Stanislaus State Optimizes the Power of Personalization for Engagement
California State University, Stanislaus partnered with Cerkl to improve internal communications. The key to success was AI, which is perfectly suited for mass personalization to drive engagement along with time-saving automation. “AI saved our inboxes and we couldn’t be happier.” Stan State’s Director for Communications and Creative Services, Kristina Stamper
Audience
Industry
Location
About Stanislaus State
Established in 1960, Stanislaus State’s 228-acre campus in Turlock, California – located in the heart of the Central Valley – is a community that prides itself on its small-town atmosphere, excellent schools and low crime rate. The campus grounds offer a park-like oasis shaded by hundreds of trees and graced by ponds, trickling streams and waterfalls. With nearly 10,000 students, Stanislaus State is a member of the 23-campus California State University system. In addition to the main campus in Turlock, the Stanislaus State Stockton Campus also serves the communities in San Joaquin County and beyond.
With more than 95 undergraduate academic programs, 20 master’s programs, a doctorate in educational leadership, and numerous continuing and professional education opportunities, Stanislaus State offers something for everyone.
The University promotes academic excellence, equipping students for success beyond graduation. It is an academic institution committed to making a meaningful impact — removing barriers and building strong connections to support students’ academic and personal growth. Learning opportunities extend beyond the classroom, preparing graduates with career-ready expertise and essential soft skills that shape their future paths.
Nationally recognized for excellence, Stanislaus State is among the top 10 public universities in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and was ranked No. 2 for social mobility in the nation for helping students from underrepresented backgrounds succeed in their careers beyond graduation.
“A Stan State education provides an exceptional return on investment,
offering a transformative experience that facilitates student and community empowerment. As our students rise and thrive, they create a lasting impact on their families, their chosen fields and their communities. Being recognized for social mobility and public impact underscores our role as an anchor institution in the Central Valley.”– Stanislaus State President Britt Rios-Ellis
Company Challenges
No Way to Track Analytics for their Communications
Message Repetition Across Multiple Channels
Poor Employee Engagement
Up until 2017, Stan State faced typical internal communication challenges and obstacles that hampered the efficiency and effectiveness of its messaging across the organization. These included:
- One-off email messages
- Inbox stuffing
- A total lack of analytics
- No design “guardrails” for messages built outside the tool and forwarded
- Limited accessibility tools or adherence to accessibility standards
- No ability to schedule
- Repetition of information sent via different channels
- Inadequate staff engagement
Goals and Objectives
Creating a Streamlined Communication Platform
Personalizing Employee Experience Across all Channels
Tracking and Measuring Engagement
The ultimate goal for Stan State internal communicators was to improve internal communications. Cerkl Broadcast offers a mass personalized solution that harnesses the power of AI.
At the time, objectives included:
- Creation of one, streamlined communication platform
- The ability to provide employees with a personalized experience across all channels
- The capability to track and measure engagement
- A choice of scheduling options
Solutions
In 2018, Stan State decided to implement Cerkl’s AI technology to increase staff engagement with Broadcast News Digest and personalization. This automated internal email software sends a regular digest of news to each employee or student based on their interests and needs. It’s not a newsletter as such. Rather, it provides bite-sized information that is personalized and targeted automatically.
Employees or students decide on specifics including their preferred interests, frequency, and delivery times. This means they get what they want together with information the university needs them to know
about and read.
Key elements of the solution included:
- Personalized information would be available to each recipient via News Digest to respond to their needs
- Regardless of content, need-to-know information would always be the lead they wouldn’t miss
- Increased content reach would be meaningful
- Valuable staff time previously used building newsletters would be eliminated
- Full analytics would be accessible to ensure tracking and measurement of the new communication strategy
- A Content Archive would provide access to previous content for anyone who missed a news item or wanted to reread it
- There would be a very real opportunity for constant learning
Implementation of Broadcast Solutions
Implementation of a new internal communications solution is never easy. This is how Stanislaus State got there.
Email was a bit bothersome at Stan State, but it wasn’t a major issue. However, those in leadership roles were finding they were getting much too much email. An internal comms audit indicated there was a very definite need for change.
Before the launch, Stan State wanted to maximize their investment with its existing human resources management software, PeopleSoft. In just two days, Stan State was able to connect their existing system with Cerkl’s seamless integration capabilities.
Today, with Cerkl’s AI-powered content delivery, Stan State’s internal
communication team is saving time and improving employee engagement. Instead of designing one-size-fits-all employee newsletters, they have harnessed the power of broadcast New Digest to send regular personalized news that is tailored to either the individual needs and interests of employees or students.
Stanislaus State has two completely different Cerkl News Digests with different content intended for distinct audiences.
- The Faculty & Staff Digest that is designed to meet the needs of various departments and employees.
- Warrior Weekly that is compiled specifically for students
Cerkl News Digest gives the internal communications team more time to devote their efforts to engaging their faculty and staff and/or students in other meaningful ways.
Results and Metrics
%
Digest Open Rate for Staff
%
Digest Open Rate for Students
News Digests Sent
Data is vital. It is crucial for measuring effectiveness, identifying gaps, and
improving employee and student engagement. It enables organizations to make
informed decisions, demonstrate ROI, and ensure accountability, leading to more
impactful communication strategies.
That’s why the internal communicators at Stanislaus State realized how
important it was to listen. It meant that they could learn about their audience —
and the results are an eye-opener.
With 10 trained and permissioned users, from 2018-2024, Stan State sent more
than 1,082,713 Faculty & Staff News Digests. Since then, their average audience
size has been 1,673 per recipient list. Additionally,
- 68% of the audience has personalized their content experience
- There has been a 19% click rate all time
- Estimates are that more than a third (34%) of employees revisit content
Recent insights show that the all-time open rate for Faculty & Staff News Digests
is 37%, and the click-thru rate is 19%. The student Warrior Weekly all-time rate
is 27%, and the click-thru rate 4%.
The most recent four-week insight for the Faculty & Staff News Digest reflects a
30% open rate and a 16% click-thru rate. The comparative Warrior Weekly
insight shows a 32% open rate and a 5% click-thru rate.
Commendation
“Partnering with Cerkl has been a game changer for our campus community. Their innovative approach to email communications has not only streamlined our internal messaging and significantly boosted open and click through rates, but also provided us with the ability to measure the success of our communication strategies. By listening to feedback from students, faculty, and staff, we can continuously enhance and improve our methods, ensuring a more informed and engaged campus community. Our engagement rates reflect the success of our partnership.”
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