Buyer's Guide to Non-Traditional Student Information Systems

Student information systems are essential for managing the complex environment of higher education. These platforms serve as the backbone for handling everything from student records to data management, making life easier for administrators and enriching the student experience.

Non-traditional Student Information Systems (SIS) are software platforms designed to manage and support the academic and administrative needs of non-traditional students, such as adult learners, part-time students, online learners or those returning to education after a gap. These systems are tailored to handle flexible schedules, diverse learning formats and unique student records, offering features like tracking modular coursework, supporting asynchronous learning, and managing multiple enrollment periods. They go beyond standard SIS capabilities to accommodate the specific needs of students who follow non-conventional educational paths.

Carefully choosing a non-traditional SIS is crucial for institutions that serve diverse learners with unique needs. The right system helps institutions adapt to changing educational trends and stay competitive in serving non-traditional students effectively. Selecting the right SIS also supports scalability, compliance and long-term operational efficiency.

Why Non-Traditional Student Information Systems Are Crucial for Higher Education

Higher education institutions today face numerous challenges, including heavy staff workloads and the need for more efficient processes, all while meeting students' changing needs. Non-traditional SIS offers several key benefits for higher education institutions, especially those serving diverse and flexible learning populations.

One major benefit is personalization; these systems can cater to the unique academic needs of non-traditional students, such as adult learners or part-time students, by supporting varied course structures, modular programs and self-paced learning.

Another key advantage is flexibility, which allows students to manage non-standard schedules, multiple enrollment periods and asynchronous classes more effectively.

Additionally, non-traditional SIS improves student retention by providing better support for tracking progress, offering personalized advising and improving communication channels with students.

Marketing to nontraditional students is crucial for higher education institutions, as this growing demographic represents a significant opportunity for enrollment growth and revenue while also addressing workforce development needs in a rapidly changing job market. An SIS assists with targeted marketing to adult learners by collecting and analyzing data on learner demographics, preferences and enrollment patterns.This enables institutions to craft personalized marketing messages that resonate with their specific needs for flexible schedules, career advancement and online learning options.

Institutions also benefit from scalability and compliance management, as these systems are designed to adapt to evolving educational models and ensure adherence to educational standards and regulations.

 

A non-traditional SIS is a critical tool for managing the complex environment of higher education. It not only simplifies administrative tasks but also improves the student experience by ensuring data is handled securely and efficiently. This leads to better student satisfaction, higher retention rates and improved operational efficiency.

Challenges Institutions Face When Supporting Non-Traditional Students

Higher education institutions face several challenges when managing non-traditional students. Flexible scheduling is a must for these students but is not always offered by institutions.  Non-traditional students are balancing work and family responsibilities along with other life commitments, requiring institutions to offer varied class times, learning formats and asynchronous content. Student engagement can also be more difficult to maintain with non-traditional students, as these learners may feel disconnected from the campus experience, necessitating more personalized and flexible support services.

Retention and completion rates are another concern, as non-traditional students may take longer to finish their degrees or drop out due to external pressures. Institutions must implement targeted retention strategies, including academic advising and financial aid tailored to their specific circumstances. 

Administrative complexities are increased due to managing non-standard enrollment cycles, credit transfer needs and part-time attendance, which can place strain on traditional student management systems. Lastly, ensuring that non-traditional students feel adequately supported requires rethinking access to resources like academic counseling, childcare and career services, as these students often have different priorities and challenges than their traditional counterparts.

How to Choose the Right Non-Traditional SIS

Choosing the right SIS can be overwhelming. A robust system should offer personalized student tracking and support, ensuring that non-traditional learners receive tailored advising and retention services. Additionally, the SIS must integrate seamlessly with online learning platforms, allowing students to access resources remotely and on demand. The ability to scale and adapt to evolving educational models—such as hybrid or competency-based learning— is equally important.

Ultimately, selecting an SIS that addresses these unique needs ensures operational efficiency while enhancing the student experience for non-traditional learners. 

Here are key factors to consider when selecting the right platform:

Needs Assessment

First, evaluate several critical factors to understand your institution's specific needs. For instance, analyzing student demographics can help you understand learners’ unique needs, such as flexibility in course schedules, modular learning paths and asynchronous learning options. Then, consider administrative capabilities to ensure the SIS can handle non-standard academic structures like rolling admissions, part-time enrollments and credit accumulation over time.

Integration with existing tools, such as LMS and financial aid platforms, is also a key consideration to guarantee seamless operations. Additionally, institutions need to assess scalability to ensure the system can grow with their student population and meet future demands. They also look for robust compliance and reporting features to meet regulatory requirements. Finally, evaluate user experience for both students and administrators in order for the system to enhance engagement and operational efficiency.

• Administrative Tasks: Identify which tasks need automation.
• User Requirements: Consider the needs of administrators, teachers, and students.
• Compliance: Ensure the system meets state and federal reporting requirements.

