Immaculata University (IU), a faith-based institution in the greater Philadelphia area, recognized that technology was a core driver of institutional success.

Situation

Manual Processes Hinder Strategic Enrollment Goals

As part of its 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, IU prioritized assuring ongoing technological improvements and strengthening resources.

However, until 2024, the university relied on a manual financial aid packaging process that was slow, burdensome, and consumed hundreds of staff hours annually. This administrative inefficiency limited how quickly packages could reach prospective students, preventing the university from gaining a competitive edge in influencing early enrollment decisions. To attract more students and stay competitive, IU needed to modernize its financial aid operations.

The impact of Ferrilli’s strategic approach and technical execution was immediate and transformative.

Solution

An Embedded Strategic Technology Partnership

In March 2024, Immaculata selected Ferrilli as its partner, seeking not just operational oversight but an enterprise partner able to drive innovation and efficiency across university systems. This engagement immediately transitioned from simple IT support to a Strategic Technology Partnership (STP), designed to fully integrate Ferrilli’s expertise with IU’s strategic goals.

Ferrilli was contracted to provide a holistic suite of services, including Triage Services, Assessment and Planning, and Enterprise Applications Managed Services. Leveraging its Leadership & Managed Services model, Ferrilli embedded its team within the IU environment, providing tailored expertise and acting as a strategic partner.

• Strategic Services: Ferrilli’s engagement focused on Business Process Transformation and Enrollment & Retention—two core pillars of the STP model.
• Technology Execution: Ferrilli partnered directly with Financial Aid leadership to identify and execute the most impactful change: implementing auto-packaging in Banner, a critical component of Enterprise Applications & Integrations.

By aligning technology solutions directly with IU’s strategic objective of attracting students, Ferrilli’s experts—acting as innovator and strategist—replaced the existing manual process with a streamlined, modern system.

Results

The impact of Ferrilli’s strategic approach and technical execution was immediate and transformative.

The new Banner auto-packaging capability dramatically accelerated turnaround, allowing IU to complete financial aid packages for up to 500 students at a time. This enhanced operational efficiency and reduced staff burden.

By delivering robust financial aid packages earlier than ever before, IU gained a decisive advantage over competing institutions. This strategic deployment of technology directly translated into:

• Record Enrollment: Immaculata secured its largest freshman and transfer class in university history for Fall 2025.
• Increased Revenue: The boost in enrollment generated increased tuition and fee revenue.
• Competitive Positioning: The partnership strengthened IU’s competitive position and advanced its strategic goal of leveraging technology for long-term growth.

Ferrilli is proud to have provided the on-demand expertise and strategic execution necessary to deliver this outcome, empowering Immaculata University to recruit, retain, and grow through a dedicated Strategic Technology Partnership.