XMWare

2026-08-21T09:01:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• A recent Accredited Debt Relief survey found that eight in 10 people with at least $10k in unsecured debt— like credit cards, personal loans, medical debts and certain student loans skipped at least one event or activity in the last year, including weddings.
• The cost is as emotional as it is financial. According to the survey, 68% of respondents feel anxiety when receiving an invitation.
• A BBB-accredited debt consolidation program can help you take back control of your finances and allow you to say yes to important celebrations.

If you’re considering skipping a loved one’s wedding, you’re not alone. Weddings can be expensive for guests, too, not just the happy couple.

Leading up to the big day, there’s a laundry list of expenses: buying an outfit, paying for travel and a hotel room, purchasing a gift and arranging childcare. Given the cost of attending, it should come as no surprise that some Americans are skipping a loved one’s wedding due to already struggling financially.

Why RSVPs are not a simple yes or no

To better understand how debt impacts a person’s life, Accredited Debt Relief and Drive Research conducted a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults with at least $10k in unsecured debt. The survey found that nearly eight in 10 respondents skipped at least one event or activity in the past year because of debt, including:

• A wedding
• A group trip or vacation
• Dinner, concert or night out
• Birthday or anniversary celebration
• Holiday celebration with family
• Milestone party (shower or graduation)

The stigma and privacy concerns surrounding debt may also make it harder to explain why an invitation is declined. In fact, 58% have made up a nonfinancial excuse to skip events they couldn’t afford to protect their privacy rather than admit they are struggling. Not only are these Americans carrying debt, but they’re also carrying the emotional weight of guilt and embarrassment.

How you can move forward with the right support

You don’t have to keep missing major life celebrations because of debt. One way you can break the cycle and regain control of your finances is through debt consolidation.

When you sign up for a BBB-accredited debt consolidation program like one through Accredited Debt Relief, you can replace high minimum payments across multiple accounts with one, lower monthly payment. With more room in your monthly budget, you can start building a financial life that lets you say yes to joyous occasions with friends and family more often.

Every situation is different, and the right option depends on your unique financial situation. To get a free debt evaluation that won’t affect your credit score and see what options are available to you, visit AccreditedDebtRelief.com/Free-Quote.

2026-08-20T09:01:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways:

• Proper ventilation is critical for the comfort and health of residents in multifamily constructions.
• Builders and contractors should carefully consider ways to improve airflow and indoor air quality without overcomplicating construction and installation.
• The Panasonic WhisperFresh line meets the needs of builders and residents.

When it comes to single-family and multifamily construction, ventilation cannot be overlooked. Without proper ventilation, individual units, common areas and other spaces in the building can become stale, hot and humid. Considering that Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, proper ventilation is one of the cornerstones of the success of a high-density residential building project.

For builders and contractors, strategies that optimize airflow and indoor air quality (IAQ) can make a huge difference in residents’ comfort and health as well as a building’s long-term performance. Here are five key ways developers can improve airflow across every unit of a multifamily project.

Prioritize consistent fresh-air delivery

Achieving balanced airflow in every unit of a multifamily building is critical for the comfort of all residents. When ventilation is uneven, you’ll end up with some units starved of fresh air and others overventilated, leading to discomfort and inconsistent air quality across the property.

To ensure building residents receive consistent fresh air in their units, builders and contractors should consider sourcing continuous-supply fans with precise cubic feet per minute (CFM) control. This feature ensures that fresh, outside air is delivered directly to each unit, maintaining consistent IAQ from the ground floor to the penthouse.

Design with tighter building envelopes in mind

Modern buildings are being built tighter than ever, improving energy efficiency and reducing air leakage. However, that tight envelope also means that fresh air cannot enter the building through cracks and gaps in walls and windows, leaving residents breathing stale air.

Without a well-designed mechanical air supply, you risk not only residents’ comfort but also code compliance. To complement the tightness of modern buildings and deliver the comfort and IAQ residents expect, look for supply fans designed with ASHRAE 62.2 code compliance in mind from the start.

Another detail to consider is humidity. Left unchecked, trapped moisture encourages mold growth, compromising residents’ IAQ and building integrity. This is of particular concern in hot, humid climates like Texas, the Gulf Coast and California, where climate control drives code compliance and comfort. Prioritize ventilation solutions that deliver enhanced climate-control performance with humidity and temperature sensing.

