Salesforce.org Launches Higher Ed Data Architecture

Salesforce.org, the philanthropic arm of Salesforce, has introduced its Higher Education Data Architecture (HEDA), an open-source data architecture designed to help higher education institutions rapidly deploy Salesforce's constituent relationship management (CRM) platform.

Salesforce.org developed HEDA to help higher education institutions better manage all stages of the student lifecycle from prospect through to alumnus, and to meet students' expectations for "seamless, connected experiences whether they are on- or off-campus," according to a news release from Salesforce.

Students today expect highly personalized services, according to Salesforce. "HEDA enables institutions to execute their student experience strategies more rapidly by leveraging a best practice data model developed by institutions and delivered out-of-the-box by Salesforce," said Nicole Engelbert, director of research and analysis for Ovum, in a prepared statement.

Key features of Salesforce.org's HEDA include:

  • Ability to quickly configure Salesforce to manage students throughout the student lifecycle;
  • Objects and functionality created specifically for higher education to accelerate deployment of Salesforce;
  • 360-degree views of each student; and
  • Management of address, phone and email communication preferences.

ACF Solutions, Bluewolf, Sierra-Cedar and other system integrators in the Salesforce ecosystem will use the data architecture develop solutions for the higher ed industry using HEDA's standardized data model.

Salesforce.org's HEDA is available now and can be downloaded as a managed package from the Salesforce AppExchange. The open source code for HEDA is available on GitHub. HEDA is available at no additional cost to subscribers of Salesforce Enterprise Edition or higher.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • handshake where one hand is human and the other is composed of glowing circuits

    Western Governors University Joins Open edX as a Mission-Aligned Organization

    Western Governors University is the first organization to join the Open edX project as a "mission-aligned organization" (MAO), a new category of institution-level partnership supporting development of the Open edX open source online learning platform.

  • glowing crystal ball with a simplified university building inside, surrounded by seamlessly blended holographic symbols of binary code, a bar graph, database icons, and a cloud, against a gradient blue and white background with softly merging circuit patterns

    3 Areas Where AI Will Impact Higher Ed Most in 2025

    What should colleges and universities expect from the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in the coming year? Here's what the experts told us.

  • illustration of a football stadium with helmet on the left and laptop with ed tech icons on the right

    The 2025 NFL Draft and Ed Tech Selection: A Strategic Parallel

    In the fast-evolving landscape of collegiate football, the NFL, and higher education, one might not immediately draw connections between the 2025 NFL Draft and the selection of proper educational technology for a college campus. However, upon closer examination, both processes share striking similarities: a rigorous assessment of needs, long-term strategic impact, talent or tool evaluation, financial considerations, and adaptability to a dynamic future.

  • Stylized illustration showing cybersecurity elements like shields, padlocks, and secure cloud icons on a neutral, minimalist digital background

    Microsoft Announces Security Advancements

    Microsoft has announced major security advancements across its product portfolio and practices. The work is part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a multiyear cybersecurity transformation the company calls the largest engineering project in company history.