Ave Maria University Selects Regent Enterprise

On-demand financial aid solution to integrate with SunGard PowerCampus and Great Plains

Frederick, Maryland, April 06, 2009 - Regent Education, the leading provider of financial aid management Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions for higher education institutions, today announced that Ave Maria University has selected Regent Enterprise as its financial aid management solution.

Regent Enterprise will integrate with Ave Maria’s current SIS, SunGard PowerCAMPUS, as well as its business management solution, Microsoft Great Plains. Regent’s ability to integrate with any software system will enable Ave Maria to have complete business continuity.

“There has never been a time when the prudent management of financial aid services has meant so much for so many institutions,” said Bryan Mehaffey, Ave Maria’s director of technology. “It’s imperative that we get it right and get it right now! We had to go with someone with a single focus-- aid.... Our decision to work with Regent Education was only partially because of the world class solutions they offer; it was largely their commitment and focus on Ave Maria University and our success that drove the decision.”

Prior to selecting Regent, Ave Maria managed its financial aid using PowerFAIDS, developed by College Board. Ave Maria was looking for a system that offered a streamlined financial aid process, support of work-study students, fast support of new Department of Education regulations, and robust reporting capabilities.

“Regent Enterprise will enable Ave Maria to manage its financial aid activities more efficiently,” said Anne Hart, Ave Maria’s director of financial aid. “We selected Regent for its ability to meet our extensive list of requirements through a web-based solution.”

As a SaaS solution, Regent Enterprise can support Ave Maria’s dual campuses located in Florida and Nicaragua. Key benefits include:

• Automatic updates, including state and federal regulations
• Reduced reliance on IT
• Lower total cost of ownership
• Accelerated implementation 
• Secure IT infrastructure
  

Additionally, Ave Maria University’s international student population will benefit from Regent’s multilingual Student Self Service Portal. The student portal allows students to check application status, view and accept awards, communicate directly with the financial aid office, and even electronically sign and return documents, all in their language of choice.

“Regent’s SaaS solution is ideal for a four-year, private institution such as Ave Maria University,” said Michael Ratti, Regent’s CEO. “Regent Enterprise will allow Ave Maria to improve its quality of service and ensure compliance while maintaining the high level of functionality needed to process financial aid.”

About Regent

Named Firm of the Year by the Tech Council of Maryland and a 2008 and 2009 CODiE Award Finalist for Best Postsecondary Enterprise Solution, Regent is a leading Software-as-a-Service provider of financial aid management software solutions with more than 30 years of industry experience. The company’s web-based, easy-to-use solutions interoperate with any established student information system. Regent provides institutions with improved efficiencies, fewer errors, and enhanced services for students, equaling a positive return on investment within the first year.

Regent’s management solutions are designed and built by and for members of the financial aid and enrollment management communities. Regent enables institutions to better craft and execute financial aid strategies. With its Student Self Service Portal, the company also offers 21st century access for students seeking financial aid information anytime, anywhere, from any device, in any language. For more information, visit: www.regenteducation.com.

About Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University (AMU) was founded in 1998 as Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Mich., to provide a liberal arts education at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Catholic tradition. In 2002 the college relocated to a temporary campus in Naples, Fla., as it became Ave Maria University. In 2007 the university relocated to its permanent campus in Ave Maria, Fla. Founded on the principles of the apostolic document Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Ave Maria University is dedicated to the advancement of human culture, the promotion of dialogue between faith and reason, the formation of men and women in the intellectual and moral virtues of the Catholic faith, and the development of professional and pre-professional programs in response to local and societal needs. The university has attracted students from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.