RNL enrollment and financial aid models
| Submitted | July 8, 2022 |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
1) All contracts with Ruffalo, Noel, Levitz (RNL) since Jan. 1, 2018 for enrollment management and financial aid optimization services.
2) The following documents/reports provided to the university by RNL since Jan. 1, 2018:
- ForecastPlus model reports for each academic year. These reports describe the input variables for each market's ForecastPlus model, the model's performance, and the ForecastPlus scores assigned to each zip code/area/student.
- Financial aid optimization model reports for each academic years. Like the previous reports, these detail the inputs, outputs, and functions of the financial aid simulation models RNL builds.
- Annual Demand Builder and Econometric modeling reports.
I ask that all fees be waived as intend to use the requested records to further public understanding of public agencies and not for any commercial purpose. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employee involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.
Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of responsive documents, I ask that you provide a detailed breakdown of the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 8, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Salem State University
Dear Mr. Feather,
Salem State University is still in the process of compiling and reviewing records responsive to your request below. I am hereby requesting a time extension. If you agree, Salem State will provide a response no later than July 29, 2022. Please advise as to whether you are agreeable to this extension.
Thanks,
Rita
RITA P. COLUCCI, Esq.
GENERAL COUNSEL
978.542.8600
(she/her/hers)
SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970-5353
salemstate.edu<http://salemstate.edu/>
This email message and any attachments are confidential and may be attorney-client privileged. Information contained in this message is intended solely for the person or entity named above. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by reply email or phone at 978.542.8600, and delete this email and any attachments. Thank you for your cooperation.
From: Todd Feathers
Hello Rita,
Yes, that's a fine extension. Thank you very much for the help!
Todd
From: Salem State University
To Whom It May Concern,
With regard to your public records request, please see as follows:
Request 1) All contracts with Ruffalo, Noel, Levitz (RNL) since Jan. 1, 2018 for enrollment management and financial aid optimization services.
Please see attached
Request 2) The following documents/reports provided to the university by RNL since Jan. 1, 2018:
- ForecastPlus model reports for each academic year. These reports describe the input variables for each market's ForecastPlus model, the model's performance, and the ForecastPlus scores assigned to each zip code/area/student.
- Financial aid optimization model reports for each academic years. Like the previous reports, these detail the inputs, outputs, and functions of the financial aid simulation models RNL builds.
- Annual Demand Builder and Econometric modeling reports.
1. 2018-19 AFAS Tracking System Summary - The university is precluded from disclosing this record pursuant to language in its contract with Ruffalo Noel Levitz with regard to the release of confidential information. The university is also precluded from disclosing this record pursuant to MGL c. 4 section 7(26)(d), which provides for the exclusion of information that is deliberative and used to develop policy positions by the agency. The records you are seeking contain information that constitute "opinion" and are used by Salem State to create its policy around student recruitment and retention.
2. Salem State Forecast Plus Model January 2018 slide deck - The university is precluded from disclosing this record pursuant to language in its contract with Ruffalo Noel Levitz with regard to the release of confidential information. The university is also precluded from disclosing this record pursuant to MGL c. 4 section 7(26)(d), which provides for the exclusion of information that is deliberative and used to develop policy positions by the agency. The records you are seeking contain information that constitute "opinion" and are used by Salem State to create its policy around student recruitment and retention.
Best,
Rita
RITA P. COLUCCI, Esq.
GENERAL COUNSEL
978.542.8600
(she/her/hers)
SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970-5353
salemstate.edu<http://salemstate.edu/>
This email message and any attachments are confidential and may be attorney-client privileged. Information contained in this message is intended solely for the person or entity named above. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by reply email or phone at 978.542.8600, and delete this email and any attachments. Thank you for your cooperation.
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