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Cision Canada
20 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
National Student Success Nonprofit Awarded Salesforce Accelerator Grant to Pilot Agentic AI in Higher Education
InsideTrack awarded $333,000 in funding and in-kind technology services from Fortune 500 leader Salesforce to develop AI-powered tools that unlock time and staff capacity for student support PORTLAND, Ore., June 17, 2025 /CNW/ -- InsideTrack, the national student success nonprofit that has served more than 3.5 million learners over the past two decades, today announced its selection to the Salesforce Accelerator – Agents for Impact, a highly competitive initiative by Fortune 500 cloud leader Salesforce to help nonprofits build and customize AI agents and AI-powered tools to improve operational efficiency and scale their impact. Over the next two years, the nonprofit will tap funding and in-kind resources from Salesforce to develop an AI-driven solution that augments the capacity of student success coaches working on the frontline to help more students chart pathways to and through higher education. "As institutions navigate rapid changes in student demographics and technology, AI adoption must support—not erode—the human relationships that ultimately drive student success," said Ruth Bauer, president at InsideTrack. "By anchoring this work in the experiences of students, coaches and advisors, we're building the kind of human-centered AI tools that can unlock staff capacity and help more students achieve their educational and career aspirations." While the use of AI in higher education is accelerating, many institutions are still seeking models that can augment, rather than automate, human support. According to a 2024 EDUCAUSE survey, 58% of institutions reported that they are either piloting or actively exploring AI tools across their campuses, but only 28% of institutions have a formal strategy guiding AI implementation that incorporates human-centered principles. Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that handle routine, time-intensive tasks to expand human capacity. InsideTrack's forthcoming tool will analyze unstructured coaching data—such as session notes—to generate summaries, identify focus areas, and recommend next steps. Coaches will be able to use this agentic AI tool to streamline behind-the-scenes tasks—like summarizing sessions and generating next-step recommendations—to reduce administrative load and increase time spent building meaningful relationships that drive student success. To support this groundbreaking work, InsideTrack will receive $333,000 in unrestricted funding, two years of donated Salesforce products, and a full year of strategic guidance, including one-on-one consulting and pro bono support from Salesforce experts. "This work is about more than just using technology to boost efficiency—it's about creating space for learning, connection and growth," said Ron Smith, vice president of philanthropy at Salesforce. "As AI becomes more tightly integrated into higher education, it's essential that its adoption is guided by principles like human judgment, ethics and responsibility. The goal is to enrich human connection, not replace it, and empower those who serve students to achieve an even greater impact on student success." Supporting more than 200,000 learners through 2.2 million individual interactions each year, InsideTrack's team works with a high volume of qualitative insights gathered through student coaching conversations. The new AI solution is designed to responsibly synthesize de-identified case information, surface trends, and streamline reporting—giving coaches, advisors, and leadership in-depth insights and more time to focus on high-impact student engagement. "For years, we've used data to identify which students are at risk and when they need support," said Dr. Tim Renick, founding executive director of the National Institute for Student Success at Georgia State University, a nationally-recognized innovator in the application of predictive analytics for student success and member of InsideTrack's advisory board. "But knowing who needs help isn't enough. We must build tools that give frontline staff the time and capacity to respond to alerts quickly and to provide the guidance and support that truly change outcomes." The initiative is part of Salesforce's broader effort to equip mission-driven organizations with ethical, impact-oriented AI tools. Since early 2025, InsideTrack has participated in weekly strategy sessions with Salesforce pro bono teams, hosted discovery interviews with coaches and managers, and joined workshops alongside other grantees. As the project moves from development to implementation, InsideTrack coaches will use a beta version of the new AI tool starting this summer. Colleges, universities, and third-party organizations interested in supporting this work or participating in the pilot should reach out to Meaghan Joyce, [email protected]. About InsideTrack: InsideTrack is a mission-driven nonprofit that fuels positive change by empowering and advancing all learners to achieve their educational and career goals through the transformative power of coaching. We help people get the education they need to enhance well-being, create opportunity and secure meaningful employment — ultimately facilitating economic and social mobility. Since 2001, we have served