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Why EMPOWER SIS is Among the Best Student Information Systems

best student information systems

Changes in technology have brought new challenges in the education sector. As schools adapt, it’s essential to have a student information system (SIS) that can keep up. Among the many SIS options available, EMPOWER SIS stands out as one of the best student information systems on the market. In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons why EMPOWER SIS is among the best student information systems and the benefits for your academic institution.

1. Unparalleled Customization

Every college has its own unique needs and goals. What makes EMPOWER stand out as one of the best student information systems is the level of customization. Administrators can configure the system to include the specific fields and workflows needed for your school’s operations. The platform aligns with your existing processes and adapts to your goals. Through creating a custom solution, we enhance your school’s ability to manage student data, support reporting requirements, and meet compliance obligations.

2. Comprehensive Features

One of the main reasons why EMPOWER is one of the best student information systems is our comprehensive set of features. Our SIS includes everything you need to manage your school’s administrative and academic functions, from admissions and enrollment to grading and reporting. The system also includes tools for managing financial aid, billing, and student accounts. Every aspect of your school is streamlined and works in tandem to increase efficiency and enhance the student experience.

3. Integration Capabilities

Integration refers to the ability to share and access data among solutions. EMPOWER is designed to integrate seamlessly with other education technology tools, such as learning management systems (LMS) and school websites. This integration makes it easy for your school to manage all of your technology tools from one central location. It makes processes like data sharing simpler, saving time and creating a more seamless experience for users.

4. Customer Support:

As one of the best student information systems, EMPOWER is backed by excellent customer support. Implementing a new SIS takes time, which is why we invest in an ongoing relationship with your school. We provide in-depth training and continuous support to help your staff learn and understand how to use the platform. We’re always available to answer any questions. We also provide regular updates and enhancements, ensuring that it is up-to-date with the latest technology and educational best practices. We use customer feedback to continuously improve our SIS.

5. User-Friendly Interface:

EMPOWER features a user-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to use. This makes it easy for administrators, teachers, parents, and students to access the information they need quickly and efficiently. The system’s dashboard is customizable, allowing users to tailor the interface to their needs and preferences.

EMPOWER SIS is one of the best student information systems for colleges and academic institutions. We’re here to help schools and educators better manage student information and improve educational outcomes. EMPOWER can help you streamline your operations, enhance the student experience, and stay ahead of competitors. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more.

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Your Guide To Choosing The Best Information Systems For Schools

information systems for schools

Leading an academic institution involves managing and tracking a lot of information, from attendance records and grades to alumni outreach and financial records. Information systems for schools help institutions organize data, streamline operations for staff, and overall improve the student experience. 

When it comes to choosing the best information system for schools, there are specific tools and qualities that you should look for before committing.

1. Functionality

Information systems for schools should offer features that address the specific needs of your institution. It should be designed to make tasks such as managing data, tracking attendance, grading, and scheduling simpler for staff and administrators. It’s also important that the platform incorporates cross-functionality between all aspects of campus life, from HR to academic planning.

2. User-Friendliness

One of the most important aspects of information systems for schools is how easy it is for staff and students to use. If an SIS is overly complicated and makes it difficult to access information, your team won’t benefit. Look for information systems for schools that employ a clean, intuitive interface and are easy for anyone to navigate. It should also be accessible from mobile devices.

3. Security

Information systems for schools provide access to sensitive information such as financial records, employment information, and student data. It is crucial that the platform has robust security features that can keep up with evolving cyber threats and keep data safe. 

4. Support and Maintenance

Consider the level of support and maintenance that the system vendor provides. A quality and reliable vendor should offer regular updates, technical support, and in-depth training resources. Information systems for schools can be complicated to integrate. They shouldn’t leave your staff hanging, but be available to answer questions and provide continuous assistance.

5. Integration

Information systems for schools are incredible tools, but they can’t manage everything. Your school may still need to use CRM and marketing automation, learning management systems, and other software solutions in its technology stack. It’s important to ensure that your SIS offers easy integration with other online tools.

By considering these factors, schools can select an information system that will support their operations effectively and efficiently.

