INA, Ill. (April 27, 2026) — Rend Lake College earned recognition for using Ellucian Student powered by Colleague to transform a manual, paper-based state reporting process — collecting required student career and demographic data — into a fully automated, data-driven workflow.
"This initiative lays the foundation for continued digital transformation across the college," said RLC President Dr. Lori Ragland. "The framework we developed can be used to streamline additional processes, expand student engagement, and improve how we deliver services. Most importantly, it helps ensure that we identify student needs earlier and connect them with the resources that support their success.”
The institution expanded its data collection reach by 45%, increasing from 1,290 to more than 1,870 students, while boosting response rates by over 13%. Automation eliminated approximately two weeks of manual data entry, improving accuracy and freeing staff to focus on higher-value, student-centered support. The initiative also delivered measurable financial impact and supported a 5% enrollment growth, demonstrating how targeted data innovation can drive both operational efficiency and institutional outcomes.
Front row (L-R): Dean of Institutional Research Amy Epplin, Bursar & Director of Accounting Mallory Howell, RLC President Dr. Lori Ragland, Dean of Enrollment Services Jena Jensik, Payroll & Benefits Accountant Glenna Maxwell.
Back row (L-R): Software Developer/System Admin Andrew Lingle, Vice President of Academic & Student Services Buster Leeck, Software Developer/System Admin Cory Braden
“Higher education is being redefined in real time, and this year’s Impact Award winners exemplify what it means to lead through change,” said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. “These institutions are harnessing the full power of Ellucian’s AI-driven, SaaS-native solutions to break down barriers, unlock insights, and create more connected, student-centered experiences. Their work demonstrates how innovation, when grounded in purpose, can drive meaningful outcomes for students, faculty, staff, and communities worldwide.”
The Ellucian Impact Award also came with a $25,000 prize, recognizing RLC for excellent performance across four core categories: Students First, Unlocking the Power of Data, Shaping the Future through SaaS, and Institutional Agility.
For more information on Ellucian solutions, visit: Unifying Campus Technology Solutions to Power Higher Ed | Ellucian
Ellucian powers innovation for higher education, partnering with approximately 3,000 customers across 50 countries, serving more than 21 million students. Ellucian's AI-powered platform, trained on the richest dataset available in higher education, drives efficiency, personalized experiences, and strengthened engagement for all students, faculty and staff. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, including data-rich tools for student recruitment, enrolment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian’s innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners and user community of more than 45,000 provides best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes.
Rend Lake College is a nationally ranked college in southern Illinois with campuses located at Ina, Mt. Vernon and Pinckneyville. Founded in 1967 and nationally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1969, Rend Lake provides its district and the region with real world educational opportunities through more than 100 degree and certificate options. RLC’s mission is to serve the district with open access to lifelong education across cultural and economic boundaries. RLC believes every employee has a part in its values — student-focused, authentic and resourceful. Embedded in every program of study are four fundamental learning objectives: critical thinking, problem solving, oral communication, and written communication.