National Honor for Student Satisfaction

Madison, Wis. (June 25, 2015) – Ruffalo Noel Levitz, the leading provider of technology-enabled services, software, and consulting for higher education enrollment management and fundraising, has named Edgewood College as one of only three winners of the 2015 Lee Noel and Randi Levitz Retention Excellence Awards. The awards recognize innovative campus retention programs that have encouraged students to succeed and persist through graduation.

“This prestigious award recognizes the work we have undertaken to make sure that every one of our students experiences a challenging, inclusive, and supportive learning environment,” President Scott Flanagan said. “We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the important national dialogue around degree completion by sharing what we’ve learned with our colleagues from around the country.”

Edgewood College will be formally recognized for its retention efforts at this year’s National Conference on Student Recruitment, Marketing and Retention, taking place July 8-10 in Boston.

Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmund, Oklahoma will also be recognized.

Edgewood College was recognized specifically for a strategic retention planning approach and for focusing on strengthening the first and second-year experiences. With this approach, retention for first-year students has steadily increased from a low of 66 percent in 2005 to a high of 82 percent in 2012. Four-year graduation has increased from 27 percent in 2005 to 40 percent in 2014. Five-year graduation has increased from 48 percent in 2005 to 55 percent in 2014. In addition, students indicate higher levels of engagement and satisfaction and alumni continue to report strong employment and graduate school placement rates.

The Retention Excellence Awards Program was established in 1989 to honor outstanding achievements in student retention by colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Winners are selected by leading campus-based retention practitioners.

About Ruffalo Noel Levitz

Ruffalo Noel Levitz is the leading provider of technology-enabled services, software, and consulting for higher education enrollment management and fundraising. More than 1,800 colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations rely on the company's solutions to help achieve their mission. Harnessing the power of advanced research, analytics, and multichannel marketing combined with a deep understanding of higher education and nonprofit environments, Ruffalo Noel Levitz helps clients smartly identify, efficiently reach, and meaningfully connect with their key constituents at pivotal moments—from admission and financial aid to student retention, alumni engagement, and fundraising.

###