CASE STUDY
University of Montana Rebuilds Academic Operations with CourseLeaf
At a Glance
Institution Type: Four-Year Public
Enrollment: 8,000 students
SIS Integration: Ellucian Banner Integration
Challenge: Failed system integrations; Increased staff workload; Missed deadlines; Loss of trust and confidence
CourseLeaf Solutions: CourseLeaf CIM Curriculum Management Software, CourseLeaf CAT Academic Catalog Software
Finding the Right Long-Term Partner
The University of Montana (UM) first implemented CourseLeaf CAT in 2016 to modernize its academic catalog. After a period of using another software provider, the university returned to CourseLeaf in 2022 to continue advancing its academic operations.
Today, UM uses CourseLeaf to improve communication with students, simplify curriculum management, and modernize academic scheduling.
According to Maria Mangold, University Registrar,
"There's definitely a feeling of relief now that we are back with CourseLeaf. We have confidence in CourseLeaf because they deliver exactly what they say they will."
Learning What Matters Most
Following budget reductions across Montana's higher education system, UM evaluated alternative software options that appeared to offer significant cost savings.
As implementation progressed, however, the university found that successful academic operations required more than software functionality. Reliable implementation, higher education expertise, and long-term partnership proved equally important.
According to Troy Morgan, Associate Registrar,
"When we were working with them on the catalog integration, they thought that program requirements were kept in Banner when, in fact, they live in the catalog. They didn't have experience with Banner, or at least not as much as they said they had, and there was no way we could take the time to train them."
As implementation challenges continued, university staff recognized the importance of selecting a partner with deep experience in higher education and proven expertise with their technology environment.
Choosing Experience and Partnership
When UM began evaluating new solutions, the university focused less on product demonstrations and more on implementation experience, customer references, and long-term support.
According to Mangold,
"I did not want to be courted; I had zero interest in sales pitches. My staff and I asked very pointed questions of the reference schools put forward by each service provider, and we took responses very seriously. CourseLeaf's references really sold us on them because, from what everyone was saying, it was clear they had what we needed; they had the entire package."
After returning to CourseLeaf, UM implemented CourseLeaf CIM in 2022, completed an upgrade to CourseLeaf CAT in 2023, and is expanding its academic scheduling capabilities with CourseLeaf CLSS.
Reflecting on the renewed partnership, Mangold said,
"The service we get from CourseLeaf is head and shoulders above what we were getting from our old service provider. Part of our job is to market new software to the administration and faculty so that they will use it and benefit from it. We never felt confident introducing the software from our past provider. There were always technical issues."
Creating More Efficient Academic Workflows
With CourseLeaf CIM in place, faculty now submit curriculum proposals through guided digital forms that simplify data entry and improve consistency.
According to Morgan,
"There's little room for mistakes. It sounds too simple to be true, but the forms make a huge difference."
The university also plans to implement the CIM Bridge Integration to further reduce administrative work while improving data synchronization.
As implementation of CourseLeaf CLSS continues, UM expects additional efficiencies by allowing academic departments to build schedules and transfer information directly into Banner.
Morgan anticipates the new process will significantly reduce the time required to manage course scheduling each term.
Looking Ahead
For UM, returning to CourseLeaf was about more than replacing software. It was about finding a partner that understood higher education, delivered on commitments, and could support the university's long-term goals.
As the university continues expanding its use of CourseLeaf, leaders are confident they have established a stronger operational foundation for future academic initiatives.
Building Confidence Through Partnership
Today, the University of Montana manages curriculum, catalog, and scheduling through connected academic workflows supported by a trusted long-term partnership.
By focusing on reliable implementation, higher education expertise, and continuous collaboration, the university has strengthened academic operations while creating a more efficient experience for faculty, staff, and students.