THE APPLICATION PROCESS was entirely manual at Creighton University’s study abroad office less than a decade ago. Sticky notes and file folders were used to track advising appointments. Searching for transcripts and other basic documents required an expedition to the file room. The process was time-consuming and inefficient.
Creighton’s study abroad team needed a better solution—something that not only streamlined its administrative processes but also digitized marketing brochures and materials. “It was time to enter the digital age,” said Lizzy Curran, Creighton’s Associate Director of Study Abroad and Special Global Programs.
In 2014, Creighton made the move to Terra Dotta’s Study Abroad solution.
Online applications that help drive a better experience for students
Digital management and automated processing of all student data
BEFORE TERRA DOTTA: Students applied through an online survey. After completion, the survey was then printed by an administrator, a student folder was created, and then the student would have to come into the office multiple times to receive advising, complete their paperwork, and obtain signatures on printed documents.
WITH TERRA DOTTA: Students complete the online application, upload all relevant documents, and gain access to learning material through a single portal in Terra Dotta.
In the midst of the pandemic, Creighton shored up its risk mitigation practices when it deployed Terra Dotta’s Travel Registry, which documents traveler information. Creighton now uses it to track both domestic and international travel.
“You realize, in a crisis, that you need to be able to quickly locate your staff and know how to best contact them,” Curran said. With Terra Dotta, Creighton can quickly and easily see where travelers are located.
But it’s not just about keeping people safe. It’s also helping Creighton’s budget tracking. Before Terra Dotta, travel plans were managed by individual departments. Now, with Terra Dotta’s Travel Registry, supervisors are notified and can ensure their travel budget is accurate throughout the year.
Increased concerns over safety and security for all travelers prompted Creighton to invest in AlertTraveler, Terra Dotta’s app that monitors students’ locations and sends them critical information in real-time.
Thanks to AlertTraveler, it was effortless for Creighton to quickly communicate with students at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.