FlightPath (software)

FlightPath is an open-source, web-based enterprise software application for academic support, academic advising, and degree audit for institutions of higher education. Originally created at a large public university in Louisiana, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, the software package was released as open-source software on March 13, 2013.[2][3][4]

FlightPath
FlightPath, Open Source Enterprise Software
Written inPHP
Operating systemCross-platform
TypeAcademic advising system
LicenseGPLv3+[1]
Websitegetflightpath.com

Mobile-friendly, Flightpath provides comprehensive and persistent academic advising to support student success in institutions of higher learning; all history of academic support can be accessed through a browser or customized cell phone application. Students receive documented guidance to take courses that progress towards graduation. Advisors and support staff can monitor progress and provide comments for advisees and campus staff. Students and advisors may also try out how accumulated course credits can lead to completion of other degrees using the "What If?" tool. Through several accreditation cycles, Flightpath has been used continuously to academically advise well over 30,000 university students since 2006.

Background

Origins

FlightPath was created by The University of Louisiana at Monroe's Student Success Center,[5] after searching for a commercial solution to online academic advising and retention services,[6] but was unable to find a software package that was both affordable and customizable for specific functionality. FlightPath was operational in fall of 2006 but lacked the framework necessary for integrating contributions from the open source community. By 2012, FlightPath's core code was modified to include framework features of Drupal, a popular open-source CMS, making it suitable for adoption by other universities as an open source solution. From its inception, FlightPath has been used as a "degree audit tool for academic advising" for tens of thousands of undergraduate students with mobile-friendly application integration.[7]

Features

FlightPath's core open source software features provide complete solutions for academic advising including equivalent/substitution/transfer courses with degree audit. Every type of complex configuration of courses based on academic degree programs listed in a university or college catalog (prerequisite, required, and elective courses) is fully supported by catalog year with equivalent and transfer credit because design feedback modifications were requested by many dozens of academic advisors over a decade of versions; consequently, Flightpath provides easily prepared reports for accreditation needs. Automated early warning alerts for students and other related features may be integrated with Flightpath as additional modules.

Some of the core features are as follows:[8]

  • View student's transcript, degree plan, grades, progress, and more from any browser
  • Perform substitutions and exceptions
  • View transfer credit equivalents
  • View course descriptions
  • Search complete set of degree plans available by catalog year
  • Fully documented comments accessible by the student and/or other staff
  • Complete and intuitive advising history at a glance
  • Designed to support customization by administrators
  • Compatible with all major browsers
  • Mobile and user friendly

Add-on Modules

FlightPath's functionality is extensible through the use of add-on modules. Below are a handful of examples:[9]

  • Banner Integration - Uses student and course data from the Banner student information system
  • Locale - Translates FlightPath's static text into other languages
  • LDAP - User authentication handled through an LDAP server

Deployment and Installation

FlightPath is an open source enterprise software application that can be either hosted as a secure and managed cloud service or installed with freely available source code on an enterprise network application with manual setup support or with an automated installation wizard guide. Flightpath can be integrated securely in practically any campus network as a FERPA-compliant application for institutions of higher learning.

Server Requirements

FlightPath uses industry-standard web server hardware and software:[10]

References
  1. "FlightPath License".
  2. "ULM Releases FlightPath for Universities From "Kansas to Kenya"". http://www.ulm.edu/news/archives/2013/mar13/flightpath.html: University of Louisiana at Monroe. Retrieved 2014-04-23.CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. "FlightPath Web Program from ULM Released Globally". http://www.knoe.com/story/21816098/flightpath-web-program-from-ulm-released-globally: KNOE News. Archived from the original on 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-23.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. "ULM Releases FlightPath for Universities". http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/ulm-releases-%E2%80%9Cflightpath%E2%80%9D-universities-%E2%80%9C-kansas-kenya%E2%80%9D: University Business. Retrieved 2014-04-30.CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. "GRAD Act Annual Report" (PDF). http://regents.louisiana.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ULM-GRAD-Act-Yr-3-FINAL-6-17-13.pdf: Louisiana Board of Regents. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-05-01.CS1 maint: location (link)
  6. "ULM programs aim to retain students". http://www.thenewsstar.com/proart/20070805/opinion02/708050311/ulm-programs-aim-retain-students?pagerestricted=1: The News Star. Retrieved 2014-05-01.CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. "ULM Mobile for Android". https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ulmandroid.ulmmobile2: Google Play. Retrieved 2014-05-01.CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. "FlightPath Feature List". http://getflightpath.com/node/1003: FlightPath. Retrieved 2014-04-23.CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. "FlightPath Modules". http://getflightpath.com/projects: FlightPath. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  10. "FlightPath Requirements". http://getflightpath.com/node/5: FlightPath. Retrieved 2014-04-23.CS1 maint: location (link)
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