Universities and FlightPath: Why Use Open-Source Software for Advising and Student Success?

Universities and FlightPath: Why Use Open-Source Software for Advising and Student Success?
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Kampus Productions

In the dynamic landscape of higher education, universities face the perennial challenge of ensuring student success while navigating budgetary constraints. Choosing the right software solutions for academic advising & student success plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational journey of students.

With this in mind, FlightPath emerges as a beacon of innovation and efficiency, driven by the power of open-source software.

 

What is Open-Source Software?

Put simply, open-source software (also written as "open source", with no hyphen) is software you are free to download, modify, and use.  Typically if you distribute it, it must remain under the same open source license, so everyone can benefit from the knowledge and expertise added to the software project.

 

The Power of Open Source in Higher Education

Open Source FlightPath runs on multiple devices

Even though FlightPath Academics is a business, we made sure that our lead-product, FlightPath, remained open source.

At its core, FlightPath exemplifies the ethos of open-source software, where transparency, collaboration, and community-driven development thrive. Unlike closed-source alternatives that operate behind proprietary veils, open-source software empowers institutions to:

  1. Built for Customization and Flexibility: Universities using FlightPath can tailor the software to meet specific academic advising needs, from program requirements to individual student pathways. This flexibility ensures that advising processes align seamlessly with institutional goals and evolving educational paradigms.

  2. Cost Efficiency: As an open-source product, FlightPath Academics offers a cost-effective advising solution without compromising on functionality. This fiscal prudence allows universities to allocate resources where they matter most: student services and academic support. Schedule a demo today to see how schools of all sizes and budgets can benefit from FlightPath.

  3. Security and Trust: The open-source model promotes rigorous peer review and continuous improvement. Institutions have full visibility into the software’s core codebase, mitigating security risks and fostering a climate of trust among stakeholders.  While we offer exlusive features found nowhere else, the open source "community edition" of FlightPath can be found at https://getflightpath.com.

 

Aligning with the Higher Education Ethos

FlightPath’s commitment to open-source principles resonates deeply with the values of higher education. Universities, colleges, (and high schools) are bastions of knowledge sharing and intellectual growth, ideals mirrored in the collaborative nature of open-source development. Just as professors freely share their expertise with students, open-source software invites contributions from a global community of developers, educators, and students alike.

If you need help hosting or implementing any open-source project, FlightPath Academics is here to help!  Read more about our open-source hosting services here.

 

For more information or to schedule a demo of FlightPath, Contact Us Today!  Or, if you are short on time, check out one of our short video tours.