EMPOWER SIS

EMPOWER offers an unparalleled level of customization and flexibility for any school. Our support team provides your staff with in-depth training and is available to answer questions or troubleshoot issues. See why more schools choose EMPOWER SIS. Contact us for a consultation.

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What Is Degree Audit Software & How It Keeps Students On Track

degree audit software

Colleges commonly require students to conduct a degree audit with their academic advisor or the registrar’s office during their academic career to ensure they will meet all their graduation requirements. Unlike an official transcript, which focuses on completed courses and grades, using a degree audit software can provide a report that shows a clear picture of where a student stands in terms of meeting their graduation requirements.

What is degree audit software?

Degree audit software is an online tool that enables students and academic advisors to assess progress toward graduation. It aligns a student’s in-progress and completed course work with the requirements of their degree program.

A degree audit typically contains:

-Major and minor requirements 

-General education requirements

-Credits needed to graduate

-How many credits they have currently earned

-Current GPA

-Completed and incomplete courses

-Transfer credits

-Current in progress courses

An essential academic advising tool, degree audits produces an easy way for students and advisors to monitor progress toward degree completion. The program organizes the transcript categorically, identifying which courses have been completed and which remain to fulfill degree requirements .

Degree audits often contains a “what if” option, allowing students to explore changing their major or minor. They can experiment to see how the courses they’ve already taken would be applied toward that new degree and how many more courses and credits would remain. This is a valuable tool to help students evaluate whether to change their major.

When should students perform a degree audit?

The best time to review academic progress with degree audit software is before registering for the next semester’s classes. This will help students when they meet with their adviser to discuss which classes to register for in the upcoming semester.

The benefits of degree audit software:

Performing reviews with a degree audit software will assist students in achieving their goal of graduating on time by:

  • Reviewing their progress toward degree completion
  • Identifying courses that need to be completed
  • Selecting courses that meet degree requirements
  • Planning courses to take in future semesters
  • Determining a projected graduation date 
  • Choosing a new major, minor or concentration 
  • Providing a clear outline of missing requirements
  • Saving time by using the what-If scenario
  • Easing the process of degree certification

Degree audit software is a powerful tool for both students and advisors, making the degree planning process easier for everyone. Students can stay on track, get the support they need, and graduate on time.

EMPOWER SIS:The Best Degree Audit Software

With EMPOWER’s degree audit software, students can work effectively with their advisors to track and manage their academic progress, all in real-time. Connect with us to see how EMPOWER SIS can help empower advisors and students to clear the path to graduation.

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How Registrar Software Streamlines Administrative Processes

registrar software

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for maintaining important academic records and credentials. Registrars have a range of responsibilities, like storing data, managing student life, and facilitating communication.

A Student Information System with innovative registrar software streamlines administrative tasks. This allows admins to better serve their institutions and enhance the student experience. In this blog, we’ll cover the duties of registrars and how registrar software can make day-to-day administrative tasks easier.

The Responsibilities of a Registrar

Registrars are the main administrative bodies at colleges, overseeing critical processes that allow institutions to run smoothly and efficiently. They store, protect, and allow access to student data. They are responsible for managing student life and academics, as well as facilitating communication campus-wide.

Common duties may include:

  • Organization and administration of student data.
  • Ensuring the privacy and security of student data.
  • Overseeing registration, admission, and graduation processes.
  • Mapping schedules and assessment dates.
  • Keeping records of academic achievement, grade books, and transcripts.
  • Preparing diplomas and degrees, and other clerical tasks.
  • Facilitating communication between students, staff, and administration.

Using registrar Software to Streamline Administration

Student Information Software (SIS) is a software system that uses automated processes to store and manage data. The right SIS can streamline administrative processes and simplify daily registrar duties. Here are a few ways registrar software can benefit college institutions.

1. Reliable communication

With registrar software, everyone on campus communicates in one place. Students can access any information they need, when they need it, and reach out for support from professors or advisors. SIS technology integrates mass communication systems like in-app notifications, message boards, emails, and text messages. Faster, reliable communication and accurate information creates a better learning experience for students and an improved work environment for staff.

2. One centralized platform

When institutions use multiple platforms for communication, data storage, schedules, academics, and other functions, day-to-day operations can become complicated. An integrated SIS with registrar software provides a unified platform that allows for collaboration and effective management. It simplifies the activities of both students and staff.

