Dallas Christian College Moves Fast After CampusVue Falters
A critical system breakdown led to a quick switch from outdated software to a modern SIS.
Dallas Christian College is a private liberal arts college located near Dallas, Texas, offering associate and bachelor’s degrees to approximately 500 students.
The college operated a legacy student information system, CampusVue, for about 20 years. But when Dallas Christian upgraded its servers to comply with federal financial aid system requirements, the SIS faltered; its software couldn’t operate with the new server updates.
That failure was the tipping point for Christopher Winslow, the school’s Vice President of Finance and Operations. Dallas Christian’s stakeholders were already frustrated with the former system. Its outdated technology was cumbersome and difficult to navigate.
With a new academic year looming, Winslow needed to move fast. “We determined it was time for a change.”
Dallas Christian: A Snapshot
Location | Dallas, Texas |
|---|---|
School Type | Nonprofit |
Accreditation | Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (ABHE)
|
Credit Types | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Former System | CampusVue (now Anthology) |
LMS Integration | Moodle |
Go-Live Date: | Fall 2024 |
The Challenge:
Adopt a New, Affordable System on a Tight Timeline
Once Dallas Christian opened the door to a new system, Winslow made clear that it needed to be modern, efficient and user-friendly.
“We were shackled by the inefficiencies and inaccuracies of old technology,” said Winslow. “It was time for a change.”
But Dallas Christian faced financial limits as a small, single-campus institution. Any new system would need to be affordable and offer flexible financial terms.
Compounding the urgency, the school needed to implement a new system before the next academic year. Winslow had experience implementing an SIS at a larger, multi-campus school, but it took two years to complete.
Dallas Christian had less than a year to make its change.
The Goal
An Integrated SIS to Modernize Operations and Improve Reporting
Winslow’s goals were threefold: (i) Streamline operations, (ii) improve efficiency and reporting, and (iii) offer easy navigation for administrators, students and staff.
The Opportunity to Start Fresh
Dallas Christian administrators wanted a system that managed current demands while offering advanced features and the ability to scale the system in sync with the college’s growth.
The first hurdle to tackle was application tracking. The CampusVue system’s tracking and reporting metrics were misleading.
It showed higher numbers of applicants by incorrectly double-counting applications regardless of whether a prospect submitted or abandoned the application.
The team needed a more accurate view of applicant interest and potential students.
CampusVue’s Limitations
- Stretched Resources
On-site and cloud-based servers required too much IT support and maintenance, with limited remote access.
- Unreliable
The platform was slow, with unintuitive navigation and faulty reporting.
- No Support
Poor customer service and slow technical help created delays and frustrated users.
- Minimal Integrations
Third-party apps were insufficient, faulty and did not scale with the college’s growth.
“They understand a small college and how we all wear multiple hats.”
VP of Finance and Operations
The Solution
An Affordable System That Improves Efficiency Across Departments
As Winslow investigated alternatives, Campus Cafe Software quickly emerged as the strongest contender.
Its focus on nonprofit colleges and universities made Winslow feel that Campus Cafe understood its needs, as well as its personnel and budgetary constraints.
With Campus Cafe, Dallas Christian can leverage an upgraded technology infrastructure with advanced system features and the backing of a responsive, U.S.-based customer service team
Dallas Christian Transforms Operations with Campus Cafe SIS
From outdated software to streamlined processes, Campus Cafe delivers a modern solution.
Cloud-Based System
Leverage maximum security, data availability and scalability without the need for extensive IT infrastructure.
- Eliminates the need for on-site equipment and maintenance and allows for remote access from anywhere.
- System updates and maintenance are handled remotely.
Robust Customer Support
Our team is composed of higher-education experts who understand the unique needs of smaller colleges.
- Technical support is prompt, responsive and solution-focused.
- Each school has access to our online community, extensive knowledge base and dedicated project manager.
Centralized Student Data
The system is a single source of truth to manage the entire student lifecycle, from first contact to managing alumni relationships.
- One-glance records simplify advising and student support.
- Students have easy access to billing, financial aid and registration from one portal.
Improved Features and Transparency
Our software is highly customizable to each school’s operations. We continuously evolve the software based on feedback from everyday users.
- Quick, reliable searches help staff locate student records more efficiently.
- Streamlined processes reduce manual work for admissions and registrar staff.
- Advanced admissions module improves tracking and accuracy.
Reliable Third-Party Integrations
We provide initial setup and configuration for all software that Campus Cafe Software supports.
- Seamless integration with the school’s preferred third-party software, including Authorize.net, DocuSign, Moodle and Message Media, with real-time data sync.
Affordable Price
The monthly subscription is based on FTE enrollment, ideal for small and mid-sized schools.
- Campus Cafe costs less than the legacy system and is frequently adding more features.
- The subscription includes all the software modules and features with no added costs.
Timely Adoption
We have a proven process to implement your new SIS and quickly get your team up to speed.
- Despite a tight seven-month timeline, the team launched on schedule in Fall 2024.
- Campus Cafe's staff provide onsite and online training for all staff, supplemented by an online knowledge base and online community.
The Results
Improved Admissions Reporting and Applicant Tracking
After its first full academic year on Campus Cafe’s system, Dallas Christian is seeing clear benefits. “It’s like venturing into the 21st century with software,” Winslow says.
Since implementing Campus Cafe’s SIS, Dallas Christian’s admissions reporting and tracking is more accurate, efficient and reliable. The application completion rate for the 2025-2026 academic year is up nearly 50% over the previous two years.
“The application rate is more accurate and we know exactly who is interested in attending our school, ” Winslow says.
What’s Next
Learn and Grow
As Dallas Christian prepares for future academic cycles, Winslow is encouraging staff to explore more advanced features in Campus Cafe.
He also looks forward to implementing new features as Campus Cafe expands its offerings. One of them is Stripe, an electronic payment system that gives students the flexibility to pay tuition via credit card or Automatic Clearing House (ACH).
Overall, Winslow likens the transformation to learning to drive: start slow, build skills and reap the benefits.
“We are still growing and learning, but it is so much better than what we had before,” he said. “After years of driving a Yugo, [Campus Cafe] was like stepping into a Lexus.”