The Study Abroad Directory by Terra Dotta is used by clients and non-clients alike. It is the number one source of program information for top-sending universities across the country. All study abroad providers are invited to list their programs at no cost.

Recent updates include upgrades in speed and stability, responsive design allowing content to easily render on any device, current Terra Dotta software (TDS) user capabilities to publish brochures from your TDS site to the directory (no double data entry!), and optimized database tuning ensuring timely and complete system actions that update our clients’ program listings from the Directory every day.

You may be thinking “What’s next on the roadmap for Directory enhancements? A few of the exciting features to come are:

• Ability to subscribe to programs by provider
• Multi-location itineraries
• API updates
• Mappings and data field updates
• Program provider usage reports

Our Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Garrett Christian, on new features to come — “We have plans to extend the capabilities of the Study Abroad Directory to go beyond what's possible today, while also making the system easier to use. All of the information sharing that has to happen on a regular basis between program providers and subscribing institutions can be facilitated further by the unique connection that Terra Dotta has in servicing both sides through the Directory. These are obvious needs that Terra Dotta can help to alleviate, and we are planning the development now to make it a reality.”

Learn more about the Study Abroad Directory and our current enhancements on the roadmap.

Today’s pre-departure focus on Health, Safety, and Security bears little resemblance to the orientations of those around the year 2000, much less my study abroad. After forty some years, the only health and safety sections of my pre-departure orientation that I recall are a lecture on ‘don’t do anything stupid’ (apparently a student a few years beforehand had accidentally stabbed himself with a Swiss Army knife while riding a train; he probably was endeavoring to peel an orange), and week after week of vaccinations, all duly recorded in a yellow World Health Organization booklet.

That certainly does not mean study abroad in the last century was without its perils. During my own study abroad, one of my classmates died in a vehicular accident, another classmate awoke in jail, having stumbled off a train while in a station, landing on the tracks (yes, alcohol was involved), and a group of my classmates were forced to shelter-in-place due to campus riots. To my knowledge there were no media investigations, no lawsuits, and no pointed fingers that arose from any of those three incidents. Sometimes accidents happen, students do dumb things and societal change is not always peaceful.

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Adam Sawyer joined the Terra Dotta family in February of 2016 as a Software Support Engineer. He supports our SAAS environment from client support to operations. Before joining Terra Dotta, Adam worked at his Alma mater, North Greenville University, as an Application Specialist/Database Administrator for three years. Adam got his start working in IT as a work study in the university's computer help desk where he transitioned to being a system administrator on contact to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

Adam graduated from North Greenville University with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies. While there, Adam studied abroad in Israel.

Outside of work, Adam enjoys reading, hiking, and playing video games. One vacation spot he has always wanted to visit is Greece!

Adam says his favorite part of working at Terra Dotta is that “I like how my job changes on any given day. In the 17 months I have worked here, I don’t think I have ever done the same thing for too long. Also, you have to include the people. I have loved getting to know everyone and working together toward a common goal.”

This webinar is designed for offices who would like a review of all the Terra Dotta releases over the past 2 years. You will get a broad overview of newly released features and functionality in TDS 15 and 16. This session will consist of demonstration and discussion of newly released features.

JULY 12 4:00 PM EDT

We will provide a review of the delivered functionality for RTI Connect Phase 2: Updating SEVIS data directly in RTI that posts back to TDS resulting in new record creations/updates for both F-1 and J-1.

JULY 18 11:00 AM EDT

SEVIS Registration and Validation (August 1): Learn how the SEVIS Module supports and facilitates registration and validation of initial and continuing SEVIS records through the Activities page to bulk register your F/M students and to bulk validate your J students and scholars.

AUGUST 1 11:00 AM EDT

Click here for a list of all upcoming webinars.