How University of Vermont Reduced Melt at the Finish Line with Navigate360’s Agent Campaigns

University of Vermont (UVM) entered summer 2026 experiencing stronger-than-expected demographic headwinds.

Retention was tracking 1.6 percentage points (pp) below the prior year, while enrollment also fell short of projections, contributing to an anticipated budget shortfall. Despite staff spending the summer reaching out to students through email campaigns, mass texts, and other traditional methods, roughly 200 active students remained unregistered for any Fall 2026 courses.

Three weeks before classes began, UVM partnered with EAB to launch three Navigate360 Agent Campaigns that included 202 unregistered students.

The agent sent personalized, two-way text messages and used students’ responses to understand what might be preventing them from registering. Using university-approved information and response rules, it answered routine questions, shared resources, and guided students to the appropriate offices. With routine questions handled, staff could focus on helping students resolve more complex barriers, such as registration holds, financial concerns, and advising needs.

During the campaigns’ three-week run, UVM successfully reengaged students who had not responded to months of traditional outreach and saw 76 students register for an average of nearly 13 credits each.

The agent also identified common barriers to registration as well as which students already transferred or decided not to enroll. This allowed staff to stop unnecessary follow-up and focus on students who still needed help enrolling. The agent acted as both a scalable enrollment nudge and an early-warning triage layer.