TLDR: California Lutheran University (CLU) has received the 2025 Tambellini Group Future Campus Award for AI-Driven Student Success, recognizing its innovative, university-wide deployment of AI Assistants powered by Entrinsik’s Informer platform to enhance student experience and outcomes.
RALEIGH, N.C. – California Lutheran University (CLU) has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Tambellini Group Future Campus Award in the ‘Impact on Learning Outcomes and Experience’ category. This national recognition highlights CLU’s pioneering university-wide implementation of AI Assistants, which are powered by Entrinsik’s Informer platform, as part of a comprehensive strategy to foster more agile, personalized, and effective learning environments.
CLU’s initiative distinguished itself from a competitive field of higher education institutions due to its sustainable design, demonstrable results, and unwavering commitment to long-term student success. The project was launched through a strategic partnership with Entrinsik, leveraging Informer’s AI Assistants to seamlessly integrate secure and governed AI directly into CLU’s campus portal and mobile application, known as the MyCLU Digital Experience Platform.
These AI Assistants are designed to integrate with CLU’s existing enterprise systems, including their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, student information system (SIS), and learning management system (LMS). This robust infrastructure provides students, faculty, and staff with real-time, personalized insights and support across various academic, operational, and administrative functions. Early implementations have included 1-to-1 AI Tutors that guide students using Socratic methods, and an AI assistant named ‘Ask Gumby’ which provides 24/7 intelligent, personalized answers to academic and administrative questions directly within the MyCLU App/Portal.
Brad Leupen, CEO of Entrinsik, commented on the achievement, stating, “California Lutheran’s bold vision and leadership exemplify how higher education can responsibly implement AI to improve outcomes at scale. Their innovative approach, powered by our Informer AI Assistants, sets a new standard for intuitive, governed, and impactful AI that supports student success today while building a foundation for long-term impact.”
Justin Barkhuff, Director of Enterprise Applications at California Lutheran University, expressed gratitude for the partnership and recognition: “We realized AI could enable Cal Lutheran to provide an unprecedented, unparalleled level of service and support which would directly impact student success. We are so thankful for Entrinsik’s ongoing support to help us realize that vision, and it’s an honor to be recognized by Tambellini for that work.”
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Initial results from CLU’s AI-powered transformation underscore its significant impact. Campus-wide surveys have reported a 96% satisfaction rating for MyCLU, and the university has observed a 70% reduction in Financial Aid follow-up issues during orientation. This model offers a scalable blueprint for other institutions aiming to unify fragmented systems, alleviate operational burdens, and enhance learning through ethical AI.
