Decreasing Summer Melt to a Record Low
Olivet College leverages EdSights' AI-powered texting to decrease Summer Melt to an institution low of 2.2% while building relationships with incoming students
Type of Institution:
Private, Liberal Arts
Student Population:
968 Students
Location:
Olivet, Michigan
Olivet College has focused on decreasing their Summer Melt rate by staying connected with incoming students from their first deposit to their first day on campus. With a leaner admissions team in 2022, there was an added need to quickly implement a proactive and automatic solution for communication and relationship-building with incoming students.
To achieve this at scale, Olivet introduced incoming students to its trusty
AI-powered chatbot, Clyde. Traditionally, Clyde is launched to students upon their arrival on campus. But by introducing Clyde to students earlier on with the Summer Melt Framework, Olivet was able to connect with this often difficult-to-reach student population, resulting in the college's lowest melt rate to date!
Meet Clyde
Over the course of three months, Clyde conducted targeted, proactive check-ins to foster students’ sense of connection to the institution. Further, Clyde helped Olivet understand the individual roadblocks students faced and coordinate targeted outreach to ensure their attendance on Day 1. Clyde continuously checked in with all incoming students throughout the summer to see how they felt about attending, identify any challenges, and flag students at risk for melt.
2% Decrease
Olivet decreased its summer melt rate from 4.3% in 2021 to 2.2% in 2022
55% Response Rate
Up to 55% of incoming students responded to texts from Clyde
.png)
Hi, Victoria! Clyde, here 💬
​
We're so excited to welcome you to campus!
​
How do you feel about attending Olivet College this fall?
​
[1] I'm excited 🎉
[2] Not sure/nervous 😳
[3] I will not be attending 😢
Identifying Students at Risk for Melt
Clyde continuously checked in with all incoming students throughout the summer to see how they felt about attending, identify any challenges, and flag students at risk for melt.
16 Students Flagged
Clyde highlighted these students so that staff could follow up with them and get ahead of any barriers that may have prevented them from showing up on their first day of classes
23 Students Identified
Clyde identified 23 students who were "nervous"
or "freaking out" about attending Olivet in the fall and automatically connected them to resources before they set foot on campus
Supporting Students and Building Community
Clyde’s touchpoints with students complemented Olivet’s existing first-year summer orientation program and communication plans, helping Olivet cultivate relationships with students from the moment they decide they’re going to attend. Clyde has helped build this sense of community at scale through some
of the following campaigns:
.png)
Targeted Nudges get Students to the Next Step
​
Clyde sent targeted messages to students who were behind in their orientation program requirements. Through customizing messages and recipient lists, Clyde helped Olivet personalize students’ orientation experience.
Phase 2 Orientation Nudge​
Clyde reminded incoming students who hadn't completed Phase 2 of Orientation that there are only two orientation dates left and encourages them to ask questions if they had any.
Interested in learning more?
Speak with our team today to experience how your institution can leverage the same AI-powered texting framework to decrease melt. Check us out here!