Don’t overlook noise control

One of the primary reasons occupants tamper with or turn off mechanical ventilation systems is operational noise. It’s not enough for a fan to perform well. Fans that operate quietly are essential in residential environments where bedrooms and living spaces sit in close proximity to mechanical equipment.

Contractors should prioritize supply fan models rated for ultralow sone levels, less than 1 sone. That’s quieter than even a running fridge. Installing quiet equipment protects indoor comfort, ensures residents leave systems running as designed and minimizes noise complaints post-turnover.

Plan for flexibility and scalability

Multifamily developments and single-family homes vary widely in layout and size, not just building by building. A single project might feature a mix of studio apartments, three-bedroom townhomes, in-law suites and sprawling corner units. Instead of sourcing different fan models to accommodate multiple layouts and unit sizes, choose flexible, scalable ventilation systems.

When sourcing supply ventilation systems, make sure the models you’re considering offer versatile mounting options so that you can place the fan unit horizontally or vertically on a wall or ceiling. Also, look for models with simplified electrical integration so you can install them without worrying about proprietary wiring requirements. Combined, these features will enable easier installation in high-volume multifamily construction, regardless of size or layout.

Choose solutions built for long-term performance

After a building is finished and the residents have moved in, performing frequent maintenance in individual units can be challenging, disruptive and ultimately costly. That’s why choosing durable, easy-to-maintain ventilation is crucial to the long-term performance of any multifamily building.

Look for options with features that can reduce downtime and operating costs over the life of the building. For example, supply fans that feature access doors provide residents with easy filter access without requiring a service call. Choosing a model that uses a standard filter also simplifies the process for residents and building owners today and down the line.

Sourcing for success

Finding fresh-air mechanical ventilation systems for multifamily projects doesn’t have to be difficult. When searching for solutions that meet the above criteria, consider models from the Panasonic WhisperFresh^® line.

The line includes three ventilation solutions — the original WhisperFresh^® Select, as well as two new additions to the family: WhisperFresh^® and WhisperFresh^® Plus. All three models offer simplified compliance thanks to built-in FID displays, ASHRAE 62.2 Support, ENERGY STAR^® certification and HVI certification. The line is also designed for easy installation, featuring flexible mounting options, a simplified hardwired design, a paintable access door and standard filters. And as the name suggests, these ventilation solutions are whisper-quiet, operating at less than 0.3 sones.

For builders seeking climate performance, the Plus and Select models include humidity and temperature sensing. The captured real-time environmental data gives builders performance visibility and control to meet evolving codes and residents’ expectations.

“Our expansion of the WhisperFresh line was done with builders, contractors and multifamily developers in mind,” said Leon van Oostende, Group Sales Manager at Panasonic Eco Systems. “And it couldn’t have come at a better time. Across the country, energy codes are tightening, and ventilation requirements are becoming more complex than ever. With our three-tiered platform, builders can find the code-compliant model that best fits their project needs, from entry-level to climate-adaptive options.”

For more information about Panasonic indoor air quality solutions, visit: https://iaq.na.panasonic.com/.

2026-08-17T09:01:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• Widespread use of AI search engines has dramatically altered how consumers discover brands.
• Regardless of whether it’s sponsored or earned, AI systems evaluate a brand’s content by its credibility, authority, consistency and frequency.
• PR and MarCom professionals who want better brand visibility need to follow this change in brand discovery via earned and editorial content in credible publications.
• Brandpoint Optimize helps brands increase their AI visibility through quality content, trusted syndication and credible third-party validation.

By Stacy Stusynski, Chief Commercial Officer, Brandpoint

Today, AI speaks for your brand every day by evaluating and summarizing (or ignoring) your existing content on behalf of consumers. The AI search takeover has fundamentally changed the visibility of your brand, whether you’ve invested in this process or not.

Historically, the PR industry defined earned media this way: A journalist chose to cover a story someone pitched with no payment and no guarantee, just the credibility of a third party deciding your story was worth telling.

While that definition remains, it’s just part of the picture. In 2026, earned media means any third-party content that signals credibility and authority to audiences, and to algorithms that decide what content is trusted, cited and recommended.

How AI search has impacted PR and MarCom strategy

Throughout my career, technology has changed how consumers discover and evaluate products. When consumers’ discovery method shifts, brands that understand that change are the ones that succeed.

