Depaul Communication Transformation: Leveraging Slate
for Student Engagement

DEPAUL'S KELLSTADT GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business (KGSB) is the graduate business school of DePaul University in Chicago. It’s part of the Driehaus College of Business, one of the ten oldest business schools in the U.S., and is AACSB-accredited—an elite standard held by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide. KGSB offers MBA and specialized master’s programs designed to develop practical business skills and leadership, with flexible formats including full-time, part-time, and online options. Its Chicago location and strong industry connections help students build professional networks and real-world experience.

CHALLENGE:

Previously, KGSB relied on a single population for all inquiries, which limited audience segmentation and the ability to deliver targeted, program-specific messaging. Campaigns required frequent manual updates, including regularly turning mailings on and off to adjust recipient lists, creating a high maintenance burden and increasing the risk of errors. Additionally, Slate Deliver functionality was not used in alignment with best practices, such as dynamic populations, standardized templates, and reusable content blocks, which constrained scalability and long-term sustainability.

SOLUTION:

Expand KGSB mailing campaigns by establishing one dedicated inquiry campaign per program to deliver more customized, major-specific content aligned with prospective students’ academic and career interests. This structure allows for clearer program differentiation and more precise audience segmentation, ensuring communications are relevant and reflective of each program’s unique value proposition.

The approach leverages a scalable, modular campaign framework that incorporates shared templates, reusable content blocks, translation codes, and standardized logic. Together, these elements create a sustainable foundation that promotes consistency, reduces manual maintenance, and supports future program growth and evolving messaging needs.

“The Solidan team was great to work with. We would solve problems in real time and when needed additional staffing, resources were added to the project. Overall, everything moved efficiently and we met our deadline.” 

–Garry Cooke, Director of Recruitment and Admission

Kellstadt Graduate School of Business DePaul University

RESULTS:

As a result, KGSB implemented a more streamlined and scalable campaign structure. This included the creation of program-specific inquiry campaigns paired with shared yield campaigns to balance personalization with efficiency. Translation codes were introduced to standardize program names, headers, and subject lines across communications, improving consistency and reducing maintenance. In addition, opportunities to improve campaign management processes and clarify staff assignments were identified, supporting more efficient ongoing operations.