Dear Colleague,
Thank you for your interest in the Patriot Connect program! We are excited to share recent updates with you.
Introducing Our New Program Identity: Patriot Connect
In the February update, we shared that we were preparing to change the name of the project—known commonly as the Salesforce Project or the Student Lifecycle Transformation Project. After collecting input from across the Mason community, the initiative is unveiling its new identity: Patriot Connect. This name was carefully selected, signifying Mason’s unwavering commitment to student engagement and a unified university experience. Patriot Connect is the platform that Mason students, faculty, and staff will log into for student services such as advising and coaching. Moving forward, Patriot Connect will been seen across all communication channels, including these stakeholder update emails and the webpage.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud Demonstration
Mason is searching for a mass communication tool for Patriot Connect to enable and support Salesforce Education Cloud and the associated tools Student Success and Recruitment and Admissions. Last month, Salesforce provided the university with a demo of Salesforce Marketing Cloud, showcasing its potential and features for enabling personalized marketing campaigns across different channels such as email, SMS, social media, and the web. Watch the demo to learn about the tool’s many features, and keep in mind there may be features shown that might not be accessible to the Mason community. Email questions about Salesforce Marketing Cloud to your unit liaison.
Patriot Connect Timeline
The rollout of the Patriot Connect platform will occur in two primary phases. In late spring of calendar year 2025, release 1 will introduce Student Success and a mass communications tool, establishing an accessible online platform for students to manage appointments, submit inquiries, and engage with student support services. The release will also enable marketing capabilities for efficient bulk and automated communications related to the student journey. Release 2, which includes Recruitment and Admissions functionalities, is currently proposed for the end of the 2025 calendar year. This sequential approach prioritizes student success and ensures a systematic implementation.
On the Horizon: Discovery Sessions for Student Success and a Mass Communication Tool
Now that the Patriot Connect program has completed blueprint validation (see February’s email update for an explanation of blueprint validation), which concentrated on examining Mason’s current processes and technology, the focus will shift to discovery and design, which concentrates on planning the future features and capabilities. For the next two months, the work will center on release 1 functionalities: Student Success and mass communication. During this time, the Patriot Connect program will meet regularly with unit liaisons and other functional and technical representatives to confirm requirements and align on the future. These meetings will be a chance for the team to demonstrate certain functionality and receive feedback to keep the project on track and the functionality aligned with Patriot Connect goals.
In Case You Missed It: Building the Roadmap to Mason’s Future with Salesforce Education Cloud
- Read the press release about Mason and Accenture’s partnership.
- The February 21 Provost’s Newsletter shared the article Building the roadmap to Mason’s future with Salesforce Education Cloud.
As always, we welcome your feedback. Please feel free to share the sign up form with your colleagues who are interested in staying up to date with Patriot Connect.
Sincerely,
The Patriot Connect Program Management Team