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Ellucian Celebrates Transformative Achievements at the 2026 Impact Awards

On April 22, 2026, Ellucian, a leader in higher education technology, revealed the winners of its eighth annual Impact Award at the Ellucian Live conference. This program commends institutions that are pioneers in utilizing technology to advance student success and operational efficiencies. The 2026 winners exhibited outstanding innovation through the effective application of Ellucian's data-centric, SaaS solutions.

Honoring Institutions Leading with Innovation

Laura Ipsen, the President and CEO of Ellucian, highlighted the significance of the 2026 winners in redefining higher education: “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.” The awards celebrate four categories: Students First, Unlocking the Power of Data, Shaping the Future through SaaS, and Institutional Agility, each awarding $25,000 USD to support ongoing innovations and initiatives for student success.

Winners by Category

1. Shaping the Future through SaaS: St. John's University - Queens, N.Y.
St. John's University received accolades for its comprehensive SaaS transformation through Project Genesis, which modernized its core systems for students, finance, and HR. The institution retired nearly 800 customizations, resulting in a 20% decrease in support requests and significant time savings for faculty and staff. With processing times for financial aid and grade changes drastically reduced, the university achieved approximately 99.99% uptime, positioning it for future innovation.

2. Students First: Florida Polytechnic University - Lakeland, Fla.
Florida Polytechnic was praised for enhancing the student experience via its digital platform, MyFloridaPoly. This unified hub simplified access to vital academic and administrative resources, leading to an 85% reduction in login barriers and a 70% increase in mobile use among students. The digital transformation also significantly cut infrastructure costs and fostered a continual environment for student success.

3. Unlocking the Power of Data: Rend Lake College - Ina, Ill.
Rend Lake College was recognized for revolutionizing its state reporting process by transitioning from manual data management to an automated, data-centric workflow. This initiative expanded data collection, improving response rates and increasing student involvement while eliminating extensive manual entry. The financial impact was significant, supporting a 5% growth in enrollment, showcasing how targeted data initiatives enhance operational efficiency and success.

4. Institutional Agility: American University of Beirut - Beirut, Lebanon
The American University of Beirut exemplified exceptional agility in operations, leveraging Ellucian solutions during challenging times. The inception of AUB Online extended its offerings while increasing tuition revenue and user adoption of digital services. The institution drastically cut support tickets and expedited registration processes, showcasing a resilient educational model capable of adapting to global challenges.

Looking Ahead

These transformative narratives underscore the potential of technology in academia. As Ellucian continues to partner with roughly 3,000 institutions around the globe, serving over 21 million students, its commitment to enhancing the educational experience remains unwavering. The trends set by the Impact Award winners illustrate a bright future for higher education, fueled by innovation and a focus on student-centric approaches. To delve deeper into how Ellucian solutions can empower education, visit Ellucian's official site.