From a podcast interview with Cheryl Matherly, Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs at Lehigh University

From a podcast interview with Cheryl Matherly, Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs at Lehigh University

Higher education is creeping closer to the edge of the enrollment cliff. With the number of incoming college freshmen expected to peak in 2025 and 2026, and drop off in the years following, institutions are preparing for lingering budget impacts including limited funding allocated to study abroad or downsizing study abroad offerings. While a widespread issue, the enrollment cliff will likely disproportionately affect small liberal arts colleges that have fewer opportunities to offset

From a podcast interview with Randy Kluver, the Associate Provost and Dean at Oklahoma State University

From a podcast interview with Randy Kluver, the Associate Provost and Dean at Oklahoma State University

From a podcast interview with Randy Kluver, the Associate Provost and Dean at Oklahoma State University

From a podcast interview with Mary Stegmaier, Senior International Officer at the University of Missouri.

From a podcast interview with Mary Stegmaier, Senior International Officer at the University of Missouri.

From a podcast interview with Jon Stauff, a seasoned higher education professional with extensive international education experience and a Ph.D. in modern European history.

From a podcast interview with Jon Stauff, a seasoned higher education professional with extensive international education experience and a Ph.D. in modern European history.

From a podcast interview with Jon Stauff, a seasoned higher education professional with extensive international education experience and a Ph.D. in modern European history.

From a podcast interview with Grant Chapman, an experienced global engagement and international education professional with over 30 years of experience. Grant is a Fulbright Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa member.

From a podcast interview with Grant Chapman, an experienced global engagement and international education professional with over 30 years of experience. Grant is a Fulbright Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa member.

From a podcast interview with Grant Chapman, an experienced global engagement and international education professional with over 30 years of experience. Grant is a Fulbright Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa member.

From a podcast interview with Meredith McQuaid, an International Education Consultant & Strategic Advisor with over 15 years of SIO experience.

From a podcast interview with Meredith McQuaid, an International Education Consultant & Strategic Advisor with over 15 years of SIO experience.

From a podcast interview with Meredith McQuaid, an International Education Consultant & Strategic Advisor with over 15 years of SIO experience.

From a podcast interview with Charlie Bankart, a seasoned Senior Internationalization Officer at the University of Kansas who has worked in international education for over 19 years.

From a podcast interview with Charlie Bankart, a seasoned Senior Internationalization Officer at the University of Kansas who has worked in international education for over 19 years.

From a podcast interview with Charlie Bankart, a seasoned Senior Internationalization Officer at the University of Kansas who has worked in international education for over 19 years.

In the fast-paced world of global education, it can be difficult to grab the attention of students when their lives seem to operate at the speed of light. And it’s no surprise; as hectic of schedules as they have, yours probably looks quite similar. So it begs the question: as institutions continue to put greater focus on global education, how will leaders enhance the student journey for both incoming and outgoing students?

While National College Decision Day was on May 1, high school seniors begin researching their top colleges and universities months and even years earlier, considering various factors in their searches like cost, location, academic programs and campus life. But one prominent factor that I believe institutions’ business officers need to be more aware of is study abroad programs. Students know the value of participating in a study abroad program academically, culturally and profess

After two years of study abroad programs that were drastically reduced or paused all together, many of our clients report pent-up demand. Is it real, or is it wishful thinking?  Thankfully, we can see evidence of renewed interest and demand happening in near-real time. At Terra Dotta, we see traffic levels from over 700 customers rising dramatically on our Study Abroad application servers, proving that interest in study abroad is indeed coming back. What about the student

In a world of constant uncertainty, institutions of higher education need a partner more than ever who will provide the right tools, guidance, and support to help bring some much needed balance and stability back into their international education offices. Unfortunately, colleges and universities who haven’t found that key partner yet are feeling the pain of working in older, outdated solutions that don’t help them expand their reach to new students across the globe. Howev

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught international education offices anything over the last two years, it’s how to adapt to change. As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously said, “change is the only constant.” This is truer now than it has ever been. As international student offices learned how to adapt to new ways of operating, other procedures and requirements left offices struggling to find a better solution. One of those requirements is the need to m

As we wrapped up 2020, we thought for sure that 2021 might bring us a reprieve from pandemic learning. Well, it did–but it also didn’t. Virtual and hybrid learning continued into the spring, but campuses gradually welcomed students back for in-person and hybrid learning.  Many silver linings emerged, and flexible online lea

Higher education duty of care needs have never been greater for incoming international and outgoing study abroad students as well as faculty and staff. To meet this critical need,

