University Business Magazine Honors UNC Wilmington for Innovation

Monday, May 17, 2010

University Business magazine's Models of Efficiency program has selected the University of North Carolina Wilmington as a model for innovation and efficiency. UNC Wilmington is one of only seven colleges and universities nationwide honored with the distinction by Models of Efficiency, which identifies new approaches for streamlining operations and delivering superior services to students in less time and at lower cost.

"We launched Models of Efficiency to honor those colleges and universities that are applying the same kind of innovation and dedication to service that we're seeing from leading-edge companies in the private sector," said Tim Goral, editor-in-chief of University Business. "UNC Wilmington's innovation really stands out because it succeeded on a quantitative and qualitative level."

UNCW's Information Technology Systems Division and Graduate School sought to improve an application process that was inefficient and frustrating to both employees and potential students. Applications were physically carried across the campus to any of the school's 46 different academic programs for review and were often incomplete or missing documents, necessitating a repeat of the process. UNCW found a solution by implementing a Perceptive Software imaging system to handle the entire process, beginning with electronically processing prospective student's application.

Imaging and electronic routing have significantly reduced errors and applications now move swiftly through the system. The Graduate School has saved $4,500 in photocopying costs over the last two years, and eliminating the need to store paper files has allowed the school to install two computer stations for work-study students.

"We're delighted to be recognized for our model of efficiency and proud of this innovation," said Leah Kraus, associate vice chancellor for the Information Technology Systems Division.

Kraus said the new applications process has contributed to a 30 percent increase in graduate applications in 2008, a 40 percent increase in 2009 and a 30 percent bump in enrollment, all with no additional staffing.

Other Models of Efficiency honorees include: Central Methodist University, University of St. Francis, Wentworth Institute of Technology, The University of the Arts, University of Nevada Las Vegas, California Polytechnic State University.

The program is sponsored by Higher One, a firm based in New Haven, Conn., that provides higher education institutions and their students with efficient, convenient and easy solutions to handle financial disbursements including refunds, on-campus and community purchases, payroll and employee expenses, as well as the collection of payments.

University Business is the leading publication for senior managers at colleges and universities throughout the United States, reaching 46,000 leaders who manage offices such as enrollment, technology, facilities and academic affairs.

To view the University Business article online: http://universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1584.

Media Contact:
Joy Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu