logo
Watermark Launches AI-Powered Instructor Insights, Honors Institutions Driving Student Success Fueled by Innovation

Watermark Launches AI-Powered Instructor Insights, Honors Institutions Driving Student Success Fueled by Innovation

Yahoo5 days ago

WASHINGTON, June 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watermark Insights' annual Engage conference brought together higher education and accreditation leaders in Washington, D.C. This year's theme, "Tell Your Story," recognized colleges and universities facing increasing pressure to demonstrate clear impact in a complex environment. The conference reinforced Watermark's commitment to helping institutions showcase their achievements, driving student and institutional success.
Representatives from national accreditors explored the evolving role of accreditation and the importance of continuous improvement. Panelists emphasized that institutions that combine strong data practices with compelling framing are well positioned to demonstrate their achievements, contributions and drive ongoing improvement.
Watermark unveiled several new enhancements designed to drive faculty professional growth, simplify cumbersome tasks through system integration, and make institutional outcomes easier to see and share. Some of these enhancements include:
Instructor Insights for Course Evaluations
The first of its kind in course evaluation and survey solutions, this capability, powered by AI, transforms student feedback into clear, actionable insights helping instructors quickly identify strengths and areas for growth.
Watermark Planning & Self-Study Integrations
New connections with D2L and Council for Advancement of Standards (CAS) streamline assessment workflows, making it easier to measure outcomes and demonstrate institutional effectiveness in one place.
Watermark Faculty Success Redesign
A refreshed and modern interface and interactive CV view improve the way faculty track achievements and navigate reviews, spending more time on student initiatives and less on administrative burden.
Engage award winners announced
At this year's Engage Conference, Watermark honored three institutions that are driving innovation and delivering meaningful results on campus.
Insights Award: Texas State University
Texas State University was honored for its exceptional use of data to inform strategic decisions and improve outcomes. By making assessment and student feedback data more accessible and actionable, the university has empowered faculty and staff to better support student success. This work is supported by Watermark solutions including Faculty Success, Student Learning & Licensure, the SL&L Data Export Service, and Course Evaluations & Surveys.
Innovation Award: Mohawk Valley Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College received the Innovation Award for achieving full campus adoption of a centralized planning and assessment process in just six months. Its bold leadership and collaborative approach were supported by the creative use of Watermark's Planning & Self-Study solution.
Impact Award: Harris-Stowe State University
Harris-Stowe State University was recognized for achieving measurable improvements in student outcomes, faculty support, and operational efficiency. The university moved from fragmented processes to a unified and data-informed approach using Watermark's suite of solutions.
"Every year at Engage, I'm reminded of the heart and purpose behind the work happening on campuses," said Erin Shy, CEO of Watermark. "Our customers are meeting complex challenges with creativity and care, and we're here to make sure our technology helps them do it better."
To learn more about Watermark, visit www.watermarkinsights.com.
About Watermark
Watermark gives higher education institutions the tools they need to easily track, manage, and examine their data. For over twenty years, colleges and universities have used Watermark solutions to complete assessment and accreditation requirements, capture and analyze student feedback, showcase faculty accomplishments, and improve student engagement. Watermark's Educational Impact Suite (EIS) puts data into context so faculty and staff can focus on what really matters: institutional and student success. Learn why Watermark is trusted by over 1,700 colleges and universities to support continuous improvement at www.watermarkinsights.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250605559972/en/
Contacts
Media ContactLindsey Gilllgill@watermarkinsights.com

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Future of Mercedes-AMG Is Maybach-less
The Future of Mercedes-AMG Is Maybach-less

