Case Study: James Madison University streamlines study abroad operations with Terra Dotta

James Madison University automates student profiles in 24 hours with Terra Dotta

James Madison University's Center for Global Engagement faced a challenge with siloed data and highly manual processes. Their study abroad office relied on paper forms and separate Access databases, which made application tracking, reporting, and student communications labor-intensive and reactive. This operational burden stretched their small team thin and was flagged in a university audit, prompting the need for an enterprise-level system. They turned to the vendor Terra Dotta to modernize their operations.

Terra Dotta provided a centralized platform that integrated with the university's Student Administration, HR, and payment systems. This solution automated workflows, standardized data, and provided powerful analytics. As a result, JMU reduced application processing time, enhanced data accuracy, and automated profile updates within 24 hours. The shift to a data-driven approach allowed the team to move from reactive scrambles to proactive student support and strategic planning, efficiently managing hundreds of students across more than 130 programs.

James Madison University