Ellucian, a leading higher education technology solutions provider, has announced that East Tennessee State University (ETSU) has selected Ellucian Student powered by Banner, a comprehensive SaaS-native and AI-powered Student Information System (SIS), to modernise its student technology foundation. By transforming recruitment, enrolment, financial aid and advising processes, ETSU will strengthen the digital infrastructure that supports more than 14,000 students each year.
Strengthening the foundation behind the student experience
Building on nearly 30 years as an Ellucian customer, ETSU is investing in a modern, unified platform purpose-built for higher education. The transition to Ellucian Student will better connect the people, processes and information that guide students from admission through graduation. Stakeholders will benefit from greater visibility, proactive engagement and more intuitive self-service experiences aligned to ETSU’s mission and regional impact.
“East Tennessee State University has long focused its teaching, research and service on improving the quality of life for the people of the region and that mission depends on delivering a student experience that is connected, transparent and built for progress.
“With Ellucian Student, ETSU is modernising the foundation behind key moments that shape student success, from enrolment and financial aid to advising and completion. And they’re in good company, ETSU’s decision reflects growing momentum across Tennessee, as three of the state’s four-year public institutions begin Ellucian SaaS modernisation initiatives this year,” said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian.
Positioning ETSU for sustainable growth and student success
By modernising to a SaaS-native environment, ETSU will:
• Streamline and automate core workflows across the student lifecycle to reduce friction from admission through graduation and beyond
• Reduce IT burden and complexity while improving reliability and agility
• Strengthen reporting and insight for faster, more confident decision-making
• Deliver clearer onboarding and financial aid experiences that build student confidence and support enrolment growth
• Support more proactive, informed advising that strengthens student achievement and long-term success
“At ETSU, we are focused on creating clearer, more connected pathways from admission to enrolment and through graduation, as students expect more clarity, flexibility and support, we must ensure our student systems are aligned with today’s needs.
“Modernising with Ellucian Student will help us improve onboarding and financial aid experiences, strengthen advising insight and create a more seamless experience that supports student achievement and long-term success, giving students the clarity and confidence they need to make informed decisions about their education,” said Dr. Karen King, Chief Information Officer, East Tennessee State University.
With implementation planning underway, ETSU will transition in phases aligned to institutional timelines and strategic priorities, establishing a scalable foundation for continuous improvement in how the university serves students, faculty and staff.
