Building a College from the Ground Up
Gila Community College went live in months – streamlining admissions, registration and reporting from day one.
When Gila Community College (GCC) opened its doors as Arizona’s newest independent community college in summer 2025, Campus Cafe Software was its technology partner on day one.
Previously, GCC partnered with Eastern Arizona College. In 2023, it set out to become a standalone, accredited institution to serve residents of Gila County.
GCC operates two campuses in Globe and Payson, AZ., and offers in-person and online courses in about 30 career and trade specialties.
Gila Community College: A Snapshot
Location | Gila County, AZ |
|---|---|
School Type | Community College |
Accreditation | Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) |
Credit Types | Certificate of Proficiency and Associate’s Degree Programs |
LMS Integration | Brightspace |
Go-Live Date: | Fall 2024 |
The Challenge
Find an affordable SIS that unifies campus operations.
As a new school, GCC had an unusual opportunity to start fresh with a technology partner.
School leaders and administrators worked together to identify their priorities across six key metrics, with the top three being affordability, intuitive user experience and robust functionality. GCC’s Information Technology Specialist Shawn Wakefield took the lead on sourcing a new system.
Affordable
A fairly-priced system that wouldn’t break the bank or fluctuate in cost.
Easy UX
Clean, user-friendly design with easily navigable features and functions.
Functional
Features and tools to manage the student lifecycle from admissions to graduation.
Custom Reporting
Options to quickly find information and easily create custom reports and dashboards.
Integrated Software
One platform for admissions, the registrar, financial aid, finance, faculty and students.
Customer Support
With no dedicated IT team, GCC needed fast and responsive technical support.
“The people are probably the biggest part of the Campus Cafe partnership. They’re knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and very easygoing.”
Shawn Wakefield, Information Technology Specialist, Gila Community College
The Solution
A scalable system without enterprise-level costs.
With just months before students arrived on campus, Gila needed an SIS quickly.
After extensively researching the marketplace, Wakefield said Campus Cafe delivered on the school’s top three priorities.
“I love the functionality and all of the staff are great to work with.”
Shawn Wakefield, Information Technology Specialist, Gila Community College
The Results
How Gila Community College Uses Campus Cafe’s All-in-One System
With no student data to migrate from a former system, the implementation was fast and smooth. The system was operational and staff were fully trained for the start of the summer term.
Wakefield says the Campus Cafe system helps Gila’s staff work together more efficiently, which has drastically improved the student experience.
Overall, Campus Cafe is exceeding expectations, Wakefield says.
“It’s an awesome system. I love the functionality and the customer support. Everyone at Campus Cafe from the C-Suite to the help desk is great.”
Streamlined Workflows
When prospective students enter their information online, the platform instantly updates everywhere, reducing back-and-forth communication between enrollment, admissions and finance.
Frictionless Registration
Students can register for courses online through the school’s app or website, expediting registration and reducing the burden on registrar staff.
Real-Time Information
Integrated features and centralized data provide users with a modern experience: Dashboards monitor course enrollment, alerts and triggers keep tabs on student progress, and student documents can be accessed in just a few clicks.
Responsive Help Desk
Campus Cafe’s technical support team responds quickly to tickets and shares timely updates. With a dedicated support team, GCC staff gets one-on-one help with understanding the system’s features and personalized support for troubleshooting.
24/7 Knowledge Base
Campus Cafe has an online resource guide and members-only community that provides easy access to frequently asked questions, video tutorials and solutions to common issues.
Faster Reporting
Staff can use pre-built reports that meet their needs. For instance, the billing department designed a report with custom billing codes to view seniors who pay discounted tuition separately from full-tuition students.
Academic Management
GCC’s Brightspace LMS integrates seamlessly with Campus Cafe, increasing accuracy and efficiency for students and faculty.
Student Portal
Students can manage their account information, easily find billing and payment details, and register for classes without having to pick up the phone or schedule an appointment.
Third-Party Friendly
Campus Cafe’s integrates with the top software providers. Your team can use their preferred software for everything from the LMS to payments, marketing software, transcripts and accounting functions, as well as the emergency notification and library systems.
“The knowledge base is one of the best I’ve seen in any product. I’ve been able to answer most questions just by going to it.”
Shawn Wakefield, Information Technology Specialist, Gila Community College