In March 2021, Enterprise Technology & Services (ET&S) rolled out a new automated process to track Field-Based Experiential Learning (FBEL) for Granite State College (GSC), replacing a manual, cumbersome system that typically took 30 days or more to complete. The new GSC FBEL methodology reduced processing time to five to seven days.
GSC students primarily comprise working adults, and GSC degree programs are designed to integrate with students’ goals and careers. Field-Based Experiential Learning (FBEL) is a concept through which credits are earned through internships and other learning opportunities. ET&S worked with GSC to develop the new FBEL process. Students enter information in a custom webform, and this information is automatically populated in Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. In the past, GSC Advising tracked all FBEL data manually, entering email communications into the CRM. The new FBEL process automates much of that communication and gives the end-user trackable data in which we can now easily report off from form submission to approval.
The new GSC FBEL process increases efficiency/time savings, tracks and reports on data in the CRM, and creates a more user-friendly process for both students and advisors. Most importantly, it saves GSC students the frustration of long waiting times.
Tiffany Doherty is the Director of Student Affairs at Granite State College and spoke highly of the FBEL effort.
“We all hoped and dreamed that the new (FBEL) process would be more transparent for students and advisors, as well as easier to navigate for staff and site supervisors,” Doherty said. “We have moved four students through the new process- the most recent one went from FBEL submission to final approval in less than one week (seriously, this is the quickest I have ever seen this happen in 5 years) and I can say with 100% certainty that our goals were accomplished because the work you did.”
