Learning Management Systems | News

San Diego College Shifts to Edvance360 for Ease of Use and Cost

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 06/03/14

A San Diego college has gone public with its shift to a new learning management system (LMS). San Diego Christian College began to consider moving away from Blackboard in spring 2013. Later that semester the Santee, CA-based institution chose Edvance360 LMS-SN from Edvance360.

The school, which has about 1,000 students, uses the software-as-a-service application in its online and face-to-face courses, as well as a night program and a satellite campus in Minnesota. The college claims a 100 percent faculty usage rate.

San Diego Christian specifically chose Edvance360 for several reasons, according to David Rhoads, online program manager for the Adult Professional Studies Programs:

• Ease of use for faculty and staff;
• Cost;
• Level of customer service; and
• Student information system (SIS) integration capabilities.

Regarding SIS integration, the college uses Empower, which lists Edvance360 as a technology partner.

"San Diego Christian College is a school that offers a variety of programs in multiple modalities," he said. "Edvance360 gives us the ability to standardize our student communication and course content delivery in a way that makes it simple for the student. Students, faculty, and staff now have an easily customizable tool that helps each connect in a way that promotes success in multiple areas. This was not possible with previous LMS providers."

He added that "social learning" and "gaming" features help promote a sense of community and support among students who aren't necessarily linked to the physical campus.

"We strive daily to help our students reach their full potential as educated citizens and responsible leaders within a caring community," Rhoads said. "Our partnership with Edvance360 enhances our ability to do so."

Edvance360's LMS offers course design and management tools, social networking features, e-portfolios, badging, reporting capabilities and mobile editions. The online program has been used at Ohio Christian College in Circleville and Benedict College in Columbia, SC, among others.