3. Secure data storage

Cloud-based data storage is reliable and safe, protecting students’ data, privacy, and confidentiality. Storing data online also saves time and resources by removing the need for hard drives and paper-based methods. This eliminates the chance of human error and speeds up administrative processes. 

4. Data analytics

Registrar software offers analytical functions that provide institutional leaders access to actionable data that can be used to make strategic decisions. It can help guide financial aid, recruitment, alumni outreach, fundraising opportunities, and more.

5. Manage student life

SIS technology is capable of creating organized timetables and schedules tailored to individual students’ requirements. From academic records to grades and assignments, students, professors, and administrators can easily manage data in one portal.

Registrar software transforms and optimizes administrative functions for registrars, streamlining operations while enabling institutions to make more informed decisions. 

EMPOWER SIS For Registrars

Your staff is most effective when they can do what they do best: helping students. EMPOWER SIS streamlines the day-to-day so staff has more time to devote to students. We’re here to support the registrar’s office in its work on behalf of students by eliminating inefficiencies and enabling efficiency. Contact us for a consultation.

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The Importance of Automation in Medical School Admissions Software

medical school admissions software

Every year, medical school and other higher education institutions receive thousands of applications from undergraduates and postgraduates. Admissions teams are tasked with recording, assessing, and processing every single application, as well as communicating with applicants, within a very limited timeframe. It can be an overwhelming workload for admission offices with small teams.

Although students have the ability to apply online, many other processes require manual data entry or transfer, often between different databases. Communication between the office and applicants usually occurs over email, which eats up staff time and resources. It’s also all too easy for emails to get buried in an inbox, leaving applicants with urgent requests left hanging. 

The role of automation in medical school admissions software can greatly improve processes and streamline workflows for staff. Simply automating certain processes can have a rippling impact on productivity, efficiency, and overall experience campus-wide. Here we’ll dive into some of the benefits of automation in medical school admissions software. 

1. Meet applicants where they are

Today’s applicants are accustomed to instant communication and response through their smartphones. Once potential students have filed their application, they should have the ability to track it with real-time updates. If they submit a question, they expect an answer quickly. By incorporating automation into the medical school admissions process, staff can provide more personal attention to each case and students will experience the prompt feedback they deserve.

2. Goodbye manual data entry

Manual data entry is a time-consuming task for admissions teams, and can lead to errors. Medical school admissions software offer automated data transfer between systems, eliminating mistakes and removing the burden from your staff. Automation also allows for paper applications to be scanned, indexed, and filtered into backend systems for faster processing.

3. Instant grade assessment

An automated grading solution for medical schools could analyze the grades in a student’s application and determine whether they meet the requirements to attend a course. They could then accept the student into the next stage of the process. All rejections may still be reviewed by a member of the admissions team before being issued. 

4. Save revenue for your university

Losing a student in the middle of the application process can be costly to universities. Using technology to develop smarter processes creates better experiences for students. This makes all the difference in an enrollment decision and ultimately saves you revenue. Additionally,  medical school admissions software reduces the number of team members and office supplies you may need to handle new student applications. Lowering the costs of your admissions system can free up more capital for other departments or projects.

5. Faster application processing

When staff are faced with a large volume of applications, medical school admissions software helps employees easily sort through, track, and process applications, moving them along faster. Administrators can use automation to monitor applicant counts, manage deadlines, schedule interviews, update applications, and send acceptances or denials more efficiently. 

Flexible and Efficient Medical School Admissions Software

The Medical School Admissions module from EMPOWER is backed by two decades of experience with medical schools and higher education. Our powerful SIS offers automated features, a user-friendly interface, and is completely configurable to your university’s needs. Contact us to schedule a consultation. 

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Tips for Maximizing Efficiency with Student Records and Registration Software

student records and registration software

Every university has a student record management system. In the past, that system consisted of file cabinets or bins of paperwork. Now, technology has made it easier to store student records securely, eliminating the need for tedious, time-consuming, manual systems and processes. 

Going paperless by digitizing both student records is a critical step for higher education institutions. Student records and registration software makes it simple to digitize and archive important documents and information. By storing everything on the cloud, data can be kept organized and safe from potential theft or loss. Staff will be able to access information quickly and efficiently. 

