University of the Southwest Gains a Competitive Edge

With the costs of education rising and the higher ed world shifting toward digital, University of the Southwest needed new ways to maintain their competitive edge. The College of Business stepped up to the challenge.

To come up with the right solution, they first asked all the right questions. “We painted this picture of what we want the future university to look like, and once you crack that vision, you help people understand why [educational innovation] has to happen. College is expensive, and it can be hard to justify the price. If we don’t move in the direction of innovation, what’s our place 10 years from now? We got a group of academics together and we decided to ask things like, ‘What does it mean for us when print media goes away?’ Rather than stay in our comfort zone, we are collectively deciding that innovation isn’t a threat. It means being more efficient, having higher graduation and retention rates, and better student satisfaction. In this instance we were looking for a way to embed content in the classes that students wouldn’t have to pay for themselves.”

That’s why Dr. Tipton piloted Cengage Unlimited for Institutions in the College of Business, which gave their students access to eBooks, online learning platforms and dedicated support for one subscription price.

At University of the Southwest, the College of Business was a natural starting point. Its faculty became the internal champions for Cengage Unlimited. “It was easily adopted simply because the people who created this department are innovators with private sector experience and understand that you have to be an early adopter.”

The adoption of Cengage Unlimited started with The College of Business, but it didn’t stop there. Now, every student at the University of the Southwest has access to course materials and resources through Cengage Unlimited for Institutions.

“Ultimately we saved money and time and were able to bring in the other schools and get more students using it.”

With Cengage Unlimited, Dr. Tipton and his team put a simple, flexible, all-inclusive digital solution into action. “Everything’s included. When you book an all-inclusive vacation, for example, your hotel, flights and food are all included and everything’s ready to go. That’s us. When you apply, you have one point of contact. You pay your tuition; we give you a computer and you’re ready to go. Of course, there’s a whole team of people behind the scenes making it happen. “

And the results? Their all-inclusive approach with Cengage Unlimited for Institutions made a positive impact. In a span of just three years, the graduation rate at University of the Southwest rose from 16%—well below their peer benchmark—to 29%. Plus, since 2018, students at the University of the Southwest have saved over $1 million with Cengage Unlimited for Institutions.