This is one of those moments. If you’re a communicator who hasn’t adapted to this change, you risk building strategies that are invisible to your target audiences.

Third-party validation through earned media is still one of the most powerful tools in a communicator’s toolbox. When credible publications cover your organization independently, this signal tells AI algorithms your content is valuable, before a human ever sees it.

Has AI search changed branded content’s value?

AI has become the new customer voice. AI systems evaluate content differently from human readers. They don’t consider how a placement was procured. Instead, AI systems assess whether the information appears on credible, authoritative sources, if key messages are reinforced consistently across the web, and if signals across those sources indicate genuine expertise and trust.

Almost 3 in 4 consumers (70%) use AI-powered tools including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini during their product research and decision-making process, according to Bain & Company.

When making searches, consumers let LLMs do the work in the search platform itself, instead of clicking through results one at a time. In today’s zero-click environment, brands should strive to be THE answer to consumer queries.

AI doesn’t separate branded content from paid or earned. Instead, it looks for crucial signals like:

• Authority: A source recognized as knowledgeable on a topic
• Consistency: The same message reinforced across multiple trusted sources
• Recency: Current, updated information
• Credibility: Content from reputable publishers, organizations or experts
• Frequency: A brand, topic or perspective repeated over time

2026-08-17T02:01:01

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• Video games can be a powerful tool to teach and preserve history.
• World of Warships, a free-to-play multiplayer naval combat game, offers players an opportunity to immerse themselves in American naval history.
• One of the most recent game updates celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.
• Beyond gameplay, the game’s developer and publisher supports other educational ventures to connect players with military history.

Many modern video games aim to immerse players in the game’s world. And when coupled with historical events, these games can teach history and preserve it for current and future generations. One game that stands at the forefront of this trend is World of Warships, a leading naval multiplayer online game that brings American military history to life.

World of Warships prides itself on being the world’s largest virtual naval museum, boasting 800 ship models and counting. Each ship has been faithfully recreated down to the rivets. As players progress through the game, they’ll have the opportunity to take part in several events inspired by history, including famous World War II battles and other key conflicts across the 20th century.

Celebrating the dawn of the nation

Last month, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, Wargaming — the game’s developer and publisher — released a special update that allows players to explore America’s origins. In the new “Dawn of a Nation” narrative campaign, players could experience the personal stories of four characters from different nations and learn how the Thirteen Colonies won their independence. As players progressed through the campaign, they’d collect narrative-specific rewards, including the formidable Tier VIII U.S. cruiser Congress.

Wargaming continued the Fourth of July celebration in an update to World of Warships: Legends, an adapted version of the original video game featuring faster-paced, arcade-style gameplay. Players could immerse themselves in dedicated historical activities, including the “Three Eras of Freedom” Collection and the “Big Chief” Calendar. By completing the daily calendar, players unlocked the legendary Commander Ernest E. Evans, alongside three Commander guises of notable figures from defining eras of U.S. Navy history.

Beyond gameplay: Preserving America’s naval heritage

Wargaming doesn’t limit its dedication to preserving American history to direct gameplay alone. The game developer has also invested heavily in connecting players with naval museums around the world through its annual “Longest Night of Museums” event.

This year’s event dove into 160 years of torpedo history across seven world-class museums during a special live broadcast on the official World of Warships Twitch channel. Alongside the livestream announcement, a special video commemorated the 85th anniversary of the sinking of the Bismarck, an iconic German battleship.

Another great example of Wargaming’s efforts to preserve and spread knowledge of American naval history is its partnership with the veteran nonprofit FORCE BLUE. Marking the 80th anniversaries of the D-Day landings, and the Battle of Okinawa — two pivotal moments in the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II — Wargaming and FORCE BLUE collaborated on “Frog Fathers: Lessons from the Normandy Surf” and “Frog Fathers 2: Last Battle of the Pacific.”

These documentaries follow two teams of veterans comprised of Navy SEALs, Marines (including actor and FORCE BLUE co-founder Rudy Reyes), and a Green Beret as they follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, revisiting battle sites and retracing the unique challenges faced by the Naval Combat Demolition Unit and Underwater Demolition Teams of old.

Finally, for ongoing historical education, the company’s dedicated YouTube series, Naval Legends, showcases naval museums around the globe and fosters deep appreciation for maritime heritage.

