Theories and strategies move from the boardroom to the classroom: business intelligence (BI) software is now being used on college campuses, for things such as boosting enrollment and funds.

This is another sign that higher education is indeed becoming a business, to the delight of some, and the chagrin of many others.

Campus Technology examines this development:

Whether it's to dramatically improve enrollment numbers and quality levels, or boost advancement dollars, the latest analytic theories and database marketing strategies are making a huge difference on college and university campuses nationwide. And although Business Intelligence (BI) software is the newest find for many US schools, many of these insightful approaches go beyond basic BI tools, which are fundamentally designed to help technologists and administrators turn masses of data into sensible reports. Instead, these newer approaches provide more targeted methods of, say, attracting prospective students or communicating with alumni who donate most frequently. These newer tactics organize business intelligence in a way that benefits users across the institution.

Posted by Rhys Alexander