CASE STUDY
Brown Drives Early Registration with CourseLeaf
At a Glance
Institution Type: Four-Year Private
Enrollment: 11,300 students
SIS Integration: Ellucian Banner Integration
Challenge: Disconnected course data; Inefficient ERP experience; Student-built workarounds
CourseLeaf Solutions: CourseLeaf PATH Student Registration Software
Responding to Student Expectations
Brown University recognized that students expected the same intuitive digital experiences they encountered in other aspects of their lives. However, course information was spread across multiple systems, making it difficult to search for courses, build schedules, and register with confidence.
Students responded by creating their own applications to bridge the gaps between systems, increasing requests for data and support from the Registrar's Office.
According to Rob Fitzgerald, University Registrar,
"Our students didn't like the Banner interface, so they tried to develop apps on their own."
The university wanted to provide a modern, accessible registration experience that better served students while reducing long-term administrative complexity.
Bringing Registration into One Experience
Rather than developing another custom solution, Brown chose to create a single registration experience that brought together information from multiple campus systems.
Reflecting on that decision, Fitzgerald said,
"We partnered with CourseLeaf rather than try to build something ourselves, so that we could integrate the Bulletin and Banner information and give students a modern, accessible, user interface that took a lot of their feedback into perspective."
By replacing four separate systems with CourseLeaf PATH, Brown created a unified environment where students could search for courses, build schedules, validate registration requirements, and move through the registration process more efficiently.
Helping Students Register with Confidence
CourseLeaf partnered with Brown to connect course and student information across campus systems, creating a more reliable registration experience with fewer manual steps and less confusion.
Students gained better course discovery tools, improved registration validation, and a smoother path from course planning to enrollment.
Features such as Courses I Can Take helped students focus on courses they were eligible to register for, while Students Who Also Took and Promoted Courses made it easier to discover additional academic opportunities.
Using CourseLeaf's SIS Banner Integration to connect PATH with Banner also provided the Registrar's Office with real-time visibility into registration data, helping support more accurate enrollment processes.
Improving the Student Experience
Since implementing PATH, Brown has seen strong adoption across campus.
Students now complete much of the registration process with minimal interaction with the Banner interface, creating a more intuitive experience from course search through enrollment.
The university also experienced an 18 percent increase in early registration, a trend that has continued across four consecutive registration cycles.
Reflecting on the implementation, Fitzgerald said,
"We think we are in a great state in terms of moving forward with PATH, so it's been a win for us."
Looking Ahead
Brown continues expanding its use of CourseLeaf PATH to further simplify registration and improve operational efficiency.
Looking ahead, Fitzgerald said,
"We are looking forward to expanding the PATH product to fully implement the registration and add-drop-swap experience inside, as well as help with server load issues that can sometimes present themselves in the ERP at peak periods."
Building a Better Registration Experience
Today, Brown University provides students with a more connected registration experience that brings together course search, planning, and registration within a modern, institutionally branded interface.
By replacing disconnected systems with a unified experience, the university has reduced registration complexity, improved access to accurate information, and created a stronger foundation for supporting students throughout the registration process.