Watermark Unveils AI Tool to Enhance Faculty Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 5th, 2025 Watermark Insights’ annual Engage conference brought together higher education and accreditation leaders in Washington, D.C. This year’s theme, “Tell Your Story,” recognized colleges and universities facing increasing pressure to demonstrate clear impact in a complex environment. The conference reinforced Watermark’s commitment to helping institutions showcase their achievements, driving student and institutional success.

Representatives from national accreditors explored the evolving role of accreditation and the importance of continuous improvement. Panelists emphasized that institutions that combine strong data practices with compelling framing are well positioned to demonstrate their achievements, contributions and drive ongoing improvement.

Watermark unveiled several new enhancements designed to drive faculty professional growth, simplify cumbersome tasks through system integration, and make institutional outcomes easier to see and share. Some of these enhancements include:

Instructor Insights for Course Evaluations
The first of its kind in course evaluation and survey solutions, this capability, powered by AI, transforms student feedback into clear, actionable insights helping instructors quickly identify strengths and areas for growth.
Watermark Planning & Self-Study Integrations
New connections with D2L and Council for Advancement of Standards (CAS) streamline assessment workflows, making it easier to measure outcomes and demonstrate institutional effectiveness in one place.
Watermark Faculty Success Redesign
A refreshed and modern interface and interactive CV view improve the way faculty track achievements and navigate reviews, spending more time on student initiatives and less on administrative burden.

Engage award winners announced
At this year’s Engage Conference, Watermark honored three institutions that are driving innovation and delivering meaningful results on campus.

Insights Award: Texas State University
Texas State University was honored for its exceptional use of data to inform strategic decisions and improve outcomes. By making assessment and student feedback data more accessible and actionable, the university has empowered faculty and staff to better support student success. This work is supported by Watermark solutions including Faculty Success, Student Learning & Licensure, the SL&L Data Export Service, and Course Evaluations & Surveys.
Innovation Award: Mohawk Valley Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College received the Innovation Award for achieving full campus adoption of a centralized planning and assessment process in just six months. Its bold leadership and collaborative approach were supported by the creative use of Watermark’s Planning & Self-Study solution.
Impact Award: Harris-Stowe State University
Harris-Stowe State University was recognized for achieving measurable improvements in student outcomes, faculty support, and operational efficiency. The university moved from fragmented processes to a unified and data-informed approach using Watermark’s suite of solutions.

“Every year at Engage, I’m reminded of the heart and purpose behind the work happening on campuses,” said Erin Shy, CEO of Watermark. “Our customers are meeting complex challenges with creativity and care, and we’re here to make sure our technology helps them do it better.”

To learn more about Watermark, visit www.watermarkinsights.com.

About Watermark

Watermark gives higher education institutions the tools they need to easily track, manage, and examine their data. For over twenty years, colleges and universities have used Watermark solutions to complete assessment and accreditation requirements, capture and analyze student feedback, showcase faculty accomplishments, and improve student engagement. Watermark’s Educational Impact Suite (EIS) puts data into context so faculty and staff can focus on what really matters: institutional and student success. Learn why Watermark is trusted by over 1,700 colleges and universities to support continuous improvement at www.watermarkinsights.com.

Media Contact
Lindsey Gill
lgill@watermarkinsights.com