University Plus Application Streamlining
Project

The University of Massachusetts Amherst

The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a major public research university and the flagship campus of the UMass system. UMass Amherst needed a modern, efficient solution to streamline the application process for its online program offerings. To address this need, UMass Amherst partnered with Solidan to implement a single application solution through Slate. This solution needed to align the application experience with the Slate-supported undergraduate and graduate processes that had already been established.

CHALLENGE:

UMass Amherst faced several challenges:

Overall, the admissions process was fragmented and relied heavily on manual processing which created room for human error, complicated application management and review workflows, and greatly increased administrative burden.
Staff were required to work across multiple disparate systems to get their job done, resulting in operational inefficiencies.
Applications and materials were printed and kept in paper folders, which made it difficult to share the information with other departments involved in the process.
The applicant portal was difficult to navigate and lacked the information that online applicants needed, leading to applicant frustration and confusion.
All changes to the application required outside intervention resulting in delayed updates and requiring workarounds to be established.

These challenges posed significant obstacles to UMass Amherst’s ability to offer a smooth, streamlined, and user-friendly application experience. It also hindered administrative efficiency and data integrity, prompting a need for strategic intervention.

SOLUTION:

Solidan aided UMass Amherst with one goal: to create a unified, Slate-hosted application platform that simplifies and guides the applicant’s journey from start to finish while streamlining the administrative process.

Solidan achieved it by:

Developing a single point-of-entry Slate application that intelligently routes applicants based on eligibility and program selection.
Implementing an application management and status portal to reduce confusion and increase transparency throughout the application lifecycle.
Constructing an Application Review Workflow that leveraged automation to move records along through the process more accurately and efficiently.
Building integrations with Peoplesoft and Salesforce, allowing seamless transitions of applicant data in multiple systems.

To implement the solution, Solidan worked closely with UMass Amherst stakeholders to understand their unique needs and application workflows. Key guiding principles included reducing data entry, eliminating duplicate records, minimizing customization to ensure sustainability, and maintaining flexibility for future enhancements.

Notable features:

An eligibility-based “application starter” form that prevents submission if an applicant is not qualified for the selected program.
Logic that allows multiple applications (for different programs) per term while enforcing record consolidation and preventing duplicate entries.
A centralized applicant portal that enhanced the user experience allowing applicants to track the status of their application, missing materials, and receive custom transfer credit evaluations.

RESULTS:

The implementation resulted in a cohesive, user-friendly, and scalable application platform for UMass Amherst’s online programs.
Key outcomes:
- Operational Efficiency: Reduced administrative burden through centralized dashboards and streamlined workflows.
- Improved Applicant Experience: Clearer application pathways and real-time status tracking enhanced user satisfaction and reduced errors in program selection.
- Data Integrity: Improved processes around duplicate prevention and record consolidation ensured cleaner student data.
- Sustainability: Minimal customization preserved long-term maintainability and reduced dependency on IT for ongoing support.
This project demonstrates how a thoughtful, systems-based approach can address complex challenges in higher education operations while enhancing both staff efficiency and the applicant experience.

“Working with Solidan was such a positive experience – I can’t say that enough. Their knowledge of the admissions world allowed them to guide us through the process – asking the right questions and striving to find solutions for complicated issues. They were supportive from beginning to end and beyond. We could not have achieved the level of success that we did without them.”

Susan Slocombe

Manager, Student Services Systems

UMass Amherst, Flexible Education

CLIENT'S FEEDBACK:

“We were in desperate need of an overhaul of our online application and admissions processes. The solution had to, first and foremost, serve our applicants in the best way possible while providing the efficiencies that we needed. Partnering with Solidan allowed us to achieve exactly that. What we ended up with is a comprehensive application that is easy to complete and easily modified to accommodate necessary changes, a functional portal that allows applicants to upload materials as well as track the progress of their application and a vast improvement in our administrative efficiencies. Working with Solidan was such a positive experience – I can’t say that enough. Their knowledge of the admissions world allowed them to guide us through the process – asking the right questions and striving to find solutions for complicated issues. They were supportive from beginning to end and beyond. We could not have achieved the level of success that we did without them.”

University Plus Application StreamliningProject