How Purdue Northwest scaled personalized support and increased enrollment with Gravyty
Key stats
97%
accuracy
Success rate in delivering accurate responses
100k
questions
Student questions answered automatically
9%
increase
In accepted students
40%
inquiries
Came after hours, and 16% on weekends
About Purdue Northwest
Purdue University Northwest (PNW), a regional campus in the Purdue University system, serves a diverse student body across two campuses in Northwest Indiana.
Purdue University Northwest is a public university with campuses in Hammond and Westville, Indiana, serving approximately 6,000 students and a global alumni network of nearly 65,000. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution and part of the Purdue University system, PNW is known for combining academic excellence with real-world experience to support a diverse student population, including a high percentage of first-generation and Hispanic/Latino students. The university is deeply committed to access, innovation, and community impact—preparing students to thrive in a competitive, global world.
The challenge: Rising demand for personalized support
PNW, like many institutions, faced mounting operational pressures. Their teams were inundated with student inquiries, especially during peak enrollment cycles, making it difficult to respond quickly and consistently. Staff were spending too much time on repetitive questions, leaving less time for the high-touch conversations that drive enrollment and student success. Additionally, disconnected data systems limited their ability to deliver personalized information at scale. The team needed a solution that could provide around-the-clock support, reach students on their preferred channels, and reduce the burden on frontline staff.
The solution: Smart support that scales
To solve these challenges, PNW implemented Ivy & Ocelot from Gravyty (formerly Ocelot), a student engagement and AI communications platform. By integrating Gravyty with their core systems, Banner and Slate, the university was able to centralize communications and deliver more targeted, timely responses. Students could now get help 24/7 via chat, text, and email, without waiting for office hours or navigating complex systems.
The team also built out video and multilingual content to improve accessibility and better serve first-generation and ESL students.
Heather Zamojski,
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Success Technologies, Purdue University Northwest
Perhaps most importantly, the platform required minimal maintenance. PNW didn’t need to grow their tech team or dedicate significant time to upkeep. Gravyty handled the heavy lifting, allowing their staff to focus on what they do best: supporting students.
The outcome
With Gravyty, Purdue Northwest transformed their approach to student engagement, proving that even lean teams can deliver high-impact experiences at scale. By automating responses and reaching students across multiple channels, the university streamlined operations, improved access, and drove measurable outcomes.
- Over 100,000 student questions answered automatically
- 97% success rate in delivering accurate responses
- 40% of inquiries came after hours, and 16% on weekends, highlighting the demand for 24/7 support
- Housing applications filled one month early, thanks to proactive reminders
- 9% rise in accepted students, driven by two-way messaging and Banner + Slate integrations
- 5% enrollment increase, attributed to timely, personalized communication
These operational and enrollment gains reflect real impact on student success and equity. By enabling personalized, always-on support (without adding headcount), Purdue University Northwest delivered a more inclusive and responsive student experience. With multilingual options, mobile access, and AI-powered automation, they expanded access and improved satisfaction at scale.
Solution spotlight
Gravyty provides AI-powered solutions that connect and support the entire student and donor lifecycle. Serving over 2,700 education and nonprofit organizations, Gravyty helps institutions foster deeper connections, enhance engagement, and drive lasting impact.
Ivy & Ocelot from Gravyty empowers enrollment teams to create always-on, high-touch communication—without increasing staff workload. From multilingual chatbot support to data-powered content improvements, Ivy & Ocelot helps higher education institutions like Purdue University Northwest drive meaningful engagement, streamline support, and ultimately increase enrollment yield. Get a personalized demo to see how Ivy & Ocelot from Gravyty can transform your student engagement strategy.
