The world of Higher Ed software can be an expensive one, especially with falling enrollment numbers and with them, budgets.  Luckily, there are plenty of desktop and web-based "open source" products available, often as great alternatives to pricey third-party solutions. 

Read on for a list of the best options out there for your campus.

What is "Open Source" Software?

Before we get started-- let's first explain exactly what is meant by "open source".  While there are a variety of licenses out there, in general "open source" (also spelled "open-source") means that the software is free for you to use, modify, and distribute, as long as you do not charge for the software code itself. But, each license agreement is different, so make sure to check before use.

Does this mean it's completely free?  Not necessarily.  Your campus still needs the servers and IT staff to run and maintain the software.  That said, open source options are typically much less expensive than commercial software, even with the added IT infrastructure needed.

Can FlightPath Academics Host an Open-Source Project for my School?

Absolutely!  We're fully capable of setting up and implementing any open-source solution you'd like.  Contact us today to discuss options!

1. Alternative to Blackboard: Canvas or Moodle

Chances are, you've already heard a great deal about either Canvas or Moodle.  If not, they are examples of a Learner Management System (or LMS).  Canvas and Moodle both let you keep track of students' courses, and assignments within each course.  You can administer exams and quizes, and have class-specific forums for discussion.  Interestingly, Blackboard actually ended up purchasing Moodle, and now offers hosting for it as a paid service.

That said, you are certainly free to download and host either option yourself. Or, if you'd rather not add another item to your IT department's plate, let FlightPath Academics host and maintain Moodle or Canvas for you!  Contact us for full details.

2. Alternative to Degree Works or Degree Navigator : FlightPath

Both Ellucian Degree Works and the Degree Navigator systems facilitate academic advising, planning, and degree audit in your school.  But, in our humble opinion, FlightPath is the superior advising and student success system.  FlightPath is a web-based, open source project, designed from the ground up to be easier to use and configure than any of its competitors.  Originally released by the University of Louisiana Monroe, it has since spun off into FlightPath Academics.  In addition to advising, degree audit, and "what if" scenarios to try out new degrees, FlightPath also offers a wealth of AI-driven analytics, text and email tools, and even integration with Zoom and other video chat services.

As the original creators of FlightPath, we are proud to offer hosting and support (as well as exclusive features). Contact us today for a live demo, or watch some of our videos for a quick tour.

3. Alternative to Microsoft Office: LibreOffice

There's no denying that the world runs on Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.  And while online solutions like Google Drive/Docs are definitely useful, if you are looking for software to run on your desktop or laptop, we recommend LibreOffice.  Like the other options on this list, it is open source.  It can open and save not just Microsoft file formats (like .docx, pptx, etc) but other less common formats as well.  Upon first install, it uses an "open document" format for files, but that can be easily changed in the settings to use Microsoft file formats by default.

Here at FlightPath Academics, we exclusively use LibreOffice for opening and saving Microsoft Office files, though there is a slight drawback: LibreOffice is perhaps only 99% compatible with Word and PowerPoint.  Sometimes you will see slight changes in formatting between the two, especially if there are lots of complex graphics or styling involved.

But, if you are looking for a free and almost completely compatible alternative, we strongly recommend it.

Do You Need Open Source Hosting?

If you have any open source tools or solutions you'd like to use, but do not have the time or resources to set up servers and go through the endless configurations yourself-- contact FlightPath Academics!  We're happy to offer secure and reliable hosting for almost any open source software available.