A Pre-RFP Guide to Stronger Evaluation and Long-Term Value
An RFP is more than a request for information. It is a statement of what your institution values in a student support partner.
Before procurement begins, campus leaders need to align on the outcomes they want to achieve, the students they need to reach, and the capabilities that matter most. Those decisions shape the proposals you receive and the partnership you ultimately choose.
Choosing the Right Student Support Partner helps colleges and universities build a stronger evaluation process for virtual care and student support services. It provides practical guidance for looking beyond feature comparisons and evaluating how a model performs after implementation, from care quality and student engagement to referrals, reporting, and long-term value.
What you’ll discover:
- How to align campus stakeholders on priorities before procurement begins
- What to evaluate beyond access, including connected support, care quality, and crisis readiness
- How to assess student engagement, care coordination, and follow-up after referral
- Which reporting and outcomes measures support stronger institutional decisions
- Essential questions for comparing partners on implementation, long-term value, and support for diverse student populations
Who is this guide for?
Anyone helping shape the search for a virtual care or student support partner, including:
- Student Affairs and Student Success leaders
- Counseling and Health Services leaders
- Finance and Procurement teams
- Executive and campus leadership
Build an RFP that reflects your institution’s priorities, asks better questions, and helps identify a partner equipped to strengthen student support over time.