Continuing its streak of industry accolades, Terra Dotta, a leading global engagement education technology provider, today announced its global engagement platform has been named a platinum winner of Campus Technology’s 2021 New Product Award for Global Engagement, International Education and/or Study Abroad Solutions. Today’s shifting global dynamics demand a connected approach to delivering international education at scale – one that offers comprehensive duty of ca

In March 2020, as students were forced to quickly return home from their study abroad programs, Syracuse University had just deployed AlertTraveler, Terra Dotta’s traveler safety and security solution that sends students abroad real-time alerts about emergencies on the ground and enables staff to quickly verify their safety and communicate with them. While they weren’t able to immediately use the solution at scale for hun

It’s no secret that international and experiential learning opportunities often translate into long-term career skills, thoughtful perspectives and overall value for students post-graduation. However, when global engagement is established as a guiding force coming from top leadership, institutions have the potential to deliver transformative global educational impacts at scale to more students than ever before. This is exactly how Elo

As international mobility continues to ramp back up to pre-pandemic levels, international educators are stepping up to provide accessible and equitable global engagement opportunities for all students. Wake Forest University recently launched an unprecedented initiative to address diversity, equity and inclusion gaps in its campus-wide study abroad programs. Previously there was no way to centrally track which students—including under

As institutions take steps to modernize international education operations across their campuses, they are implementing strategies that unify common elements across global experience programs and leverage relevant cross-campus student data. These approaches help institutions effectively offer transformative and globally-minded educational ex

Salvador, Bahia, @jescudero.photographs This blog was written in collaboration with Dr. Javier Escudero, former faculty member at Penn State and current Director of Brazil Cultural. Brazil Cultural, co-founded by Patricia Burgos and Dr. Javier Escudero, offers education and travel abroad programs in South America, the Iberian Peninsula, and Northern Africa. A full year has passed since COVID-19 swept the world and all travel was stopped in its tracks. Brazil Cu

With higher education students, faculty and staff returning to travel, Terra Dotta, a leader in global education engagement solutions, today announced it has partnered with Security Exchange, a specialized, global security company based in the UK, to deliver enhanced security alerts to administrators and travelers. As part of Terra Dotta’s expanding duty of care offerings and risk management

Terra Dotta, a leading global engagement education technology provider, has been selected as a finalist for the NC TECH Awards Industry Driven EdTech award. The NC Tech Awards is North Carolina's only statewide technology awards program that recognizes innovation, growth and leadership in the tech sector and is presented by the NC TECH (North Carolina Technology Association).

Software and technology user groups as we know them today have been in existence since the 1950s with the IBM mainframe. However, today’s user groups have evolved tremendously and are often driven by established technology providers of all sizes with more formalized interactions designed to help the organization learn much more from its users than ever before. This dynamic presents an unparalleled opportunity to not only build stronger symbiotic relationships with users but also to unco

Helping higher education institutions empower the next generation of global leaders, Terra Dotta today introduced its new global engagement platform. Developing a unified global education experience by connecting all aspects of international programming and supporting campus services, the platform will facilitate cross-cultural learning experiences at scale for students, faculty and staff &n

Celebrating its 20th anniversary as a leader in global education engagement solutions, Terra Dotta today announced it has been named to the Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest growing private companies. Terra Dotta achieved a revenue growth rate of 61% over the past three years, earning a spot on the list for the first time in recognition of continuous innovation and high client satisf

As the return to campus for Fall ‘21 nears, many universities are still operating with precautionary measures, particularly when it comes to approving international travel. Some are allowing student travel to level three countries, whereas others are approving travel on a petition basis. Despite the differences between international travel approval, one thing remains: international mobility is not in full swing just yet. And even as international travel picks up in volume, it&rs

Until a few years ago, University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s global education team relied on entirely paper processes to log, manage and update student information. This approach meant staff couldn’t focus on the most important work for global education teams: cultivating relationships with students and developing new programs and opportunities that met the needs of the university community. It was time for UMBC to join the digital age, and that’s exactly what h

Expanding its duty of care offerings through enhanced safety and security measures for domestic and international travelers, Terra Dotta announced its new AlertTraveler® City and Neighborhood Scorecards -- powered by GeoSure® hyper-local, personalized and inclusive safety scores and notifications. "As institutions begin to reopen travel for students and

