Customer:
Muskegon Community College
Industry:
Community College
Goal:
Increase Communication and Decrease Drop-Outs
Result:
Sustained $115K in Tuition and Increased Communication
Muskegon Community College Prevent Drop-Outs Using Vontoo Voice Marketing
School reaches existing and prospective students effectively and decreases marketing expenses
WHO
Muskegon Community College is a publicly supported educational institution that grants associates degrees to students. Established in 1926, the school is located in Western Michigan and serves nearly 5,000 students.
THE SITUATION
Muskegon Community College had a problem. Despite efforts to communicate with students effectively, students continued to miss special events and forget important deadlines. For example, each semester, the school faced a large number of students being dropped from classes as a result of missed tuition payments.
The school tried using various marketing techniques in the past, including direct mail reminders and live calls by staff members, but both were costly and time consuming. The school was looking for a new, effi cient, inexpensive and effective means of better communicating with students.
THE CAMPAIGN
The school started using Vontoo in March of 2009. Their voice campaign began with calls to current students to remind them of important special events and tuition payments deadlines. The results were so positive that the school decided to begi extending calls to prospective students, as well.
THE RESULTS
Muskegon CC was thrilled with the results! By utilizing Vontoo, the school saw an immediate reduction in students dropped from classes due to missed tuition payments – one third fewer students were dropped for this reason than in the previous year! This resulted in over $115,000 in tuition sustained!
The service has also saved the school time and money by freeing up staff from making calls, and it has reduced the occurrence of ill-will among students dropped from classes due to missing tuition payments. By taking a proactive approach to communicating, Muskegon helped make students and prospective students feel welcome, informed and important. Simple reminders are going a long way towards personalizing relationships with students.
“Each time we send a Vontoo call, we immediately see our phones light up with student responses. The service has saved us students and tuition payments, saved our staff members’ time and has more than paid for itself. We couldn’t be happier with our decision to use Vontoo’s voice marketing services!”
George Maniates, Associate Vice President of Student Services, Muskegon Community College
