Company: Watermark
Company Description: Watermark gives higher education institutions the tools they need to easily track, manage, and examine their data. For over twenty years, colleges and universities have used Watermark solutions to complete assessment and accreditation requirements, capture and analyze student feedback, showcase faculty accomplishments, and improve student engagement.
Nomination Category: New Product & Service Categories - Education
Nomination Sub Category: Postsecondary Enterprise Solution
 Nomination Title: Watermark’s Educational Impact Suite
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated new or new-version product or service, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
N/A
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: If this is a brand-new product, state the date on which it was released. If this is a new version of an existing product, state the date on which the update was released:
Watermark’s Educational Impact Suite (EIS) was officially rolled out in 2023, putting data into context so faculty and staff can focus on what really matters: institutional and student success. However, the previously disparate solutions that make up the EIS are the result of M&A spanning the past two decades.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product or service (up to 350 words):
Total 313 words used.
Watermark's Educational Impact Suite (EIS) represents a pioneering solution within the higher education sector, addressing the pervasive challenge of digital sprawl—where institutions accumulate a variety of software solutions that address individual issues but fail to provide a cohesive, overarching strategy for improvement and growth. EIS emerges as a comprehensive suite of tools designed to unify these disparate elements, offering a single, integrated platform that facilitates institutional leadership, student success, and continuous improvement.
Key features of EIS include its ability to integrate and streamline essential processes related to accreditation management, assessment activities, faculty activity reporting, course evaluations, surveys, and curriculum and catalog management. Its functionality extends to enhancing student success and retention, offering predictive analytics and AI-driven insights to support student engagement throughout their educational journey.
The benefits of adopting EIS are multifaceted. Institutions gain a unified system that offers real-time insights into operational performance, student progress, and overall institutional health. This not only supports strategic decision-making but also empowers faculties with the tools and data necessary to align with institutional goals and objectives. For students, EIS offers a more connected and supportive educational experience underpinned by data-driven interventions aimed at improving outcomes and success rates.
Moreover, EIS addresses the critical need for institutions to effectively tell their story. EIS facilitates a richer, more nuanced narrative around student success, program efficacy, and institutional impact by integrating data across various functions. This is particularly valuable for historically underfunded institutions and those serving disenfranchised communities, for whom effective storytelling is essential for accreditation, funding, and community engagement.
In essence, EIS stands as a beacon for educational innovation, offering a path forward for institutions seeking to navigate the complexities of modern higher education landscapes. By simplifying the integration of technology and processes, EIS enables higher education institutions to focus on their core mission: delivering impactful educational experiences that prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving world.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable (up to 350 words):
Total 214 words used.
Since its inception, the Educational Impact Suite (EIS) by Watermark has seen remarkable market performance and positive critical reception. Watermark’s market performance is underscored by a significant increase in multi-product win rates, from 20.4% in 2022 to 32.7% in 2023 in dollar terms, and a similar uptrend in unit sales. This growth trajectory indicates a robust demand and a strong market position for EIS among higher education institutions. Notably, client engagement and usage have also seen considerable growth, with institutions accessing Leader Insights growing quarter over quarter by about 25%, and user growth at around 35%.
Critical reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with EIS receiving acclaim for its comprehensive approach to unifying higher education technology solutions. Client feedback highlights the suite's efficiency in addressing institutional storytelling, its ability to generate essential data points for better narrative construction, and its role in simplifying the user experience for faculty, thereby enhancing their engagement and alignment with institutional missions.
Customer satisfaction is another strong point for EIS, with client satisfaction scores consistently hitting 100% in support areas in 2023 and an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 for services. These figures not only attest to the quality and reliability of EIS but also to its impact in fostering educational improvement and student success.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 230 words used.
This submission is supported by a comprehensive array of materials that collectively underscore the value and impact of the Educational Impact Suite (EIS). These include e-books and blogs focused on Watermark’s EIS philosophy, and detailed case studies from the University of Alabama, Haywood Community College, Montreat College, and Florida National University. These case studies highlight the practical application and benefits of EIS in addressing specific institutional needs.
Additionally, customer satisfaction metrics provide quantitative evidence of EIS's effectiveness and the high level of support provided to clients. The continuous enhancement cycle based on client feedback, with a 97% predictability of quarterly release forecasts, further demonstrates Watermark's commitment to evolving EIS in alignment with user needs and market demands.
“Client feedback is routinely evaluated and released to clients as enhancements every two to four weeks with 97% predictability of the quarterly release forecast. Much of the client feedback has been complementary to existing roadmap plans.” - Monica Joy Krol, Director of Product Management at Watermark Insights.
These materials collectively serve as a robust foundation for the claims made in this nomination, illustrating the tangible benefits of EIS in improving institutional performance, educational quality, and student success. They not only showcase the innovative capabilities of EIS but also highlight Watermark's role as a leader in educational technology solutions, dedicated to empowering higher education institutions to achieve their mission and maximize their impact.
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