Educational entertainment is a powerful tool. Through its games and educational initiatives, Wargaming proves that playing video games and learning history are not mutually exclusive. To learn more about World of Warships and World of Warships: Legends, visit WorldOfWarships.com.

2026-08-14T15:33:01

(BPT) – Does it feel like heatwaves keep happening, no matter where you live? It’s not your imagination. June 2026 was the second-warmest June on record in North America, and this summer’s heat is forecast to last longer into autumn. That puts more strain on the country’s aging power grid, which can cause rolling blackouts and brownouts when people need cooling and refrigeration most.

Beyond keeping cool when temperatures skyrocket, you need power to prevent food spoilage, and to run your home office and entertainment center. You may not know how much you really need power until you can’t connect to your WiFi router, or use your washer or dryer, blender and hair dryer, and of course all your lighting.

Smart solutions: Portable power stations

Power grid failures and storms have made portable power stations, once considered a “nice-to-have,” must-haves. Fortunately, recent technology advances mean solar generators and portable power stations are more accessible than ever, with a variety of sizes and power outputs to suit the unique needs of every household.

Jackery, a global leader in home backup, innovative solar generators and green off-grid energy solutions, offers multiple options to help you stay cool, whether you live in a house, apartment or anywhere else you want to be. These options give you peace of mind that you’ll have the power you need to work, play and stay cool, no matter what Mother Nature or the power grid is doing.

Options to keep you cool

Here are solar power backup options from Jackery to meet your household’s needs.

Full home backup: Solar Generator 5000 Plus

This option gives you the best of both worlds: connected home backup AND a portable power station. It can keep all your large appliances running thanks to its 5040 Watt hours (Wh) capacity, expandable up to 60 kilowatt hours (kWh). That’s enough power to keep your home running through extended outages, not just overnight. Its Smart Transfer Switch connectivity offers 0 milliseconds (ms) Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) switching to keep computers, appliances and critical devices running without interruption.

The 5000 Plus has a 7200W rated output/14400W surge power and recharges 8 ways, including up to 4000W solar input, giving you full AC charge in as little as 1.7 hours. The unit is compatible with both high- and low-voltage solar panels. It’s also whisper-quiet, under 30 decibels (dB) and indoor-safe, with built-in wheels and pull handle for portability.

Keep several appliances running: HomePower 3600 Plus

This generator’s 3600W output and 3584Wh capacity, expandable to 21kWh, can keep your fridge running up to 14 days. A single unit runs on 120V and pairs for 240V. The unit connects to home circuits via Manual Transfer Switch and recharges six ways, including solar and standard AC power. The 6,000-cycle LFP battery provides over 16 years of durability, and the sub-10ms UPS switching keeps devices like fans, fridges and home offices running through outages.

The HomePower 3600 Plus is also ultra-portable and ready to roll effortlessly from the kitchen to the garage as needed to power your fridge, water pump, dryer and more.

Compact power backup solutions: HomePower 2000 Plus v2 and HomePower 1000 v2

These units are part of Jackery’s newly expanded home backup lineup designed for remote workers, apartment dwellers and homeowners who want reliable backup power and energy independence in more compact footprints.

The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 has a 2400W output and 2048Wh capacity that can be expanded to 12kWh, providing power to weather blackouts with ease. The lightest expandable 2kWh system on the market makes powerful energy more portable than ever. And at just 30dB, it’s so quiet that you can enjoy uninterrupted peace in your workspace or bedroom.

With 1024Wh capacity, 1500W output and sub-10ms switchover, the HomePower 1000 v2 provides professional-grade backup to keep your PC running 100 times longer than a traditional Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Built-in lightning protection and 3kV surge resistance safeguard your PC and fridge, ensuring your devices remain unharmed during lightning strikes or sudden restarts.

Jackery Priority Routing™ lets you decide what stays powered. When the battery reaches your preset level, it automatically shuts down less critical devices and keeps essentials like your refrigerator, router, lights and other household appliances running as long as possible.

Ultra-compact backup: FridgeGuard

This is the world’s slimmest smart fridge backup, a design-forward solution that keeps refrigerators running during outages, which is especially valuable during heatwaves when food safety and other critical temperature-sensitive items are at risk. FridgeGuard is built with a wall-mountable 2.6-inch profile designed to blend seamlessly and quietly into your kitchen, or wherever its companion appliance is. You can tailor its orientation to any kitchen layout with floor-standing, bracket-mounted or wall-mounted options.