Here are some tips to maximize efficiency with student records and registration software.

1. Digitize your files

Start by converting student records from paper to digital. You can use a scanner to transfer items into the student information system (SIS). From there, staff can search through stored documents by keyword, making them easier to find. Newly created documents can be automatically filed using the same system.

2. Keep files organized

Set time aside as often as you need to sort through and review your electronic and paper records. Thoroughly and securely dispose of any records that are outdated, unnecessary, or duplicates. It’s also important to have a clear system in place on how to name and file documents. With clearly defined protocols, administrators can eliminate potential confusion and make it easier for staff to track down specific information at a later date.

3. Prioritize security

Student records contain all kinds of sensitive data, including medical and financial information, social security number, address, and the names of family members. Digitizing data with student record and registration software helps keep information confidential and safe from theft. The SIS provides controlled access and security protocols to keep cyber threats at bay.

4. Ensure compliance

FERPA applies to all schools that Federal education funds, and it protects both paper and computerized records. It covers rules regarding consent to access and confidentiality of student records. With an SIS you can ensure compliance by producing accurate reports of how, when, and where documents are accessed.

5. Streamline administrative tasks

Student record and registration software automates the data capture and storage process. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, enhancing productivity and data accuracy. Have your staff examine repeatable processes like accounts payable, onboarding, assessments, grant management and others to see where automation can help. By streamlining day-to-day tasks, staff can focus their attention and energy on helping students. 

6. Harness the power of analytics

With student records stored in one centralized location, educators can gain visibility into student development and performance. Academic counselors and teachers can proactively identify students who may be in need of additional support and help them stay on track to graduation. Using the data provided by the SIS, administrators can also better understand their schools’ needs and make more informed decisions about curriculum standards, accreditation, hiring, scheduling, budgeting, funding, compliance and more.

EMPOWER SIS Student Record and Registration Software

Our student record keeping system is highly flexible and customizable to the needs of your school. Learning how to manage your school’s data takes time, which is why we implement our SIS in phases and offer comprehensive training for staff. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your school.

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6 Best Practices for Managing Financial Aid Disbursements

Financial aid disbursements

Financial hardship is the number one barrier that prevents students from enrolling and graduating college. Financial aid packages can make or break enrollment decisions, playing a crucial role in admissions strategies. Offering comprehensive financial aid disbursements is one of the best ways for institutions to support student success. By analyzing and updating financial aid processes, schools can maximize the use of available funds to keep students on track to achieve their goals.

Using a student information system (SIS) with financial aid management capabilities can be a game changer for your financial aid office. Here are some ways an SIS will transform your processes and better manage financial aid disbursements for students.

1. Empower Students With Self-Service

Self-service allows students to access their account information at any time, from anywhere. This makes it easier to manage loans, make tuition payments on-time, avoid over-borrowing, and meet scholarship requirements. In turn, they can focus on learning and stay on-track to graduation. Across institutional operations, self-service can also enhance advising, degree tracking, and more.

2. Streamline The Application Process

Technology has completely changed how students apply for and manage financial aid disbursements. Gathering, organizing, and submitting the necessary information can be challenging. Institutions can ease the process with an SIS that makes the experience seamless. 

Financial aid disbursement software can shorten the time it takes to complete applications, reduce application errors, and improve accuracy. The faster applications are processed, the sooner applicants will access financial aid offers and commit to enrollment. Financial aid management software also enables financial aid offices more information to distribute awards effectively, equitably, and reliably. 

3. Integrated Cross-Campus Data

An SIS offers a centralized platform that houses all billing information and financial aid disbursement under one roof. Staff can navigate and manage vast numbers of scholarship applications without the need for mountains of paperwork. They can manage all types of aid and loans in one place, while syncing data related to student records, billing, and admissions in real-time. 

4. Student Intervention

Well-timed interventions can make all the difference for students who struggle to meet the requirements of the aid applications and scholarships they need to stay enrolled. With the right software, institutions can equip staff with the insights they need to keep students on track. Schools might also consider reevaluating punitive measures for unpaid bills, like withholding transcripts for outstanding balances. Implementing student-first measures can keep students from putting their education and future careers on hold.