SUNY New Paltz draws more than 400 international students to its campus each year, and until recently, the team could not rely on their international student management system to streamline their work. They struggled with bad data, integration headaches, scattered information, and a lot of wasted time. New Paltz needed a change—and that came in the form of Terra Dotta’s ISSS solution. The choice to move to Terra Dotta’s ISSS solution was fairly simple. The Ce

The following guest post offers the perspective of Elisabet Raquel García, a recent college graduate from a historically underserved background on a mission to serve those from a similar background. While international travel may not be back in full swing just yet, many Study Abroad offices are preparing for the return to travel and opening up applications for future study abroad terms. As students enter the application process, international educators must make sure they hav

As we move into a post-pandemic world, some may be ready to log off Zoom forever. But digital exchanges aren’t simply a replacement when international travel isn’t possible, said virtual exchange experts during a recent Terra Dotta webinar. They are an opportunity to provide international experiences to a broader range of students and help them develop necessary skills for the 21st

At times during this pandemic, it felt like we were witnessing the end of international education opportunities for students and scholars on a global scale. But every cloud has a silver lining. Adapting to a new reality of travel bans and lockdowns, institutions have transformed programs and adopted technology in ways that have made international education more diverse, accessible, and inclusive than ever before. In March 2020, global travel came to a standstill. Institutions had to s

Global engagement is experiencing a renaissance on college campuses. While only 

The University of Florida consistently ranks among the top public universities in the country and has over 6,000 international students and scholars! With such a large international population, they had a software provider to support their operations, but this platform was growing in price and shrinking in functionality. University of Florida wanted to offer a better experience for both incoming students and their administrators, so they made the move to Terra Dotta, allowing

Syracuse University had just deployed AlertTraveler, Terra Dotta’s traveler safety and security solution, when the pandemic hit. Students went home, and the usefulness of AlertTraveler seemed, at first, to be muted at best. Syracuse was still using the tool for its intended purpose. AlertTraveler sends students abroad real-time alerts about emergencies on the ground and lets staff quickly verify their sa

It is no secret that international students and scholars have had a difficult year. They have experienced isolation and separation from their support networks on campus and at home, all while reading scary headlines from their home countries and confusing policy changes that seemingly threatened their continued education in the United States.  While replacing in-person gatherings may be difficult to do, virtual engagement opportunities can build connections, provid

The past year has been a transitional time for many in the field of higher education, in which each department has had to rethink its methods of delivery to best support students. In addition to a global pandemic, travel limitations, and a shift to online learning, 2020 was also a politically tense election year filled with much discourse surrounding race relations. As we prepare for COVID-19 restrictions to loosen and a return to a new “normal,” it is imperative that we n

At Clark University, international students make up approximately one-third of the entire student population. Previously performing international student program functions manually, Clark University needed an automated system to enhance international student service levels, and they got it with Terra Dotta. The goal is that with Terra Dotta’s ISSS solution, student “melt” will be minimized. International students can be welcomed and onboarded throug

A year ago, Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., was at a crossroads in serving international students. Spreadsheets and other manual tasks used to track data had become too cumbersome and time-consuming to maintain and keep updated. So, its Center for Global Engagement turned to Terra Dotta to help in the process of automating many critical functions for International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). The result was a more streamlined process that allowed staff to focus less

When higher ed institutions found themselves quickly coordinating students’ return from study abroad programs and sending international students home last March, they could not have possibly known what the following year would hold for global engagement opportunities. The abrupt shutdown of activities had many people disappointed and worried about students missing out on the types of valuable international education experiences that help shape our global leaders of tomorrow. And, as the

Many people were looking forward to 2021, hoping to travel freely and without concern over health and safety. While widespread travel may not be the case just yet, a handful of universities are allowing for limited student travel. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) is just one of these universities. In a normal year, UTK would send a couple hundred students abroad per semester. This semester, their Center for Global Engagement was able to send dozens of students to a

This blog was written by Dr Anthony C Ogden, managing partner of Gateway International Group, a research and consulting firm. E-mail: aogden@gatewayinternational.org. This blog was originally posted by University World News. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an undeniable and potentially lasting impact on

Old Dominion University enrolls one of the largest students populations in Virginia, as well as a large number of international students and scholars. With a high volume of both students and scholars to track, their former software system didn't make the cut. Without an effective system in place, they were left with time consuming tasks and a serious problem with data reconciliation, begging larger questions of liability and compliance. They needed a new software provider to manag

When students go abroad, many will tout their experience online, but social media also offers the opportunity to engage with students who have yet to embark on their journey. As a method of ongoing communication, online posts offer a way to share information and offer a visual of the experience prospective students can have. Here's some creative content ideas Debunk the Barriers