FridgeGuard is purpose-built to protect your home’s most essential, always-on appliance. It can be set up once and remain ready, and switches to battery power in under 10 milliseconds, fast enough that your refrigerator’s compressor never registers a gap. With 1024Wh capacity, FridgeGuard delivers up to 15 hours of runtime (or 30 hours with an expansion battery).

Solar-powered generators to depend on

Jackery’s home backup solutions have LiFePO4 battery chemistry engineered to retain at least 70% of their capacity after 4,000 full operating cycles (Solar Generator 5000 Plus) and 6,000 full operating cycles (HomePower 3600 Plus), about an 11-year and 16-year average lifespan, respectively. They offer eco-friendly, off-grid recharging via solar panels or vehicle setups for everything from short-term outages to long-term emergencies.

Don’t let the next heatwave leave you powerless. Check out all the energy backup solutions at Jackery.com.

2026-08-14T16:37:00

(BPT) – Back-to-school season can bring excitement, a fresh routine … and a long shopping list that can squeeze your family’s budget. And this school year is set to be more expensive than ever before.

According to PwC’s 2026 US Consumer Poll on Back-to-School Shopping, parents expect to spend an average of $922 this year, and nearly half (47%) say they plan to spend more than they did in 2025.

Technology has become an important part of the equation. From coordinating school pickups to sending a reminder about band practice, or accessing digital school resources and communicating with teachers, technology plays a big part in families’ everyday lives. But as costs rise, families are looking for ways to spend smarter. Deloitte’s recent back-to-school survey found that parents are planning to cut technology spending by 16% this year as they put off device upgrades. This makes finding the right value especially important.

So, how can families get the technology and connectivity they need without further straining their back-to-school budgets? One place to start is with their wireless provider.

Metro by T-Mobile is helping families stay connected while sticking to their budgets during one of the most expensive times of the year and beyond. With affordable wireless plans, value-packed device offers and weekly perks, families can find practical ways to save while keeping students connected at school, at home and everywhere in between.

Value-packed device offers

A new school year can be a good time to upgrade a student’s device, but the cost can add up quickly. The good news is that customers who bring their number to Metro now can get a free Samsung Galaxy A37 5G with no activation fees — a $450 value — on the $40 PERIOD plan. Combined with unlimited 5G data and a five-year price guarantee on talk, text and 5G data, families can have peace of mind knowing how much they’ll pay each month for their wireless plan.

Affordable family plans

When it comes to choosing a wireless plan, you need one that makes life easier and more affordable. That’s why Metro offers affordable plans designed to help families stay connected during busy school days, after-school activities and everyday check-ins.

For families with loved ones abroad, Metro also offers unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and select Latin American countries on select plans, making it easier to stay in touch with grandparents and other family members no matter where they are. It’s just one more way Metro delivers value without compromise.

Weekly savings beyond wireless

An affordable family plan and device upgrade offers are just the beginning. Metro customers also get access to T-Mobile Tuesdays offers, including giveaways, discounts at restaurants and more. For families already juggling school supplies, after-school activities and everyday expenses, these weekly offers provide additional ways to save and add a little fun during the school week.

Stay connected while sticking to your budget

Back-to-school shopping may be expensive, but staying connected doesn’t have to be. With affordable plans, smart device offers and weekly savings, Metro helps families stay connected while making room in the budget for whatever else the school year may bring.

To learn more about how you can save this school year without sacrificing connection, visit MetroByT-Mobile.com.

LEGAL: Price guarantee: exceptions apply. $450+ based on Metro device discount and waived activation fee. If you use a lot of data, more than 35GB/mo., you may notice slower speeds when our network is busy. See details at MetroByT-Mobile.com.

2026-08-14T07:01:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• Modern academic pathways can be confusing and riddled with barriers.
• Learners desire an education. However, they’re often hindered by affordability issues, confusion around applications and enrollment, and a disconnect with career relevance.
• Institutions that integrate AI platforms into their processes can boost student enrollment and educational outcomes.

For decades, the college journey followed a similar script: graduate high school, enroll full-time, earn a degree in four years and begin a career. That well-worn path still works for some. However, for millions of students, the path through higher education is no longer linear, and institutions are being challenged to adapt.