over 3.5 million learners, partnering with more than 380 institutions and organizations to directly improve enrollment, retention, completion, and career advancement — tailoring our coaching outcomes to fit the needs of our partners and the learners they support. Our coaching methodology is evidence-based and research-confirmed, supporting all types of learners at every stage of their journey — especially those who face systemic barriers to postsecondary success. We are a catalyst for transformational impact, ultimately empowering learners and the organizations that serve them. To learn more, visit and follow us on LinkedIn @InsideTrack and X @InsideTrack. About Salesforce: Salesforce is the global leader in customer relationship management (CRM), helping companies of every size and industry digitally transform and connect with their customers in a whole new way. Through its philanthropic initiatives, Salesforce partners with mission-driven organizations to unlock impact through technology and innovation. Learn more at
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Venice City Council to choose from 3 applicants to fill Seat 1 vacancy at Tuesday meeting
VENICE – Three people applied to fill the Venice City Council Seat 1, which was vacated when Joan Farrell resigned this spring. The new member will be chosen and sworn in at the end of Tuesday's meeting. The seat opened when Farrell suddenly resigned her position April 11, two days after the council's decision against a citizen appeal to reject the site plan for a shopping center in Northeast Venice. Mitzie Fiedler has applied. She held the seat for two terms until she was upended by Farrell in the 2023 election that also saw Ron Smith win the race for Seat 2. Christopher Derbak and Lloyd Weed have also applied. Technically two other people with Venice mailing addresses applied, too, but both lived in unincorporated Sarasota County. The six current council members – Mayor Nick Pachota, Vice Mayor Jim Boldt, and council members Rachel Frank, Kevin Engleke, Rick Howard and Smith – will all cast votes on the appointment to the seat. As outlined in the City Charter, the seat will be awarded to a person who receives a plurality of votes – essentially at least three votes – which would occur if the second place winner received two votes. If two candidates receive three votes each, the winner would be decided by drawing lots and sworn in at the end of the meeting and fill out the remainder of the term, which runs through November 2026. The council could have appointed that person to fill the entire term, or until a set date followed by a special election, but on a 4-1 vote with Smith in dissent the board opted to have Farrell's successor finish the term. That decision was based in part on the fact that last November, nearly 68% of voters approved a city charter amendment that will end the practice of odd-year elections and extend the terms of council members from three to four years. On May 6, Frank Mowery, president of the Venice Area Democratic Club, sent an email blast criticizing the appointment plan and urging recipients to write council members to express their displeasure. Though the council board is nonpartisan, in recent years both the local Democratic and Republican parties have backed candidates. The resignation of Farrell leaves Smith as the only Democrat on the board. Mower wrote: 'The Republican council members intend to appoint a pro-development candidate, thus increasing their majority instead of holding a special election to fill a seat vacated by a duly elected Democrat.' He later added, 'We must request that at a minimum they require candidates to speak of their qualifications and goals as a member of City Council.' Derbak, a Golden Beach Association board member who has frequently attended council meetings following the 2024 hurricane season, has lived in the city since Sept. 19, 2023. A veteran who served as an Air Force and Coast Guard Special Operations officer for more than two decades – including presidential protection, counterterrorism, hurricane and earthquake response – wrote that his leadership experience and background would make him a solid candidate. 'I want to bring a collaborative, mission-driven mindset to the Council; one that prioritizes structured growth, public safety, and a deepened culture of service so that Venice remains a vibrant, resilient, and well-managed city for generations to come,' he wrote in his application. Fiedler, a one time non-party affiliate council member who became a Republican before the 2023 election, noted in a cover letter for her application that during her six-year tenure on council, 'I worked tirelessly to advance our city's interests while maintaining fiscal responsibility and championing transparent governance.' Weed, who has lived in Venice for 54 years, and is the chief financial officer of Southern Springs & Stamping, currently serves as chairman of the Venice Citizen Advisory Board and has served on the boards of a variety of local nonprofits, as well as Venice Christian School. Weed wrote in his application that his is 'very protective of this paradise that we live in,' and that after his tenure on the citizen's advisory board he is ready to serve on the City Council. The board meets at 9 a.m. in chambers at Venice City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Three people apply for Seat 1 vacancy on the Venice City Council
