RNL enrollment and financial aid models
| Submitted | July 12, 2022 |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
1) All university contracts and statements of work with Ruffalo, Noel, Levitz (RNL) since Jan. 1, 2018 for enrollment management and financial aid optimization services.
2) The following documents and 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 the university's ForecastPlus models, the models' performance, and the ForecastPlus scores assigned to each zip code/area/student. For your reference, I've attached an excerpt of one of these reports from another school.
- Class Optimizer and financial aid model reports for each academic year. 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.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
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 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Tom Nash, a citizen of Virginia, in coordination with Todd Feathers.
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Bloomsburg_University_2021_Search_Analysis_report.xlsx
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Virginia Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 12, 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: Virginia Commonwealth University
Dear Mr. Nash and Mr. Feathers,
This email is sent to notify you that due to the volume of requests and
staff availability, VCU will require the additional seven work days allowed
for response pursuant to Va. Code ยง2.2-3704(B)(4) as it is not practically
possible to provide the requested records or determine whether or not they
are available within the five work day period. You should expect a final
response by close of business Thursday, July 28. Thank you.
Best,
*Michele S. Howell*
FOIA Officer
Virginia Commonwealth University
University Public Affairs
912 W. Grace St./ P.O. Box 842041
Richmond, VA 23284-2041
804-827-3909 (Direct)
804-828-1463 (Main)
From: Virginia Commonwealth University
Dear Mr. Nash and Mr. Feathers,
I owe you a response to your request below, however, it will not be ready
by end of business today. I expect to have it to you Monday, August 1 if
not tomorrow. My sincere apologies for the delay and any inconvenience
this may cause. Thank you.
Best,
*Michele S. Howell*
FOIA Officer
Virginia Commonwealth University
University Public Affairs
912 W. Grace St./ P.O. Box 842041
Richmond, VA 23284-2041
804-827-3909 (Direct)
804-828-1463 (Main)
From: Virginia Commonwealth University
Dear Mr. Nash and Mr. Feathers,
As you know, this office received your request for information below. For
ease of reference, VCU's responses appear in blue following each item of
your request. Thank you.
1) All university contracts and statements of work with Ruffalo, Noel,
Levitz (RNL) since Jan. 1, 2018 for enrollment management and financial aid
optimization services.
VCU identified three records responsive to this request: (1) Executed
Financial Aid Award Consulting MSA SOW 10012021 (expires October 1, 2022);
(2) SIGNED - Executed VCU-Ruffalo Noel Levitz SOW 3.25.2020 (expired
4/30/2021); and (3) Virginia Commonwealth
U_VA_EM_SOW1_AFAS_Revised20171018+(2)+(1) (expired September 30, 2020).
2) The following documents and 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 the university's ForecastPlus models, the models'
performance, and the ForecastPlus scores assigned to each zip
code/area/student. For your reference, I've attached an excerpt of one of
these reports from another school.
A search of VCU records returned no Forecast Plus model reports.
Therefore, the requested records do not exist.
- Class Optimizer and financial aid model reports for each academic year.
Like the previous reports, these detail the inputs, outputs, and functions
of the financial aid simulation models RNL builds.
A search of VCU records returned no Class Optimizer reports. Therefore,
the requested records do not exist.
- Annual Demand Builder and Econometric modeling reports.
The requested records do not exist as to 2018 and 2019. However, a search
of VCU records returned three (3) Demand Builder reports and four (4)
Econometric reports that are partially responsive to this request: (1)
Interim Conversion Summary - Jan 19 2021_RNL; (2) Interim Conversion
Summary - March 17 2021_RNL; and (3) VCU CY 20-21 campaign summary -
4-28-21_RNL; (4) Ruffalo Noel Levist Fall 20 Outcomes and Planning for Fall
21_Session 10121; (5) Ruffalo Noel Levitz March 31 Admissions Team Scenario
Review; (6) Ruffalo Noel Levitz Need-based Simulations First Generation
College Students Feb 22 2021; and (7) Ruffalo Noel Levitz New Student
Awarding Strategies Fall 2022 March 25, 2021. VCU Financial Aid and
Scholarships did not utilize any data provided by Ruffalo Noel Levitz to
determine and/or implement systemic changes to financial aid award
packaging strategies.
Best,
*Michele S. Howell*
FOIA Officer
Virginia Commonwealth University
University Public Affairs
912 W. Grace St./ P.O. Box 842041
Richmond, VA 23284-2041
804-827-3909 (Direct)
804-828-1463 (Main)
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