Today’s learners are balancing jobs, caregiving responsibilities, rising costs and rapidly changing workforce demands. Some start college and pause. Others transfer schools, return later in life or pursue shorter-term credentials to build new skills. Students now expect education to fit into their lives — not the other way around.

This shift in expectations is forcing colleges and universities to rethink how they support student success. Their focus is no longer on enrollment or graduation rates. It has evolved to prioritize helping learners navigate complex journeys with greater clarity, flexibility and confidence.

The good news is that leading institutions are beginning to embrace new technologies, including AI-powered tools, to create more connected and personalized student experiences. When integrated into application, enrollment and academic planning processes, AI can help simplify complex systems, effectively guide students and provide support throughout the student journey. In short, it allows learners to focus more fully on achieving their educational and career goals.

Obstacles that hinder academic achievement

The path to education presented by conventional institutional processes is filled with many hurdles linked to affordability, clarity and relevance.

Affordability: Cost remains the leading barrier to pursuing higher education. According to the 2025 Student Voice Report from Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, 53% of high school students who do not plan to enroll cited cost as the top deterrent.

Similarly, 56% of opt-outs (individuals who never attended college) said financial uncertainty was the top reason for not attending, and almost a quarter of stop-outs (students who started but didn’t complete a degree) said they could not afford the up-front costs to return to school.

While colleges can’t always lower tuition costs, they can make it easier for students to understand expenses, compare aid options and avoid unexpected financial barriers.

Clarity: Administrative tasks students must complete before and after admission can be confusing and unclear, discouraging students from enrolling or returning to college.

In fact, Ellucian’s report found that many high school students are unsure of how to begin the college application process. Instead of seeking information from universities, students are turning to social media for guidance or entering the workforce directly.

Students considering returning to complete their education were discouraged by unclear academic pathways.

According to Ellucian’s report, only 22% of stop-outs understood their remaining credit requirements, and even fewer (15%) felt confident in the credit transfer process. Also, the majority of students interested in transferring credits expressed uncertainty about how their previously earned credits would be recognized.

That said, many former students are interested in returning to their education. Of the students surveyed, 60% of stop-outs said they would return to college with a clear path to completion.

Relevance: Higher education’s benefits and its connection to future careers aren’t always apparent. When surveyed, many individuals opted out because they believed college was not essential for their career goals. Many also didn’t believe the cost and time investment outweighed the benefits of obtaining a college degree/certificate.

Nondegree options that offer upskilling and reskilling opportunities could be a draw for learners seeking a clearer connection to workforce-relevant pathways — if they were aware of them.

The survey report revealed that more than a quarter of enrolled students had never heard of these alternative offerings. Even among those who had heard of nondegree programs, many couldn’t articulate their purpose or value. However, when informed, many graduates, current college students and opt-outs saw the value in nondegree programs.

How can institutions re-engage learners?

So, the question becomes: How can institutions re-engage learners? It begins with unifying academic, financial and operational processes to simplify the student experience from the first application through graduation day, using an AI-powered system such as Ellucian Student.

When integrated into an institution’s application, enrollment and academic planning processes, AI becomes an ongoing resource for students throughout their educational journey.

AI platforms can automate the educational planning process, helping students better understand which classes meet their degree or certificate requirements and enroll in them each semester. And, as they learn, the platform can provide a transparent map of their educational path, leading to better outcomes.

By offering easy-to-understand financial aid offer letters, automated aid processes and optimized fund utilization, an integrated AI platform can help students better understand the total cost of their education, allowing them to plan how to afford higher education, ultimately reducing the top barrier to student enrollment and persistence.

Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from AI integration. Institutions can improve their efficiency by using AI to automate routine operations, freeing up more time for the human element. When faculty and staff spend less time on operational tasks, they can focus more on students to help learners get on track, stay on track and get ahead.

Just as important, institutions need direct input from students to ensure the technologies and processes they implement truly meet learners’ needs. By sharing their experiences and perspectives, students can help shape more accessible, transparent and effective educational journeys for future generations. Students interested in helping shape the future of higher education technology can join EnlightenED, Ellucian’s student ambassador program. Participants gain opportunities to build career-ready skills, expand their professional networks, contribute their perspectives to conversations about higher education innovation and help influence solutions designed to improve the student experience.