HomePress ReleasesRNL and Kaplan Partner to Provide More Flexible Online Enablement Options for Colleges and Universities

RNL and Kaplan Partner to Provide More Flexible Online Enablement Options for Colleges and Universities


Industry leaders combine resources to help schools with fall enrollments disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic as well as future needs for online learning.

April 30, 2020—RNL (Ruffalo Noel Levitz) has announced a partnership with Kaplan, Inc. that will offer accredited online course enablement solutions to its college and university clients to help them meet immediate and long-term demands for the highest quality online learning experience for their students.

RNL is the leading provider of higher education enrollment, student success, and fundraising solutions, and Kaplan, Inc., is one of the largest global providers of educational programs and services. They are bringing together their expertise and capabilities to help universities easily access robust and industry leading online courses and learning options that will help their students continue in their programs through the current health crisis for however long it lasts.

A recent survey of college presidents by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) found that more than one-third expect serious disruptions to continue this fall. Another study by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) of 262 institutions discovered that 58 percent of respondents are considering or have already decided to remain fully online in fall 2020. Another 73 percent are increasing or considering an increase in the number of online courses this fall.

“We’re committed to helping our campus partners accelerate their ability to deliver online learning,” said Dr. Sumit Nijhawan, RNL president and CEO. “By partnering with Kaplan, we can also offer campuses a pair of flexible curriculum options that will elevate the online learning experience for their students.”

“We are helping higher education institutions put into action academic continuity plans to respond to the rapidly evolving health crisis,” said Gregory Marino, CEO of Kaplan Higher Education. “As university presidents look ahead to an uncertain fall semester, Kaplan can access accredited academic coursework to provide viable, fully-online education solutions for students in the near- and long-term. Our goal is to help students remain in their programs and progressing toward their degrees while ensuring stability for institutions.”

RNL and Kaplan are offering two solutions that give institutions the flexibility to provide their students with high level online learning options.

  • Universities can access substantial curriculum specifically designed for an online modality from Kaplan. Colleges and universities can format and brand these courses to fit their own programs and adapt them for instruction by their own faculty, allowing students to remain enrolled at the home institution while attending online until they can return to in-person education.
  • Colleges and universities can also choose a turn-key solution permitting their students to enroll in courses at Purdue University Global; Purdue Global will deliver instruction and Kaplan will provide non-instructional support to students enrolling with Purdue Global. Institutions may enter into articulation agreements with Purdue Global to recognize credits earned by their students, allowing students to maintain educational continuity and continue progressing toward degree completion.

RNL will also work with institutions and programs to help more of those students succeed in a new online environment, using omnichannel communications to engage those students and the firm’s trusted solutions for student retention and completion.

To learn more, visit RuffaloNL.com/OnlineEnablement or contact Brandon Trissler of RNL at Brandon.Trissler@RuffaloNL.com.

About RNL

RNL (Ruffalo Noel Levitz) is the leading provider of higher education enrollment, student success, and fundraising solutions. More than 1,900 colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations rely on RNL for advanced analytics, personalized engagement, and industry-leading insights to achieve their missions. The firm is focused on the entire lifecycle of enrollment and fundraising at the undergraduate and graduate levels, assuring students find the right college or university, graduate on time, secure their first job in their chosen field, and give back to support the next generation. RNL conferences, research reports, papers, and articles help clients stay on top of current trends. Learn more at www.RuffaloNL.com.

About Kaplan

Kaplan, Inc. provides individuals, educational Institutions, and businesses a broad array of educational services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. Across its 80-plus year history, first as a small test-prep pioneer and then an early online education leader and now a global education provider, Kaplan has been recognized for expanding educational access and using technology and learning science innovations to continually improve outcomes for its students and partners. With operations in nearly 30 countries, today Kaplan serves more than 1.1 million students and professionals and has relationships and partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, schools and school districts, and more than 4,000 corporations and businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.