ERP Tools for Higher Education Institutions: Student Management System

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See how a unified ERP system for student information management can help colleges and universities improve the student experience and compete more effectively.

H1: ERP Tools for Higher Education Institutions: Student Management System

There is a new reality hitting higher education campuses—tighter budgets, more scrutiny of expenses, and increased pressure to drive enrollment amid fewer applicants. For those pursuing higher education, there is more competition among schools than ever before.

An effective ERP system for effective student information management has become an essential tool for working efficiently and providing the best experience for students.

Benefits of a Unified ERP System for Student Information Management

Modern student information management modules incorporated into higher education ERP systems can unify data to enhance enrollment analytics, simplify registration, streamline admissions processing, and assist administrators’ workflow. Beyond core student data, ERP systems can centralize information on housing, meals, facilities, assets, and all facets of campus life.

Key benefits include:

  • Single Integrated Student View:A unified higher education ERP system eliminates data silos between systems, providing administrators with a 360-degree view of each student across applications.
  • Improved Reporting and Analytics:Unified ERP data generates dynamic reports spanning recruitment, enrollment, graduation, budgets, and financial planning to empower data-driven decisions aligned with institutional goals.
  • Lower IT Costs:Transitioning to modern cloud-based ERP systems reduces infrastructure and maintenance costs compared to on-premises legacy systems, providing scalability and continuous improvements.
  • Centralized Platform:An ERP singular platform with purpose-built higher education capabilities allows all stakeholders self-service access to all authorized functions in one place, consolidating systems.

Core Capabilities of Student Management Systems

The right ERP system for colleges and universities can manage student information across the entire student experience.

Admissions Management

Sophisticated admissions tools encompass recruitment, application forms, document collection, scanned index intake, automated decision processing, and offer letter generation. This accelerates evaluation while providing analytics on enrollment funnels.

Enrollment and Registration Optimization

Ingesting data from admissions, students can easily browse course catalogs, check prerequisites, model degree plans, register for classes, and make payments within a unified portal experience. Integrated degree audits verify progress while predictive analytics guide academic planning.

Student Records and Profile Management

Consolidated academic, demographic, contact, and conduct data provide a comprehensive profile, with history, for advising, administration, and alumni relations.

Billing and Accounts Receivable

Modern ERP systems will include flexible models for calculating tuition, housing, and fees catered to programs, terms, and courses. Payment processing, installment plans, dynamic billing, receivables, refunds, analytics, and reporting provide insight into revenue-impacting enrollment and retention policies.

Additional ERP Functionality for Students

Specialized modules can manage just about every facet of student life, including:

  • Financial aid: Process FAFSA forms, manage progress, package and disburse public and institutional aid
  • Housing: Centralized housing allows students to search options based on preferences, manage room changes, report issues, and access residence services
  • Meal planning: Track and manage meal plans, options, and selections
  • Credentials: Unified credentials to track services and transactions across campus
  • Transportation: Route planning, shuttle tracking, and parking permit management via mobile app
  • Healthcare: Medical visit scheduling, immunization tracking, and secure access to records

Administrators also benefit from data analytics, such as predicting at-risk students or uncovering trends in meal plan selection or housing occupancy.

Creating a Centralized Platform

One of the significant  benefits of using an ERP system in higher education is the ability to bring a  variety of functions together into a single platform. Besides your student information system, for example, you can also handle higher ed supply chain management in ERP platforms. Higher ed ERP supply chain management enables you to ensure you have the goods and services students, faculty, and staff need so they can learn and work effectively.

Finding the Right ERP Tools

E&I Cooperative Services can help you find the ERP system, modules, and integration specialists you need to build a comprehensive student information management solution. E&I Cooperative Services is a procurement cooperative that focuses exclusively on education. As a member-owned non-profit, E&I Cooperative Services competitively solicits its RFPs, leveraging the aggregated spend of its 6,000 member institutions. This provides significant cost-efficiency, resulting in significantly lower pricing for goods and services than institutions can negotiate on their own.

Because E&I Cooperative Services works solely in the education sector, they understand the unique needs of higher education and work with suppliers to provide contract terms that benefit academic institutions. There is no cost to become a member of E&I Cooperative Services and no obligation or minimum spending requirements.

Whether you are looking to improve your student management system, create a more comprehensive finance and procurement workflow, or manage your higher ed supply chain management in ERP platforms, E&I Cooperative Services can help you find top-quality suppliers and save you money in the process.

View available contracts at E&I Cooperative Services.