St. Norbert College advances College of the Future initiative

As higher education continues to evolve, St. Norbert College is investing in new ways to expand opportunities for students while strengthening its long-term sustainability through the College of the Future (COTF) initiative.

COTF is a strategic collaboration with Rize Education that helps colleges use data, peer benchmarking, academic innovation, and shared services to better respond to changing student interests and workforce demands. The initiative provides participating institutions with tools and expertise to support planning, enrollment, student success, and the development of academic programs aligned with emerging opportunities.
 
St. Norbert College began participating in the initiative in spring 2026, though our program offerings with Rize date back to Spring 2024. During the first phase of the COTF work, College leaders received data and benchmarking resources that provided a clearer picture of SNC’s academic performance, enrollment trends, and financial position. Those insights are helping inform decisions about future investments and identify opportunities to operate more effectively while remaining true to the College’s mission and values.
 
The College recently entered the second phase of the initiative through an expanded agreement with Rize. This next stage builds upon work already underway through the partnership, which has enabled SNC to introduce majors in Applied AI, Nutrition, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Healthcare Administration, and Supply Chain Management; minors in Digital Marketing and Project Management; and a concentration in Game Development across the past two years.
 
The new offerings have been well received. Nearly 10% of SNC undergraduate students have enrolled in programs supported through the Rize partnership. Student feedback from the 2025-26 academic year was also strong, with nine out of 10 students reporting that the courses helped prepare them for their post-graduation goals. Additionally, 88% of students said their instructor created a rewarding learning experience, and nearly three-quarters indicated they would recommend a Rize-powered course to a peer.
 
The partnership is also helping SNC respond to changing student expectations. More than 90% of students in Rize-powered courses said they would like to take at least one online course each term, citing flexibility and practical application among the benefits. Through the COTF initiative, SNC now has access to more than 200 undergraduate courses across more than 40 academic fields.

“This strategy aligns well with our vision of becoming the educational institution of choice across the life cycle for a broad range of learners and our aspiration to become a more innovative community by preserving our core values and strengths as a residential liberal arts college while adapting to the changing preferences of today’s learners through high-demand majors and a distinctive liberal arts core.”

Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., president of St. Norbert College

Beyond academics, the initiative provides access to a suite of shared services focused on instructional design, enrollment consulting, student success and retention, and career readiness. College leaders are also working to incorporate insights from the initiative into SNC’s ongoing strategic planning efforts, helping ensure the College remains adaptable, innovative, and well-positioned for the future.