BOULDER, Colo. - June 1, 2020 - Through expert guidance from IEP consultants, St. Mary's College of Maryland successfully transitioned to Via TRM (Traveler Relationship Management) software during peak application season in the fall of 2018. One year after the transition, St. Mary's saw a 33% increase in fall study abroad participation.
Danielle Barr, the Director of International Education at St. Mary's during the implementation, stated, "With our old system, both faculty and students were having a lot of usability issues. I would hear from students that they'd start applications and then abandon them – because the software was clunky and the process was so confusing!"
Barr was brought on board at St. Mary's, as a consultant for IEP, to grow study abroad participation and put policies and processes in place that would help them scale global opportunities for years to come. "One of the first things I did was explore an alternative software system. I chose Via TRM for St. Mary's because of the user-friendliness and the pre-application engagement."
Through support from IEP colleagues and the Via TRM Client Success team, Barr successfully transitioned from St. Mary's previous software to Via TRM in time for the Oct 15th, 2018 application deadline.
When comparing enrollment data from 2018 to 2019, St. Mary's saw an increase of 33% in participation. The key to their growth? "The unique data that Via TRM provides helps you to connect with students in more meaningful ways. For example, in the advising intake quiz, they answer questions about barriers to studying abroad. That information provides advisors with a starting point for authentic conversations." Barr implemented communications strategies built around the data provided in Via TRM to nurture students through the entire process. "The pre-application data in Via TRM is very powerful."
Barr explains, "When you are working with an IEP consultant, you are not just getting access to one person; you are accessing an entire team of skilled, experienced professionals."
With the success of St. Mary's College of Maryland, Via TRM and IEP are excited to announce a new partnership that provides software and business process solutions to study abroad offices worldwide.
With the partnership, IEP consultants will do the heavy lifting, supporting campus staff, for the necessary processes evaluation that takes place when onboarding a new software. While IEP works to revise processes and create efficiencies, the Via TRM Client Success Team guides staff through onboarding and training.
Curious to learn more about how IEP and Via TRM could support education abroad on your campus? Join us for BOLD: The Next Decade in Education Abroad, a digital seminar taking place July 14th - 16th, 2020. www.viatrm.com/bold
Contact
Via TRM, Micaela Mathre
