Closing the Chapter on Spring and Turning the Page to Summer

As the spring semester winds down and campuses shift gears, we can celebrate another year completed — while also preparing for summer sessions ahead. Whether you're finalizing year-end reports, launching summer programs, or laying the groundwork for fall planning, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Here’s what’s new this month, as we head into summer together!

–The Gray DI Customer Success Team

Student outcomes don't stop at graduation — and now, exploring Alumni Insights just got easier.

We've released a new User Guide for Alumni Insights to provide you with a step-by-step walkthrough to effortlessly pull valuable alumni occupation and industry data using PES. 

🔍 Need help getting started?
Check out the new Alumni Insights User Guide or reach out to us for a quick walkthrough.

Economics Corner

Margins Matter: Make Smarter Financial Decisions

As institutions look to strengthen long-term financial sustainability, understanding program economics is more critical than ever.
 
In her latest blog, Taking Control of Your Destiny: Why Margins Matter in Higher Education, Elizabeth Atkins, our VP of Product, explores how margins act as a strategic compass. You'll discover that even small programs can generate positive margins, why course cuts can be smarter than program cuts, and how contribution margin analysis leads to healthier, data-informed decisions.

📚 Read the full piece here!

(Highly recommended by us, as you plan your summer financial reviews!)

What's New

Fresh Tools for a Fresh Start

We’re thrilled to introduce the newly redesigned Gray DI PES Hub, featuring a clean, intuitive interface:

• New Gray DI Hub: One login, total access! The Gray DI Hub connects you to all your applications, resources, and our Customer Success team effortlessly. We streamlined your workflow to make it easier than ever to find what you need.
• Say hello to Lumi:  Your new instant support from Gray DI. Lumi is here to provide quick, straightforward answers to your questions within the Hub.

The PES Hub links directly to the three report creators for Program, Workforce, and Alumni Insights.

• Our annual IPEDS data update for Predict Program Size went live on March 31, delivering even more accurate enrollment forecasts across all award levels. 
• PES Markets Program Report: We're developing a comprehensive report integrating student demand, employment data, and competition measures. This expanded report will streamline data collection and accelerate sharing, empowering you to make more efficient data-informed decisions.

• Workforce Report: Stay ahead of the curve with our Workforce Report. This report provides a detailed look at job posting trends, in-demand skills, wage data, relevant academic programs, and key insights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data will inform curriculum development, program planning, and student advising.

• Alumni Insights Report: Gain a better understanding of your alums' career paths with the new Alumni Insights Report. This report offers access to professional profiles, education details, job histories, and employer information, allowing you to see where your students go after graduation. Benchmark your student outcomes against other institutions and identify areas for improvement.

What’s Coming Soon

Summer Projects Underway

We're making our PES software even better! Get ready for these upcoming improvements:

New Reports for Better Insights & Sharing:

• Enrollment Report: Get a clear view of enrollment trends across your market and programs—ready to analyze and share in minutes.

• Google Search Report:  Discover trending search terms for academic programs, costs, and your competition. (Tip: Hand this off to your marketing team)

• Coursera Report: Spot emerging interest in non-degree topics to inspire new courses or refresh existing ones. (Tip: Great for curriculum planning)

Smarter Data Exploration with Gray DI Economics Agent:

• Ask natural language questions about your direct instructional economics data, for instance: "What are my top five programs in terms of contribution?" or "What share of sections are taught by full-time faculty members?"
  
• Get contextual responses about how direct instructional economics are calculated, and any unique circumstances specific to your institution's economics model

Enhanced Gray DI Benchmarking Consortium

• New metrics, including DFW rates
• New visualizations, including more insights into the sample dataset
• New comparative data on faculty pay by subject area, including base salaries, benefit rates, and workloads

And that's not all! We have more exciting updates on the way. Stay tuned for further announcements.

Wishing You a Smooth End to the Semester!

As you wrap up the academic year and start looking ahead, don’t hesitate to reach out or join our office hours if we can help you with year-end reporting, strategic planning, or summer projects.

We’re here to help you make the most of this season of renewal and growth! 🌸☀️