CASE STUDY
CourseLeaf Improves Pathway Clarity for Students at LCCC
At a Glance
Institution Type: Two-Year Public
Enrollment: 5,000 students
SIS Integration: Peoplesoft Integration
Challenge: Manual catalog and curriculum tracking; Duplicate work across systems; Limited efficiency and transparency
CourseLeaf Solutions: CourseLeaf CIM Curriculum Management Software, CourseLeaf CAT Academic Catalog Software
Supporting Student Success
Lorain County Community College (LCCC) has built a national reputation for helping students succeed. Recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as the nation's number one community college for excellence in student success and recipient of Achieving the Dream's Leah Meyer Austin Award, LCCC continually looks for new ways to improve the student experience.
For college leaders, improving curriculum and catalog management represented another opportunity to help students better understand academic pathways while making information more accurate, accessible, and easier to maintain.
According to Jonathan Dryden, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs & University Partnership,
"We are continually looking for ways to improve our offerings. Our goal is to give our students advice, resources, and connections through our Advocacy Resource Center to help them overcome hurdles and stay on course to finish their degree. When we heard about CourseLeaf's catalog and curriculum management software, we knew it was a great opportunity to improve transparency and clarity of academic pathways for our students while also saving time, increasing accuracy, and adding to our bottom line, which is student completion and success."
Moving Beyond Manual Processes
Before implementing CourseLeaf, LCCC managed curriculum and catalog information through manual processes supported by SharePoint and multiple tracking methods.
According to Rosemary Schestag, Project Manager,
"We were doing things manually and using a SharePoint site. When the catalog would come out, any edits would have to be done by going through our meeting minutes and back through the research. We were duplicating work in multiple areas and tracking changes in different places. There was a lack of efficiency, accuracy, and transparency. CourseLeaf has changed all of that. We now have an automated history. It's one of the best investments we have made as an institution."
The college wanted to create a more efficient process that reduced duplicate work while improving visibility and confidence in its academic information.
Finding the Right Partner
LCCC first learned about CourseLeaf while attending the Higher Learning Commission conference.
As the college evaluated solutions, customization and integration with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions quickly became key priorities. The team also wanted a catalog that reflected LCCC's unique academic processes rather than forcing the institution to adapt to a standard template.
Reflecting on the selection process, Schestag said,
"Other companies we looked at provided rigid templates. CourseLeaf's technology was miles ahead of the competition. They took our lead in designing templates that fit our needs and built the software to flow with our process. The integration and sophistication of CourseLeaf is the gold standard version of all catalogs."
A Collaborative Implementation
With a small implementation team, LCCC wanted a partner that would remain engaged throughout implementation and continue supporting the institution after launch.
According to Cory Williams, Administrative Assistant,
"They stayed with us every step of the way and have a network of other users, resources, and conferences where they continually connect back with clients to get insight and feedback on their software. We have felt their support every step of the way and are grateful to be part of the CourseLeaf community."
The combination of implementation support, ongoing training, user resources, and an active client community helped the college confidently transition to its new curriculum and catalog management processes.
Looking Ahead
As LCCC continues expanding its academic operations, the college plans to build on its investment in CourseLeaf by adopting additional solutions that support institutional agility and student success.
Looking toward the future, Schestag said,
"We plan to continue to grow with CourseLeaf. We are in great hands."
Supporting Students Through Better Academic Operations
Today, LCCC manages curriculum and catalog information through connected workflows that improve transparency, reduce manual effort, and create a more reliable source of academic information.
By replacing disconnected manual processes with structured curriculum management, the college has strengthened the operational foundation that supports its broader mission of improving student success, completion, and academic pathways.