With the widespread use of virtual delivery for day-today campus operations, international opportunities must be marketed appropriately and effectively. No longer can flyers be posted on campus for passing eyes to see, nor can in-person information sessions be hosted. Marketing global opportunities has taken a virtual turn. At Case Western ReserveUniversity (CWRU), they have embraced the virtual switch, ramped up their social media, and even saved some money by not printing their marketing ma

Allison Russell, Director of Global Preparedness and Response at Southern Methodist University (SMU), presented during a recent Terra Dotta webinar. For SMU, they were at a different stage of policy creation: strategic planning. This phase involves establishing a foundation for the travel policy and processe

University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral research institution with roughly 250 international agreements to process for its incoming and outgoing programs. Without an effective system in place, they were left with a decentralized and disjointed process. They needed a different approach to track the international agreement approval process and maintain a centralized database, and they got it with Terra Dotta. Read more about how they use Terra Dotta to easily monitor

Many people have been looking forward to 2021 with hope to travel freely and without concern over health and safety. While widespread travel may not be the case just yet, a handful of universities are allowing for limited student travel. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) is just one of these universities. In a normal year, UTK would send a couple hundred students abroad per semester. This semester, their Center for Global Engagement hopes to send 20-30 students to a small

Policy creation, or reevaluation, is especially relevant at this time as we have learned lessons from Spring 2020 and as we consider the return to travel. In a recent Terra Dotta webinar, Dr. Sandra Callaghan, Director of the Center for International Studies at Texas Christian University (TCU) shar

Gonzaga University went live with Terra Dotta’s ISSS solution in 2020 to continue to offer an environment that welcomes intercultural exchanges. Gonzaga University adds that Terra Dotta: Creates effective process automation and the secure management of data Serves the complex needs of educational and business offices Read more about Gonzaga University’s purchasing and implementation journey in

Cheryl Boeckman, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Terra Dotta, was recently featured in a Sales TechStar Interview. In the interview, Boeckman comments that when she first started working in technology sales, many companies were attempting to sell something that customers didn’t need. With an inevitable unsatis

This year has proven difficult for many, especially international students. With COVID-19 first impacting the United States in March, many international students were unable to return home. Now, with the pandemic continuing to spread, international students are asking themselves, should I go home? Many international students, including Tamara Nazareth from Appalachian State University, have not seen their families since last winter break ー almost a full year. To combat rising

Peralta Community College, comprised of four campuses in Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland, receives about 1,000 international students to their doors each year. Before Terra Dotta The District's previous software system wasn't integrated to their Student Information System for student batch registration, and their team spent hours manually registering studen

Efforts to reopen campuses this fall generated mixed results, and the in-person/remote hybrid options were both chaotic and insufficient. With the benefit of hindsight nine months after the unprecedented closing of campus communities in March, it is clear that our institutions must do better. Colleges and universities have experienced varying degrees of the pandemic’s impacts, yet some universal truths must be acknowledged. One, in higher ed we have a large population of young a

Latest IIE Open Doors Research Indicates Proactive Measures Necessary for New Age of Student Travel Terra Dotta, a leader in higher education travel, study abroad and international program management solutions, today urged institutions to re-tool their incoming and outgoing international education programs now to meet shifting requirements for post-pandemic travel demand. Based on the latest IIE Open Doors research announced this week, colleges and universities will

In a recent blog post from the PIE News, Terra Dotta CEO Anthony Rotoli commented that even though college campuses have grown more diverse, the typical study abroad student remains Caucasian and female.  Many institutions have made the push towards diversifying study abroad program participants and expa

Study abroad students may be eager to spread their wings and spend a semester in France, Australia or South Africa, but while they’re there, they may have their own mental health concerns. In some cases, the study abroad experience can worsen lingering issues. According to the NAFSA: Association of International Educators’ report, Addressing Mental Health Issues Affecting Educati

This blog was written by Education Abroad staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Jing Liu, Program Director for Asia-Pacific and the U.S., and Derek Shepard, Study Abroad Advisor for Asia-Pacific and Domestic Programs. Ever since the arrival of COVID-19 in early 2020, the field of international education has been all but plunged into its 'dark ages.’ Student mobility has dwindled to almost nothing and both students and staff alike are faced w

International students suffer from many of the same mental health challenges as their U.S. counterparts. One study published in 2010 in the Journal of American College Health found that 44% of international graduate students said they had an emotional or stress-related problem that had significantly affected their well-being or academic performance in the previous 12