Newsweek

time14 hours ago

  • Newsweek

The Future of Mercedes-AMG Is Maybach-less

Michael Schiebe is running two divisions of Mercedes-Benz that have unique buyer sets, Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach. AMG is the performance arm of the company and Maybach has super luxury vehicle buyers. Though they have one brand boss, they won't ever combine. "We will never, ever put those brands together, because they are different brands, and they are very special, and they are unique," Schiebe told Newsweek. The publication named Schiebe its World's Greatest Auto Disruptors Visionary Disruptor of the Year this year. Maybach and AMG are on similar paths, tasked with redefining themselves in customers' eyes as the brands find themselves part of the larger Mercedes-Benz technology and sustainability stories. While AMG is tasked with pushing the performance limits of the possible, Maybach is redefining what limits are for the company's most exclusive client set. Making a car an AMG or a Maybach isn't just about slapping upgraded finishes or parts on an existing Mercedes-Benz model. "Just to give you an example, when we turn an SL into a Maybach... We have different components in the car, different software, different suspension. We define certain criteria that a Maybach needs to fulfill to be a real Maybach, and if it doesn't fulfill this requirement, it does not qualify. We will never, ever sacrifice our high ambition for the requirements we have," Schiebe explained. Big Pilot's Watch and the Mercedes-AMG G 63. Big Pilot's Watch and the Mercedes-AMG G 63. Mercedes-AMG As the next generation of Mercedes-Benz cars comes to market, fresh platforms and power approaches will allow Maybachs to take on new levels of luxury. "I would say they should stay tuned when it comes to technology, because all the next generations of our existing portfolios and new cars, our job is to make it a Maybach. It doesn't matter whether it's an S-Class or it's a GLS, or whatever future portfolio position. They will become more comfortable than they are today," Schiebe said. "If you buy Maybach, you don't want to have the mainstream car. You want to differentiate yourself. This is why Maybach cars will never be like high-volume cars. It's a very, I would say, unique customer group. They want to show that they differ or differentiate themselves from mainstream customers. This is why, of course, the Maybach is also in a different price league than just our mainstream cars." Customers should not expect Maybach to be anything other than true to itself while pushing forward. "Talking about the future, I would say it's part of our job to constantly review the portfolio," Schiebe said. "I would say we can go further down with our [special] editions. We have been very successful with the Virgil Ablow edition... I see there is further room for, let's say, very special, low volume, very specific editions," Schiebe divulged. The Limited Edition Maybach by Virgil Abloh debuted in 2022 and was based on the S-Class sedan. The Mercedes-Maybach SL Monogram Series parked in Ibiza. The Mercedes-Maybach SL Monogram Series parked in Ibiza. Mercedes-Maybach Schiebe also hinted at a "small volume, special series" that is in the works, but refused to say which of the five Maybachs currently for sale (EQS Sedan, EQS SUV, S-Class, GLS-Class and SL-Class) would be part of the project. "[Special editions] fulfill different roles," Head of Mercedes-Maybach Daniel Lescow, told Newsweek. "Certainly, they help to draw attention to the brand, especially if we do it in a combination with the collaboration. It is a part of the brand building that is a building block." "Fortunately, we have seen the brand awareness rising over the past years. That's a very, very positive development. These editions certainly have a play in that... Customers who really want to go for that very, very, very special offer, and they find this in the editions," Lescow continued. Mercedes-Maybach will enhance the luxury of its in-person experience, a process that has been underway for the last decade. "We started with the atelier in Shanghai, which is a dedicated brand space. It's important to have people there, sales personnel, that can fully indulge into the Maybach world and are able to explain not only the car, but also the brand philosophy and the brand history. And this space in particular is the essence of the brand aesthetic. If you enter that space... you immediately get an understanding what the brand stands for," Lesow said. Much of the atelier experience comes down to appealing to a customer's senses — whether it's the smell of one of the brand's signature scents, the taste of a made-to-order espresso, the feel of supple leather options for the interior of a bespoke model or show cars that serve as inspiration. Maybach has their sights set on a level of service you'd find at a high-end hotel or restaurant. "You come in, we know you as our customers, and we treat you like in a five-star restaurant. We know what you want before you come to us and then we're going show it to you," Schiebe explained. Bottles from the Mercedes-Maybach Haute Parfumerie collection. Bottles from the Mercedes-Maybach Haute Parfumerie collection. Mercedes-Maybach Brand centers are designed to go further. The company is opening its first in Seoul, "A space in the middle of the very busy Gangnam area, a very stylish area in the middle of the top shopping [district]. This will be a very, very important expression of the brand," Lescow said. With its upgraded client services offerings, the Maybach brand is looking to raise the bar on super luxury car buying, besting those long considered the leads in the business, like Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Bentley.