5. Incorporate Basic Needs

Financial aid helps make tuition more affordable, but many institutions have expanded the extent of their support to cover basic needs. This means covering costs like on-campus housing and dining within financial aid disbursements. Financial aid offices may also consider setting aside some of the annual budget to supply emergency funding.

6. Be Transparent

If prospective students and their families don’t have clear and accurate information about the cost of tuition, they can’t make an accurate financial plan. Ensure that all information being presented on campus websites and within aid offers are updated and accurate. Make sure students understand the differences between student loans, grants, and private scholarships. They should have a complete breakdown of their financial aid disbursements.

Choose EMPOWER: A Student Aid Management Solution

Financial aid is the most important deciding factor in enrollment for students. Using top-of-the-line financial aid management software makes it simple to navigate the award process from start to finish for both students and staff. Contact us for a demo of our software.

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How Colleges Can Improve the Tuition Payment Process for Students

Tuition Payment

A university’s billing and receivables department is one of its most critical functions. Outdated manual processes and data silos result in mistakes and inaccurate financial oversight. If this is something your school struggles with, it’s time to update your billing processes. Automated software for student billing helps streamline the tuition payment process for students while lightening workload for staff members. Read on to discover the benefits of student billing software for colleges.

1. Eliminate Manual Work

Student billing software automates tuition payment collection, eliminating the need to chase down, verify, and keep track of student payments. This reduces manual data entry, saving staff time and energy.

2. Integration

Integrating your billing department within your SIS condenses student information into one centralized platform, streamlining cross-department communications. Tuition payments are synced with student rosters and integrated with your accounting software. Automated receipts and historical records provide an accurate financial audit trail. 

3. Security

Online tuition payments are safer and more secure than cash or checks submitted through the mail. They reduce the opportunity for cash to be lost, stolen, or spent, minimizing school’s financial risk. 

4. Financial Visibility

By providing a convenient channel for tuition payments and other bills, colleges can drive revenue up and administrative costs down. Automated reporting in your SIS provides increased financial visibility so administrators can more accurately allocate funds and gain real-time updates on financial data.

5. Flexibility

Digital payment options allow schools to keep up with technology and meet the expectations of students and parents. Students will be more likely to meet their payments on time and have the ability to pay on the go, from anywhere. By offering online tuition payments, your school delivers a level of flexibility and mobility that has become the modern standard. 

Why Should Colleges Improve Billing Processes?

One of the most important reasons to improve your billing process is that it improves your relationships with students and parents. Creating a streamlined, service-oriented approach to student billing demonstrates that the student experience is your top priority. In addition, having a consistent and fair process sets expectations of the tuition payment process early on.

An improved billing process can also lower the cost of doing business while increasing revenue. Electronic billing reduces the amount a school spends on paper, postage, and envelopes. The financial office will experience a streamlined, automated process and fast turnaround for payment collection while increasing overall convenience for students. 

EMPOWER SIS Billing and Receivables

EMPOWER student billing software is the best choice for colleges. Our SIS provides a simple-to-use web portal for students to pay their tuition online while making financial reporting a breeze for staff. Contact us to learn more about how we can help improve your school’s billing process with a modern student information system tailored to your needs.

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5 Best Practices for Effective Donor Database for Colleges

donor database

Donations help keep colleges and universities financially healthy and allow them to expand their programs, buildings, and scholarships. Without donor support, a school cannot develop and grow to meet the needs of students. That’s why it’s critical to have a clear donor database plan. How you engage, interact with, and show appreciation for donors will impact whether they continue to support your college. Here are some best practices for effective donor management. 

What is donor management?

Donor management is the steps your school takes to acquire new donors, collect donor information, and cultivate strong relationships. Creating a positive experience increases the chances that your donors will continue supporting their alma mater for the long term.

5 Tips to Improve Your Donor Management Strategy

1. Invest in donor management software

A donor management system is a software tool that allows colleges to store, organize, and report on donor data. Some of the features of a donor management system include:

  • A donor database: This is the tool you’ll use to build, view, and update donor profiles.
  • Online giving platform: This provides a more seamless experience for donors.
  • Reporting features: You’ll be able to run reports on fundraising campaigns, donor engagement metrics, and other insights.
  • Personalized donor outreach: When you keep track of donor information, you can personalize donor outreach messages by addressing them by name and thanking them for their specific donation amount.
  • Identify potential major donors: Donor management systems provide insight into who your most engaged donors are, so you can focus your outreach efforts.

