Volunteer State Community College Streamlines Student Data with Slate and Axiom Elite
Volunteer State Community College, located in Gallatin, Tennessee and a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), needed a data solution to eliminate data and process silos across the institution. By implementing Technolutions Slate as their primary CRM, the college aimed to create a campus-wide system to manage the entire student lifecycle—from admissions through graduation. To meet their unique needs, Volunteer State enhanced Slate’s functionality by integrating it with Ellucian Banner, their student information system, using Axiom Elite. This integrated approach created a cohesive data landscape that supports students at every stage of their academic journey.
Tim Amyx, Registrar and Assistant Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Systems, and Leah Balli, Senior Director of Admissions & Strategic Enrollment Systems, led the initiative. Their goal was to deepen the college’s understanding of the student lifecycle and better support students in either transferring to four-year institutions or pursuing stable career paths. With an average fall enrollment of 8,400 students across six major areas of study, Volunteer State needed a system that could scale. Through Slate, they established robust admissions functionality, automated workflows, event and email management, and a strong database foundation. Custom fields, prompts, form creation, and rules enabled them to tailor the platform to meet the needs of their students from inquiry through graduation and beyond.
In addition to a CRM that could serve as a full-campus solution, Volunteer State also required a fully integrated campus solution. They needed a partner who could move data bi-directionally between Slate and Banner while accommodating TBR modifications and custom Banner tables. They chose Axiom Elite and by doing so, the college eliminated data silos and were able to centralize information. Campaigns that once relied on spreadsheets and webforms became accessible across departments. Slate was also expanded to manage prospective student functions such as campus tour scheduling, appointment booking, Encoura ACT loads, state grant data, and financial aid applications. Through Axiom, “Smart” applications were created, pulling data directly into Slate and giving admissions a look into the projected student experience, reducing staff workload and eliminating redundancy.
The impact was immediate. Once integrated with Slate, Volunteer State implemented data-driven processes that improved efficiency and the student experience. Student data from Banner now flows seamlessly into Slate, ensuring that communications became streamlined, reduced bottlenecks and ensured accurate routing of information. The integration also replaced countless hours of manual emails and scheduling with a campaign process that now requires only 30 minutes annually to maintain. Additionally, the Slate portal was fully customized to meet their needs, ensuring accuracy and consistency at the core of all communications.
Volunteer State has also begun leveraging Slate for Student Success initiatives. By consolidating multiple Banner screens into a single view, administrators can now monitor trends, track student engagement, and make more informed decisions about student outcomes. Having accessible student records across multiple portals provides a holistic view of each student, helping staff identify potential challenges early and intervene to ensure a positive academic experience. The benefits extend beyond admissions, enrollment and Student Success. Slate also manages advancement and graduation workflows, supporting customized forms, communications, and progress tracking. Students receive timely updates on requirements, while administrators gain clear insight into achievements and readiness for graduation. Commencement badges and progress markers ensure nothing is overlooked, further supporting Volunteer State’s commitment to student success.
By integrating Slate with Banner through Axiom Elite, Volunteer State Community College transformed its data management into a fully connected ecosystem that drives efficiency, accuracy, while benefitting both student success and advancement. What began as a solution to admissions silos has evolved into a comprehensive, campus-wide system that supports every stage of the student journey. This integration not only streamlines processes and reduces administrative workload but also empowers faculty and staff with actionable insights, ensuring students have the resources and guidance needed to thrive academically and beyond.