Since partnering with the technology-based higher education travel platform Terra Dotta last year, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) has streamlined its study abroad application and enrollment process in order to expose more students to international travel.
The effort is part of the historically Black university’s (HBCU) strategy to increase its study abroad program and prepare students to become global citizens, leaders said.
Last year, more than 100 PVAMU students studied abroad and the institution is expected to grow its international engagement through student events, workshops and panels, course content and more travel experiences.
“Adding Terra Dotta to help manage the application process and catalogue our programs has been a critical growth factor for our Study Abroad office,” said Evie Myers, senior international officer at PVAMU. “Our study abroad program was nascent but the number of applicants has quadrupled over the past three years. To support that type of growth we needed a technology solution to manage the comprehensive enrollment process.”
Prior to Terra Dotta, students completed paper applications and had to secure physical signatures and letters from faculty recommenders, making it tedious not only for students, but also administrators who needed to document and track the application process, said Marcus King, international student advisor in PVAMU’s Office of International Programs.
Terra Dotta’s study abroad management solution enabled the HBCU to facilitate the marketing of its programs and receive applications online using a web- and mobile-friendly platform.
“Our system is all about providing efficiency,” said Garrett Christian, chief strategy officer for Terra Dotta, noting that PVAMU is one of the company’s first HBCU clients.
