Quantrix Modeler Delivers Better University Planning

Financial planners at National University of Singapore, University of New Hampshire, and Education Corporation of America choose Quantrix Modeler for flexible strategic planning during challenging economic times

PORTLAND, ME – June 16, 2009 – Quantrix today announced that multiple universities have chosen its business modeling and analytic software, Quantrix Modeler, to develop forward-looking planning models. University of New Hampshire, National University of Singapore, and Education Corporation of America (ECA) have deployed Quantrix Modeler to model the consequences of serious recession on their endowment, enrollment, and financial planning processes. Traditional models that base analyses purely on past information are no longer reliable, and universities must find new ways to provide forward-focused insight. Quantrix provides a flexible and easy-to-use multidimensional modeling platform for complex university planning, as well as for business modeling and planning for its customers in 50 countries.

University planning is notoriously complex, with multiple, interrelated models required for capital expenditure, enrollment, endowment, and financial planning. Each university needs a completely customized set of models to reflect its unique conditions and mission, and the traditional approach of using spreadsheet-based tools combined with costly custom programming has become difficult to manage and maintain.

Higher education consultant Bill Massy has developed numerous custom models for universities, including National University of Singapore and, currently, University of New Hampshire. “Modeling for universities is considerably more of a challenge than for corporations,” says Massy. “The more I saw of Quantrix, the more I realized that this is what universities need – users can model multiple dimensions of planning, and put them all together in a workable, usable model.”

Massy is an authority on university planning and frequently consults on areas including strategic management, internal operations, and resource allocation. He has coauthored multiple books, including Planning Models for Colleges and Universities, and Remaking the American University: Market-Smart and Mission-Centered. He focused on developing models that university professionals could manage and maintain themselves. “But, I discovered that there are too many dimensions required to develop a workable model using traditional spreadsheet software,” says Massy. “The kinds of modeling that I have been writing about for 30 years are now fully practical using Quantrix.”

“Difficult economic conditions have forced universities to implement better approaches to strategic planning as their spreadsheet models are unable to keep pace with vastly changed financial realities,” says Chris Houle, CEO, Quantrix. “We’re pleased that universities are increasingly turning to Quantrix to develop dynamic, forward-looking models that will help them thrive in these changing times.”

Universities are using Quantrix Modeler for complex modeling challenges:
 

•  National University of Singapore (NUS): With 186 departments and 15 schools, NUS uses Quantrix for its 10-year strategic plan, which includes integrated models for capital budgeting, tuition revenue and ministry grant forecasting, endowment planning, faculty and student capacity planning, and cohort survival modeling.

• University of New Hampshire (UNH): With dozens of academic departments, interdisciplinary institutes, and research centers, UNH is using Quantrix to develop an aggregated model to forecast economic possibilities around a variety of factors, including enrollment, internal operations, and programming.

• Education Corporation of America (ECA):  ECA is using Quantrix Modeler to create a distributed enrollment and budgeting system that is used by its network of 13 Virginia College campuses and online school, and its Golf Academy of America schools. In addition, ECA will expand its planning horizon from a one-year budget to a multiple-year budget.    

Quantrix Modeler’s multidimensional business modeling and analytics software enables financial professionals to break away from the restrictions of spreadsheet technology to develop financial models of the highest integrity, flexibility, and transparency.

About Quantrix
Quantrix’s business modeling and analytics (BMA) solutions and services enable companies to develop accurate, secure, and dynamic forecast, budget, planning, risk, and data models. Quantrix Modeler provides unprecedented business intelligence and improved business performance management to customers in 50 countries. It delivers rapid return on investment by empowering business and financial professionals to break away from restrictive two-dimensional spreadsheets and complicated modeling and business intelligence tools. Quantrix Modeler is available directly from the company and from its partners in the United Kingdom, China, Australia, France, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Israel, South Africa, and Brazil. For more information about Quantrix Modeler, or to activate a free 30-day trial, visit www.quantrix.com or call +1 207.775.0808.

Media Contact for Quantrix:

Alison Harris
Harris Media Services
+1 207.829.4500
alison@harrismediaservices.com