Targeted Marketing to Non-Trad Students

Many institutions will traditionally market to graduating high school students, but these messages don't always resonate with non-traditional learners. An SIS can play a pivotal role in marketing to non-traditional students by leveraging data-driven insights to create more targeted, personalized campaigns.

Look for an SIS that collects and stores detailed data on students’ demographics, enrollment patterns and preferences, enabling institutions to segment potential non-traditional learners based on factors such as age, career stage or learning format preferences (e.g., part-time, online). With this information, institutions can craft tailored marketing messages that match the specific needs of non-traditional students, such as flexibility, affordability or career advancement.

Additionally, an SIS can help track the effectiveness of marketing efforts by monitoring student engagement and application trends in real time. This allows institutions to refine their marketing strategies quickly and focus on channels that yield the highest return on investment.

Integrating the SIS with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools further enhances the ability to nurture leads, personalize communication and build long-term relationships with prospective students, ultimately increasing enrollment of non-traditional learners.

Continuing Education and Workforce Development

Choosing the right SIS to support continuing education and workforce development for non-traditional students requires evaluating several key features and functionalities tailored to the unique needs of adult learners and professionals.

• Flexible Scheduling and Enrollment: Look for an SIS that can handle rolling admissions, non-term-based enrollments and flexible course schedules to accommodate students balancing work, family and education.
• Modular Learning and Credentials: The SIS should support modular coursework, allowing learners to accumulate credits toward larger qualifications over time. It should also provide detailed tracking of credentials earned and skills developed.
• Career and Workforce Alignment: Choose an SIS that provides tools for aligning educational programs with workforce demands. This might include features that track job placement, internships and partnerships with employers, ensuring that learners are gaining skills that directly support their career goals.
• Compliance and Reporting: Many workforce development programs need to comply with specific regulations or reporting standards. The SIS should offer strong compliance features, including the ability to track student eligibility, financial aid and report outcomes to regulatory bodies.

Scalability

Your chosen system should grow with your institution.

• User Capacity: Ensure the system can handle an increasing number of users.
• Feature Expansion: Look for a system that allows for feature upgrades and additions.
• Integration: Choose a system that can integrate with other tools you might adopt in the future.

Scalability ensures the system can adapt as the institution grows in both student population and operational complexity. User capacity is a key factor, as non-traditional institutions often experience fluctuating enrollment patterns. This requires an SIS toeasily support an expanding user base without compromising performance.

Additionally, feature expansion is vital, as institutions may need to integrate new functionalities such as hybrid learning tools, personalized student support systems or enhanced reporting capabilities as their programs evolve. Seamless integration with other educational platforms and third-party communication tools ensures the SIS can adapt to the institution's broader digital ecosystem.

This scalability supports long-term growth and ensures that both administrative and academic functions can evolve alongside the institution's changing needs.

Support

Reliable support is key for smooth operations in higher education. When issues arise, quick and effective help ensures that everything runs as it should. This means staff can focus on helping students instead of fixing problems. It also keeps students happy and engaged, making them more likely to succeed and stay connected with the institution.

• Technical Support: Check if the vendor offers 24/7 support.
• Training: Ensure comprehensive training is available for staff.
• Community and Resources: Look for a vendor with a robust user community and plenty of resources, like user guides and FAQs.

By considering these factors, you can choose a non-traditional student information system that fits your institution's needs, budget and future growth plans.

Choose an SIS Partner Committed to Your Success

Choosing the right non-traditional student information system is crucial for the success of any higher educational institution. A seamless learner-to-earner lifecycle means supporting students and their unique needs.

Technology for higher education should meet the needs of today's learners by focusing on creating efficient, user-friendly systems that simplify data management and improve the student experience.

Modern Campus offers a robust non-traditional SIS that integrates smoothly with other tools and platforms. This ensures that all your data is in one place and easily accessible. Our SIS is not just about managing data; it's about changing the way educational institutions operate and support non-traditional learners.

• Learner-to-Earner Lifecycle: Our SIS supports students throughout their entire educational journey, from enrollment to alumni status.
• Advanced Technology: We use the latest technology to ensure our systems are reliable and secure.
• User-Friendly Interface: Our systems are easy to use, making it simple for staff, students and parents to access the information they need.
• Comprehensive Support: We provide ongoing support to help you get the most out of your SIS.

By focusing on these key areas, we help institutions deliver a high-quality educational experience that prepares students for success in their careers.

Choosing the right non-traditional SIS can make a world of difference. With Modern Campus, you're not just getting a software solution; you're getting a partner committed to your success. Request a demo today to transform your institution with the best non-traditional student information system. Learn more about Modern Campus SIS and how it can benefit your administrative staff and students.

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Last updated: November 6, 2024