About Course Approval

Yes, Course Approval supports data exchange across platforms through tools like Make.com and Zapier, offering flexible options for integration. We also provide standard CSV export formats for every report in the system, making it easy to share and analyze data in other systems. Institutions like the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois have successfully used Course Approval alongside their existing infrastructure, demonstrating how the platform can adapt to complex environments.

Yes, the system supports automated course expirations and alerts, multiple equivalencies per host course, and flexible formatting options. Bulk upload tools are available for importing legacy equivalencies, making it easy to get started or update large datasets. While the system does not currently include duplicate prevention, we are actively developing AI-powered notifications to help identify and flag potential duplicate entries more effectively. These features are already supporting complex environments at institutions like Seattle University and the University of Tampa.

Yes, routing is customizable and user-friendly. Evaluators and admins can re-route, leave messages, and receive automated reminders or escalations. Workflows are configurable with a graphical interface, and the platform is accessible and mobile-responsive.

Both standard and custom reports are supported with export to CVS and print to PDF. Dashboards and some visual insights are included (bar, pie, line, area, and pivot), with the option to use external BI tools if preferred.

Distinct views for study abroad admin, faculty reviewers, academic advisors, the registrar, and students are supported. Easy field customization and a full-featured sandbox for testing and training are available. The greatest challenge with implementation has been with universities not having accurate access to who their academic advisors are. We have come across this often, but have developed strategies for keeping the workflow moving across all aspects of post decision.

Course Approval is offered as a SaaS solution with flexible 3- to 5-year contract options designed to fit a variety of institutional needs. The base platform is affordably priced, and institutions can scale functionality over time based on their goals. While advanced integrations can add to the total cost, we recommend a strategic approach to prioritize the most impactful connections, ensuring maximum return on investment through thoughtful workflow automation. Many schools find that flexibility in scope helps reduce costs while achieving long-term efficiency. All implementations include robust support: a dedicated help desk and ticketing system, plus direct access to a customer success manager who ensures your team has ongoing guidance and personalized assistance.

Course Approval is a cloud-based SaaS platform designed with security and compliance at its core. We fully comply with FERPA and GDPR, ensuring that your data is handled responsibly and lawfully. All data is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2+ with 2,048-bit keys, and encrypted at rest using AES-256 standards. Data is securely hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), remains fully owned by your institution, and can be exported at any time. The platform supports Single Sign-On (SSO) and granular, role-based permissions to ensure users only access the data relevant to their role. Our incident response plan includes structured procedures, post-incident reviews, and a continuous improvement process. Security is integrated throughout the development lifecycle through both automated and manual code reviews aligned with industry best practices. Course Approval's platform is SOC 2 certified and provides a HECVAT Lite for institutional IT teams.

Course Approval is built to be fully customizable. Each installation is tailored from the ground up to meet the unique needs of the institution—there’s no one-size-fits-all version. Looking ahead, we’re focused on strengthening the end-to-end workflow experience. We’re actively collaborating with UI/UX specialists to uncover new integration opportunities and further streamline shared processes for study abroad offices. Our client base includes a diverse range of institutions, all of which can serve as references. We’re proud to support universities that prioritize innovation, such as Grand Valley State University and Texas Christian University, where Course Approval is already embedded in highly intricate environments.