Wes Ellis
VP, Enrollment Management,
Western Governors University
Conversational AI: How WGU Shifts Gears to Reinvent Student Enrollment Outreach
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 9:30AM–10:30AM MT | EDUCAUSE Commons, Teaching & Learning Hub, Poster Area
Session Type:
Poster Session
Delivery Format:
Poster Session
At many institutions, AI is shifting from a support tool to an active participant in enrollment, capable of taking the next step on a student's behalf, not just responding to one. As expectations for fast, personalized guidance grow, institutions are rethinking how enrollment itself is designed and run. This session explores how Western Governors University is evolving its enrollment model by adopting agentic AI that acts autonomously across the applicant journey, from inquiry through matriculation. Rather than only building these capabilities in-house, WGU has focused on also selecting agentic technologies that align with its operational needs and enrollment goals. The future vision for this technology includes systems that handle routine coordination, sequence follow-ups, and guide students through key steps, freeing teams to focus on moments that matter most. The session will highlight how agentic AI integrates into existing workflows, reshapes team structure, and complements human judgment. It will also cover vendor selection, implementation challenges, and ensuring autonomous actions stay accurate and student-friendly. Attendees will leave understanding how agentic AI is reinventing enrollment as a whole, not just outreach.
