When Laredo College partnered with Ellucian for its Accelerating Optimization and Innovation Workshop, the goal was clear: translate technology delivery into measurable transformation.
On Monday, February 23, 2026, campus leaders from Laredo College's HR, Finance, Student Services, and Academic Affairs departments gathered with Ellucian’s team to align strategy, optimize operations, and focus on stakeholder-centered innovation. Laredo College is a public, two-year community college in Laredo, Texas, serving over 10,000 students across two campuses and offering associate and workforce-focused programs. After more than a year on Ellucian Student powered by Banner, the college continues to expand online learning and modernize its technology to support growing digital enrollment and improve the student and staff experience.
A key moment in the afternoon agenda was the Ellucian Student Advisory Panel (ESAP) readout — a structured student survey designed to capture candid feedback on the student experience across technology, services, and campus engagement — where student voice took center stage.
What followed was more than a data presentation. It was validation and opportunity.
Listening at Scale
Through the Ellucian Student Advisory Panel, we received over 300 Laredo College student responses across admissions, technology, communication, and institutional confidence.
The results told a powerful story:
- 95% of Laredo College students use PASPort weekly or more, demonstrating strong digital adoption. PASPort is Laredo College's central workspace that connects students to the tools, resources, and information they need in one place.
- 89% report high or very high institutional trust, reflecting confidence in Laredo's systems and support.
- 89% are satisfied with the admissions experience, signaling a strong front-end student journey.
- 80% clearly understand how their advisor supports them, reinforcing clarity in student guidance.
For a community college committed to transforming students' lives through high-quality, innovative, and affordable programs, these outcomes matter. They reflect trust, clarity, and a connected student experience.
From Insight to Action
The value of the Ellucian Student Advisory Panel goes beyond insight. It drives action.
Student feedback highlighted clear opportunities to:
- Strengthen confidence in support responsiveness
- Simplify financial aid clarity and visibility
- Continue modernizing the digital experience
These insights connect directly to institutional priorities, turning student voice into a roadmap for improvement.
This is Student-First Innovation in action: structured listening, actionable insight, and alignment to outcomes that matter.
A Student-First Institution
The most compelling signal? Student trust.
Laredo College students are digitally engaged and institutionally confident. The panel affirmed that Laredo is intentionally positioning itself as a student-first institution. An institution that listens, responds, and continuously improves.
The results of the Ellucian Student Advisory Panel highlighted the strong foundation of trust our students have in Laredo College. With nearly 90% of students reporting high confidence in our systems and 95% using campus technology weekly, we see a strong foundation. At the same time, the insights give us a meaningful roadmap to continue modernizing and refining the student experience in ways that directly support retention and success."
The Power of Partnership
The Ellucian Student Advisory Panel was just one part of a broader strategic engagement. The workshop agenda included adoption alignment, executive business review, SWOT analysis, and voice-of-the-customer exercises. These are all designed to connect technology to institutional outcomes.
At Ellucian, student voice is not anecdotal, it is strategic.
When institutions listen with intent, they strengthen trust, improve clarity, and advance student success.
Want to elevate student voice at your institution? Please indicate your interest here.