2. Track Metrics

Once you have a donor management software, you’ll be able to use quantifiable metrics to assess your donor management progress. You can use your donor database to analyze retention rate, acquisition cost, lifetime value, and other metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your campaigns. 

3. Segment Donors

Using the information in your donor database, you can segment supporters based on their shared interests or behaviors, creating smaller donor groups. Then, you can create tailored content for each group rather than sending generic, one-size-fits-all messages to your entire donor base.

4. Regularly Update Donor Information

Your donor information is only valuable if it’s accurate and complete. With an accurate and updated donor database, you can be sure that your marketing and outreach efforts aren’t being wasted. Regularly audit your database to identify inaccurate or outdated information. Donor management software may be able to complete this process automatically, saving your team time.

5. Communicate With Donors Regularly

It’s important to keep the channels of communication open without bombarding your donor’s inboxes. Find the right balance by touching base regularly, with messages spread over a few months. Highlight additional ways to engage that don’t involve donating, such as volunteering or attending events. Provide updates on how donations have helped you achieve a goal, complete a project, fund a program, or work toward another objective. This will help foster stronger supporter relationships and encourage long-term giving.

Build A Strong Donor Database With EMPOWER SIS

Investing in donor management software is important for the financial security and growth of your school. A school can’t build and nurture relationships with donors if it doesn’t have accurate and segmented data at its fingertips. EMPOWER makes managing donor data easier and more efficient with an organized, central donor database. Our SIS provides a seamless experience for both staff and donors, building stronger relationships for the long-term. Contact us for a demo.

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How Student Tracking Software Helps Students and Educators Perform Their Best

student tracking

To adapt to the ever-evolving digital world and compete with other academic institutions, colleges must keep up with new methods and technology. Implementing the right student information system gives colleges the tools needed to help students succeed both academically and personally. Student tracking is a crucial SIS feature that allows educators to track students’ progress, improve their performance, and guide them to graduation day. 

What Is Student Tracking Software?

Student tracking software is an online system that enables educators to manage attendance, track students’ progress, upload and share assignments, organize exams and grades, and more. Student tracking is important for both teachers and students. When students can see their progress, they can better understand how their efforts contribute to their long-term goals and path to graduation. Teachers can assess individual student performance and use data to modify lesson plans or intervene when students are falling behind.

The Benefits of Student Tracking Software

1. Accurate Attendance Tracking

Research has shown that when students feel less motivated or they can’t see the relevance of a class to their chosen degree goals, their attendance drops. Poor attendance can signify a student’s lack of motivation and trigger an alert for educational intervention. It can also indicate to teachers that a change in teaching style or lesson plan may be beneficial. Higher student attendance leads to overall improved learning outcomes at educational institutions.

2. Eliminate Manual Processes

The days of manually taking roll calls and keeping physical attendance records are over. Student tracking allows for higher efficiency by eliminating manual workloads and storing information in one centralized place. Teachers can focus their efforts on helping students, rather than wasting time performing administrative duties.

3. Reporting and Analysis

Student tracking software makes in-depth analysis simpler and faster. Teachers and students can evaluate weaknesses, strengths, and other academic records all in one place. AI-powered analytics and reports help teachers identify student patterns and monitor their development in real-time. This encourages constructive feedback and can contribute to higher performance.

4. Open Communication

Based on the system’s data, teachers can reach out to students who are having difficulty to offer extra help and encouragement. This fosters a learning environment of open communication and motivates students to do their best. They can focus on outperforming themselves and achieving personal goals, rather than competing against other students.

EMPOWER SIS For Student Tracking

With digital transformation, educational institutions are integrating advanced software solutions for efficient and smarter work. EMPOWER offers an unparalleled level of customization and flexibility for any school. Our support team provides your staff with in-depth training and is available to answer questions or troubleshoot issues. See why more schools choose EMPOWER SIS. Call us for a free demo.