'Race to the bottom': Why Rolls-Royce is not chasing volume like its competitors

time3 days ago

'Race to the bottom': Why Rolls-Royce is not chasing volume like its competitors

It's not an easy time to sell cars. Tariffs, recession chatter, political uncertainty -- these factors are upending the sales environment for mainstream and luxury automakers alike. Jon Colbeth, the newly appointed president of Rolls-Royce North America, recognizes these hurdles. He's making a point to reach out to the brand's new and longtime customers to make them feel like family. Every day he checks the company's Whispers app, where owners can connect with each other and yes, message Colbeth at all hours of the day. The app, which launched right before the pandemic, is a "digital extension to the Rolls-Royce marque," according to Rolls executives. "There's probably not many brands where you can pick up your phone and in an instant message the CEO of the company," Colbeth told ABC News. "I respond to all the requests -- I try to get back very quickly. [Clients] like that personal access." Rolls-Royce is in the process of expanding its footprint in Goodwood, England, the location of the brand's global headquarters and factory. The company sold 5,712 vehicles last year, its third-best annual sales result. Colbeth explained that the company is quite content with smaller sales than other top automakers, such as Ferrari and Lamborghini. "Our customers like the fact that we're not going to start chasing volume," he said. Colbeth opened up about his goals for the brand, especially in the U.S., "maintaining the pinnacle of luxury" and why knobs and buttons are more important than ever. The interview below has been edited. Q: What are you hearing from customers? What do they want from the brand right now? A: We've seen a big push toward individuality and bespoke over the last few years, especially with the launch of our Private Office. Clients want their own unique commission. Q: The seems to be an emerging trend of showcasing a brand's logo on a vehicle, such as the hood, which Mercedes-Maybach has done with its SL convertible. Is this something Rolls would consider? A: No. Whether it's our vehicles or it's our accessories, it's more understated. If you look at any of the products we're coming out with, you're not going to see the Rolls-Royce logo plastered over everything. Q: Your predecessor put a lot of effort into attracting a younger clientele and it worked for the brand. What's your focus? A: That will continue. We're looking at different experiences with [clients]. We're always bringing new clients into the brand. When they join Rolls-Royce, they're joining our family and everything that comes along with it. We need to grow the future of Rolls-Royce. We've been around for 120 years ... and we're going to be around for a long time. We're stewards of the brands. Our responsibility is to cherish it. Q: How important are celebrities for branding and marketing? A: We're not a celebrity-based business. We're not going out there and paying a celebrity a significant amount of money to drive a Rolls-Royce. The brand speaks for itself. People are not buying our cars because a celebrity is driving it. We don't want to be the car for everybody. It's not what we're about. We're investing $370 million in our [U.K.] plant extension without making more vehicles. What brand does that? Our focus is adding bespoke capacity and allowing each commission to be more special for clients. Q: What's demand been like for the all-electric Spectre? Are customers still trading in their Teslas for a Spectre? A: It's reaching more of a stabilization phase. I haven't met one customer yet whose driven that car and didn't love it. Spectre is a Rolls-Royce first. It just happens to have an electric drivetrain in it. Q: What's inventory like at U.S. dealers? A: It depends on the dealer. There's probably some inventory out there. Our goal is not to store a lot of inventory. We want the vehicles to be special to our clients. Our customers understand they may have to wait to get what they want. Q: What's demand like for pre-owned Rolls-Royces? A: We've seen an increase in demand this year for pre-owned Rolls-Royces. That's a really important segment to us. That's almost the springboard into a new one. Q: What has Rolls-Royce told customers about pricing related to the tariffs? A: Right now we have price protected everything through the end of June. That's where we're at right now. The most important thing is providing stability to our clients. We've had a relatively cautious approach [toward the tariffs]. The worst thing you can do is make rash decisions that are tough to unwind. Q: As you mentioned, the company is making a huge investment at the Goodwood headquarters. Why not build more cars to boost the bottom line? A: Our customers like the fact that we're not going to start chasing volume. That's not our business model. Once the company starts going after 10,000 cars, then it's 15,000 cars. Then what happens is you expand the plant, now you have to fill it. You have to keep that plant moving. It's a race to the bottom. There are plenty of manufacturers with very expensive cars out there with full showrooms right now. We want to invest in the brand, we want to continue investing in the brand, but we want to grow it with bespoke. If somebody is going to buy a new Rolls-Royce, they want to make sure it's their Rolls-Royce. The only way to do that is to personalize it. A: Our clients love being able to touch the knobs and interact with them. They love when the vents get humidity on them from the AC. Our cars will advance from a technical perspective internally. Once you become too futuristic and this trend with big screens -- it takes away from the client experience a little bit. I would doubt we would see that trend anytime soon.

Marshal McIntosh takes helm as Brownwood city manager
Marshal McIntosh takes helm as Brownwood city manager

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Yahoo

Marshal McIntosh takes helm as Brownwood city manager

BROWNWOOD, Texas () – The City of Brownwood has appointed Marshal McIntosh as city manager, as the previous city manager, Emily Crawford, transitions to Abilene. McIntosh previously served as the city's Deputy City Manager, bringing more than a decade of experience in public service. 'Marshal McIntosh is not only a product of this organization and community, but a key architect of its recent success,' said Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes. 'His appointment is a strategic investment in the future of Brownwood. He brings the vision, capability, and character needed to lead Brownwood confidently into its next chapter.' City of Abilene appoints new city manager City officials say he has been a driving force behind projects such as the Downtown Master Plan, Riverside Park renovation, Brownwood Event Center Complex, and much more. McIntosh joined the city in 2014, moving into the Deputy City Manager position in 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public and Media Communication and a Master of Business Administration from Howard Payne University. He has also completed the Texas Certified Public Manager Program through the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service at Texas State University and Texas Christian University's Certified Public Communicator program from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication. He also holds certifications in economic development from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and in emergency management from FEMA's national disaster and emergency management programs. McIntosh was also named Professional of the Year by the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce in 2022 and is recognized as a '40 Under 40' standout citizen. McIntosh is also a 2018 graduate of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Brownwood community leadership development program. Brownwood moves forward with $18M for downtown master plan phase 1 'Marshal's appointment reflects the best of what it means to grow leaders from within,' said Mayor Stephen E. Haynes. 'Having served Brownwood in nearly every capacity over the past decade, he brings unmatched insight into our community's operations, challenges, and potential. His long-standing relationships with staff and his forward-thinking vision make him uniquely qualified to lead as our next City Manager.' McIntosh is a member of the: Texas City Management Association (TCMA) International City Management Association (ICMA) Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (GFOAT) Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) Texas Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (TACVB) Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) 'I am deeply grateful to the City Council for their confidence placed in me,' said Marshal McIntosh. 'I look forward to serving alongside our city staff, whose commitment to our community gives me the confidence to lead the City of Brownwood and continue making progress in the place we are proud to call home.' McIntosh will assume his duties as City Manager on June 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store