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SAS® Analytics reduces cost for thousands of educational institutions in 41 states

SAS® Analytics reduces cost for thousands of educational institutions in 41 states
MHEC agreement simplifies and speeds analysis of student, faculty, administrative data

CARY, NC (Nov. 17, 2014) – Colleges, universities, K‐12 districts and schools in 41 states can use industry-leading SAS® Analytics for less, thanks to an agreement with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). MHEC will facilitate SAS licenses and support, consulting and training to help educational institutions in areas such as enrollment and retention, budgeting, student data systems, and teaching and learning.

Through the agreement, member universities, schools and districts get SAS Analytics and consulting directly from SAS at a reduced, prenegotiated rate. Training costs drop 60 percent. Simplifying procurement quickly puts analytics, data visualization and business intelligence software in the hands of schools.

One of four regional higher education compacts in the US, MHEC serves approximately 1,000 public and private nonprofit institutions – more than 4 million students. The agreement also extends to the Southern Regional Education Board and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education – 41 states in total.

“Facing slashed budgets and increasing demands, universities and K-12 educational institutions must understand their data to better use their resources and plan for the future,” said Emily Baranello, Director of the SAS Education Practice. “Now, it’s easier than ever for them to put industry-leading analytics to work for their constituencies.”

MHEC technology initiatives are guided by Midwestern CIOs, technical experts and IT procurement professionals, who peg analytics as a priority to further education opportunities and services. Using a tiered pricing structure, educational institutions can license SAS foundational technologies, predictive analytics and enterprisewide data management and analytics.

“The Technologies Committee identified statistical and business analytics software as a need within our institutions. The SAS product catalog, along with its history of working with education, make for a natural fit,” said Aric J. Kirkland, Director of Desktop and Classroom Technology, Eastern Michigan University.
SAS offers a wide range of technologies to support education. Colleges and universities use SAS in areas such as enrollment and retention, institutional effectiveness, teaching and research. Several state systems use SAS Visual Analytics to support online, public dashboards that report on system goals and provide students information on degree paths and career prospects.

For instance, the University of Texas seekUT mobile app shows students the loan amounts and earnings of past UT graduates to help them make better decisions about their education.

K-12 schools and districts use SAS for data management and reporting, and to measure program effectiveness. SAS integrates data on budgets, classes, students and programs to give principals, teachers and district leaders the information they need to ensure instructional dollars are used effectively. SAS can also help states create, launch and manage state longitudinal data systems.

SAS has a strong commitment to education. In March, the company launched SAS Analytics U, a broad, global academic initiative that includes free SAS software, university partnerships and engaging users communities that support the next generation of SAS users. Another option for compact members, these free offerings are seeing tremendous uptake.

With more than three decades of experience working in education, SAS’ rich heritage in higher education presages a thriving future. SAS is used at more than 3,000 institutions worldwide for teaching, research and administration.

Availability and options
For additional information on the SAS-MHEC Master Price Agreement, including a detailed list of states and purchase eligibility, visit the SAS-MHEC microsite. http://www.sas.com/en_us/offers/14q4/mhec-partnership/overview.html

About MHEC
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact is a nonprofit regional organization assisting Midwestern states in advancing higher education through interstate cooperation and resource sharing. MHEC seeks to fulfill its interstate mission through programs that expand postsecondary opportunity and success; promote innovative approaches to improving institutional and system productivity; improve affordability to students and states; and enhance connectivity between higher education and the workplace. Member states are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
www.mhec.org

About SAS
SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions, SAS helps customers at more than 70,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW®.