The importance of outsourcing within higher education today: how institutions can customize their internal focus.

The Nelnet philosophy is simple and powerful; provide higher education institutions with an array of products and services that are designed to dramatically enhance the overall effectiveness and efficiencies of student-based services across the campus continuum. Furthermore, it is recognized and embraced that each institution is unique, and must be treated with a distinctive level of respect and understanding. Solutions within today's marketplace must be tailored to the individualistic and personalized outcomes that students, staff, and parents have become accustomed to experiencing in their daily lives, both on- and off-campus. As a result, Nelnet stands at the leading edge of an emerging trend within higher education providing institutions with the ability to utilize select areas across campus that provide the greatest outsourcing value to the entire campus community.

For years, much debate has raged within the realm of student-based services, specifically to the outsourcing of such services to third parties. However, when examining the traditional models of services, it becomes clear as to why institutions should consider migrating in this direction--namely the attainment of an increased level of customizable focus. At Nelnet, methods build upon this principle, expanding the institution's ability to re-deploy existing resources to meet an array of strategic opportunities and challenges that are currently presenting themselves on-campus.

For example, the Nelnet Financial Aid Solutions Team provides an outsourced call center for institutions, staffed exclusively with seasoned industry professionals. Team counselors have the ability to provide customized answers to students and parents, both on the telephone and via the Web. This solution interfaces directly with the institution's respective student information or enterprise-wide system. As a result, Nelnet has provided institutions with the ability to dramatically enhance their overall level of internal and external customer service, since campus administrators are no longer spending valuable time returning voice-mail and/or e-mail. Rather, campus administrators are able to expedite loan--processing times, resulting in enhanced cash management and reduced outstanding accounts receivables. Simultaneously, campus administrators are able to recapture their time-intensive counseling roots by providing more of a personalized counseling approach tot those students and families that require greater attention to detail due to the complexity of their financial situation.

Although Nelnet is best known for innovative products and services within the financial aid realm, its proven outsourcing philosophy and methodology extends to other areas of campus, namely Student Financial Services and Admissions/Enrollment Management. With next-generation structure and strategically allied partnerships, Nelnet's ability to provide institutions with innovative solutions in the realm of collections, cash management, e-commerce, e-recruitment, and predictive modeling continues to remain unparalleled. As institutions continue to plan for the future, a forward-thinking partner becomes increasingly paramount. Nelnet's outsourcing line of products and services provide institutions with the customizable focus they crave, while simultaneously providing the campus with an ability to redirect resources toward the greater good of the campus community at-large.

To learn more about Nelnet and their solutions, please take a moment to visit us on the Web, specifically at www.CampusSolutions.net.

We value Nelnet's business philosophy and its untiring commitment to provide support and assistance to the Hampton University Community, which is an irresistible mix.

We believe that our colleagues at Nelnet have provided us with great insight with a very important business technique called process mapping, which helps us with the overall refining of our in-house financial aid and business practices. This contribution alone has shown us how to effectively increase our financial aid delivery process.

Marcia Boyd Director of Financial Aid Hampton University Hampton, Virginia