Spring of 2020 will always be on the mind of international educators as we begin to reflect on how we responded and how we will continue to respond to dynamic situations. For Marquette University, a private university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, care is especially emphasized in their practice of duty of care. Karli Webster, Marquette University’s Manager of Study Abroad Programs, responded with leadership and empathy as she assisted students across the Atlantic during COVID-19. For

One thing that is top of mind for many in the international education field is how we move forward by embracing the ‘new normal’ and better prepare for the next inevitable crisis. Many universities, institutions, and businesses have reconsidered and restructured risk response plans due to today’s unpredictable global climate. Dialogue concerning duty of care is not only important, but necessary to better protect our constituents and our institutions. Travel policy is

Terra Dotta becomes an SAP Concur partner to provide real-time travel risk management Terra Dotta, a leader in higher education travel, study abroad and international program management solutions, today announced a new strategic partnership with SAP® Concur® – the world’s leading brand for travel, expense and invoice management solutions. Terra Dotta will become an SAP Concur partner for higher education travel risk management.

On July 22, 2020, Terra Dotta announced a new collaboration with the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at Yale School of Medicine and White Williams LLP, a multi-practice law firm with a higher education practice. To help support universities and colleges preparing for students to return to campuses, the three organizations are collaborating to deliver a proactive, technology-driven tool to assist in mitigating health risks and monitoring student health. "The higher ed

As a top-ranked private research university in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University is home to a robust international education program. However, with applications and student statuses on paper, their international education office was buried in paperwork. They needed a better way to manage outbound and inbound students, and they got it with Terra Dotta. Growing Study Abroad Programs With Terra Dotta’s Study Abroad solution, Case Western Rese

Terra Dotta, the leader in higher education travel, study abroad and international program management solutions, today announced the latest version of its award-winning suite of solutions for study abroad, delivering a modern, intuitive applicant experience that automates all facets of study abroad program management. Powerful analytics underpin a refreshed user interface, along with new workflows and an admin console, that will help Terra Dotta’s higher education study

International education professionals adapt to doing their jobs during a global pandemic while working remotely. On March 25, when employees from the Global Academic Programs unit at the University at Albany logged onto Zoom for a staff meeting during their second week of working remotely, they were greeted by a surprise guest – Snow White. Add a l

With more than 30 years of experience in the field of international education, our Product Evangelist, Kerry Geffert, reflects on COVID-19 and its impact on the field in the PIE News blog. He reminds his international education peers that this is not the first crisis we have faced, as he looks back on 9/11 and other pandemics like H1N1. As he reflects on his own experiences, he points out two important lessons:

For many students studying abroad as the COVID-19 pandemic grew, the severity of the situation hit home before cases were widespread in the United States. What started in December in Wuhan, China has spread rapidly to neighboring countries and beyond. As international educators, cutting these experiences short is never something we wanted to do but had to as we considered our ethical responsibility. Terra Dotta turned to students to hear their voices on the situation. Some never embar

As our communities respond to the evolving impacts of COVID-19, Terra Dotta is committed to supporting the health and safety of our higher ed customers, partners and employees. Since the onset of the virus and its subsequent global spread, our team has been working day-by-day to diligently keep communication lines open and frequent with regard to the latest alerts, updates and regions affected. Our clients (international education professionals at universities and colleges across

Historical archives of the field not only preserve the past, but can also help guide the future. When David Comp joined the University of Chicago nearly 20 years ago as Assistant Director of the Office of International Affairs, one of the tasks given to him by university leadership was to purge old books and documents fro

A host of trends are impacting international education, as well as the professional skills required in the field. The number of international students enrolled in American universities has gradually increased for more than a decade, reaching nearly 1.1 million students in 2017-2018, according to the 2018 Open Doors® report from the Institute of International Education. However, despite the growth of international student enrollment in both the

Real-Time Travel Risk Management System Enables Higher Education Offices to Alert Global Travelers to Local Emergencies and Resources Terra Dotta, the leader in higher education travel, study abroad and international program management solutions, is pleased to announce that its Travel Registry solution, a cloud-based, real-time travel risk management system, was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Postsecondary Enterprise Solution category in The 16th Annual Inte

For more than 60 years, open doors® has served as higher education’s benchmark report on international students and study abroad. Since its founding in 1919, the Institute of International Education (IIE) has collected and disseminated information on international student exchange in the United States. Colleges, universities, higher education associations, governments and researchers throughout the world eagerly await the annual November