

The Solution

To address the significant challenges in data access and utilization, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) has long relied on ZogoTech. This comprehensive data analytics and reporting solution has fundamentally transformed how JCCC operates, enabling the college to make timely, data-driven decisions that enhance enrollment and student success. With ZogoTech, staff can access accurate and reliable data in real-time without needing specialized programming knowledge or IT/IR resources, significantly reducing the time and effort required for data retrieval and analysis.

ZogoTech has empowered JCCC to streamline its operations by centralizing data repositories for consistency, saving and running queries for quick information retrieval, and employing predictive analytics to identify and support at-risk students. These capabilities have enabled JCCC to overcome the fragmentation and delays that previously hindered their data-driven decision-making. By integrating ZogoTech into their workflows, JCCC has seen marked improvements in student engagement, retention, and overall operational efficiency.

“ZogoTech truly puts the power of data in every user’s hands. I can do anything I can imagine with this software,” comments Belk. “Whether it’s identifying at-risk students or tracking our enrollment metrics in real-time, ZogoTech makes it all possible.”

Below are some of the top use cases of how ZogoTech has been utilized at JCCC for enrollment and recruitment, organized according to the community college student lifecycle:

  • Identifying Prospective Students: JCCC can quickly identify prospective students and reach out to them with targeted messaging. This capability ensures that the college can effectively market to and attract potential students who might otherwise be overlooked. For example, after the State passed a bill providing all Indigenous students with in-state tuition rates, JCCC was able to identify out-of-state Indigenous students to let them know of the funding opportunity.
  • Engaging Applicants: ZogoTech allows JCCC to track and follow up with students who have completed orientation or submitted a FAFSA but have not yet enrolled. This timely follow-up increases the likelihood that these students will complete the enrollment process.
  • Supporting New Students: For new students, ZogoTech helps monitor their progression through course sequences. For instance, the college can identify students enrolled in initial courses, such as English Composition 1, but not yet enrolled in subsequent courses, like English Composition 2. This proactive approach ensures students receive the guidance and encouragement needed to continue their studies.
  • Managing Institutional Aid: ZogoTech streamlines the management of institutional aid for early college program students, ensuring these students remain enrolled and benefit from available financial support.
  • Ensuring Compliance and Accuracy: By integrating National Student Clearinghouse information, ZogoTech helps JCCC clean up data for IPEDS reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal reporting requirements. This integration improves the reliability of the data used for strategic planning and reporting.
  • Personalizing Student Communication: The ability to send personalized letters and reminders about enrollment status, deadlines, and next steps has significantly improved student engagement. Personalized messages address specific concerns and motivate students to stay on track with their academic plans.
  • Tracking Licensure Requirements: For students in specific programs requiring state licensure, ZogoTech tracks these requirements and provides personalized support to ensure compliance and success, particularly for out-of-state students.
  • Targeted Messaging Based on Coursework: JCCC uses data about students’ high school coursework to send targeted messages about relevant programs and opportunities at the college.
  • Predictive Analytics for At-Risk Students: Predictive analytics tools help identify students at risk of departing without a credential. By recognizing these students early, JCCC can implement targeted interventions to support their retention and success.

The Benefits

Partnering with ZogoTech has revolutionized Johnson County Community College’s (JCCC) approach to data management and decision-making, significantly boosting efficiency and effectiveness across its operations. Real-time access to accurate data has empowered the college to make quick, informed decisions that are critical for attracting prospective students. JCCC can now provide timely, specific information that clearly demonstrates the value of its programs, effectively addressing concerns about the ROI of a college degree and ensuring that prospective students receive the information they need to make confident enrollment decisions.

The streamlined data processes have drastically cut down the time and effort required for data retrieval and analysis. This improvement allows staff to focus more on strategic planning and less on manual data handling. The ability to run queries and retrieve information quickly has not only increased efficiency but also enhanced operational workflows, enabling the institution to respond promptly to emerging needs and opportunities. Additionally, having a centralized data repository ensures consistency and accuracy in data management, improving the reliability of reports and analytics. This consistency is vital for compliance with accreditation bodies and securing necessary funding.

Another significant benefit has been the enhanced ability to support student retention and success. With predictive analytics and timely interventions, the college can now identify at-risk students early and provide the necessary support to keep them on track. This proactive approach ensures that students receive the guidance and resources they need to successfully complete their programs. The personalized communication capabilities enabled by ZogoTech have also played a crucial role in engaging students. By sending tailored messages about enrollment status, deadlines, and next steps, JCCC has significantly increased student engagement and motivation. This personalized approach helps students navigate their academic journey more effectively.

Overall, the collaboration with ZogoTech has transformed JCCC’s admissions and recruitment processes. By leveraging advanced data analytics and reporting capabilities, the college has positioned itself as a data-driven institution capable of meeting the evolving needs of its students and stakeholders. This ongoing partnership continues to drive positive outcomes for JCCC, ensuring its success in the competitive landscape of higher education.

When asked for his final thoughts, Belk offers, “For any enrollment or admissions team looking to transform into a more data-informed institution, real-time data access is invaluable. It enables us to make informed decisions and improve student engagement. I can’t imagine working with a better tool or team—ZogoTech has been a great partner to help achieve this transformation.”