October 3, 2026. By Williesha Morris, reporter, AL.com.
A partnership between one of Alabama’s largest historically Black universities and a technology-focused nonprofit is improving student outcomes.
After partnering with New York-based organization Ed Advancement over the course of five years, Alabama State University has seen retention rates rise from 60% to 72%.
“We’ve seen a significant change in our ability to move forward from manual processes to making sure that they are more transactional, integrated and proactive and student-centered,” Tanjula Petty, ASU’s vice-president for institutional effectiveness, strategic initiatives and transformation, told AL.com.
The solutions included incorporating customer relationship management software into the recruiting process and adding a 24/7 chatbot to online student services.