Staff Training Impacts Student Satisfaction and Increases ROI on EdTech Investments
Colleges and universities see the greatest return on their technology investments when the people who use those systems are confident, skilled, and supported. Training is not simply an operational necessity; it is a strategic enabler that helps institutions realize the value of Ellucian solutions. The quality and impact are reflected by over 250,000 customer course enrollments with an average course rating of 4.76 out of 5. When staff receive effective training at the appropriate time, the benefits include reduced frustration and increased confidence in integrating new functionalities into daily workflows. Ultimately, well-trained staff play a critical role in student satisfaction across the entire lifecycle, from application and registration through advising and graduation.
Empowering Institutional Change
As Ellucian solutions move to software-as-a-service (SaaS) environments, institutions must adapt to ongoing updates, new workflows, and modern delivery models. Ellucian Academy supports customers during this transformation by providing structured, role-based training that helps staff navigate the changes.
When technical and functional teams understand what is changing, they are better positioned to apply new functionalities effectively and deliver faster service, clearer communications, and more consistent student support. Indeed, sufficient training is the bridge between system modernization and institutional effectiveness.
Staff Training as a Strategic Investment
While faculty development is a widely recognized requirement in higher education, staff development is equally essential. Institutions depend on knowledgeable administrative and technical staff to operate systems effectively, support academic processes, and ensure compliance and accuracy.
Ellucian Academy brings together a comprehensive portfolio of learning options, including on-demand training (ODT) and instructor-led training (ILT). These are designed to support both day-to-day job performance and long-term competency development. This blend allows institutions to match learning modalities to specific needs, roles, and stages of adoption. As part of the learning model, participants earn digital badges upon course completion. The badges validate the time invested and serve as a tangible way for individuals to demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired.
Ellucian Academy: Learning Designed for Real-World Roles
Ellucian Academy serves as a centralized learning hub for Ellucian clients. It supports functional users across admissions, the registrar, financial aid, human resources, finance, and advancement. It also supports technical users, such as system administrators, developers, and other information technology staff.
Through a combination of ODTs and ILTs, Ellucian Academy offers:
- Structured onboarding for staff new to Ellucian solutions
- Role-based learning paths for experienced professionals
- Up-to-date content aligned with evolving SaaS environments
These options provide customers with consistent, current training that strengthens skills, simplifies processes, and improves day-to-day performance.
On-Demand Training: Flexible Learning That Scales
ODT provides customers with the flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, with more than 800 courses available.
ODT offerings include:
- Free courses, such as overviews, demonstrations, and navigation guides
- Premium courses that provide in-depth, step-by-step instructions
- Learning plans tailored to roles or specific tasks
The benefits of ODT include:
- Scalable and consistent knowledge sharing across departments
- Support for standard business processes and Ellucian solutions
- Faster onboarding and baseline skill development
- mpowerment through self-paced, self-directed learning
ODT supports learners in building foundational knowledge, refreshing specific skills, and staying current on product updates and best practices.
Instructor-Led Training: Building Confidence Through Feedback and Practice
ILT courses play a critical role in developing deeper, job-ready competencies. ILTs assist clients with a full comprehension of key concepts. The availability of instructors in these courses means that learners can address and apply their skills in simulated environments with immediate feedback.
The feedback loop provided in ILTs builds the level of confidence learners need to perform job tasks independently and accurately. For example, through guided practice and real-time instructor commentary, a system administrator will feel more comfortable setting up users, managing security access, and troubleshooting permission issues in ways that align with institutional policies and SaaS best practices.
What Makes ILT Effective
The ILT experience begins when learners participate in small, real-time, instructor-led Zoom sessions. Each session fosters a supportive, interactive environment where participants can feel comfortable asking questions, sharing challenges, and engaging with peers.
Instructors will:
- Introduce key concepts and best practices
- Demonstrate workflows and real-world use cases
- Guide learners through hands-on exercises step-by-step
Scheduled breaks for discussion, review, and peer collaboration create opportunities for learners to compare scenarios, troubleshoot collectively, and relate course content to their own institutional needs.
Outcomes That Matter
Through ILT courses, employees are better prepared to:
- Consistently apply best practices
- Accurately use data to inform decisions
- Resolve issues more efficiently
- Reduce workarounds and manual processes
- Align workflows and improve operational maturity
ILTs offer the kind of skill development that reduces errors, increases confidence, and supports smoother change management—particularly during transitions to SaaS environments.
Driving Student Experience Through Skilled Teams
The ultimate goals of Ellucian Academy are staff development and improved student experiences. When employees spend less time navigating systems and more time supporting students, institutions benefit from stronger engagement, faster service, and improved outcomes.
Clients consistently share that ILT courses help them:
- Better understand evolving processes
- Increase confidence and technical proficiency
- Feel supported during change
- Navigate SaaS transitions more effectively
By combining flexible ODT options with hands-on ILT experiences, Ellucian Academy enables institutions to build resilient, capable teams for whom technology investments translate into meaningful and sustainable value.
