Xavier University of Louisiana’s Portal Transformation

When Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) decided to overhaul its campus portal, the team knew they were in for a challenge. Brian Bowers, Manager of Web Development and Mobile Applications, led the effort in finding a modern, mobile portal platform to support XULA’s student body.

Outdated Systems & Modern Demands

XULA’s legacy system (an Ellucian portal built on SharePoint) failed in meeting the needs of their increasingly tech-savvy students and faculty, who demanded more interactive communication. “Our old portal was completely static,” Bowers described. “Additionally, we used two different mobile applications, which raised concerns because of the lack of two-way communication.” 

Recognizing the modern student lives on their mobile devices and expects intuitive, interactive digital experiences, Bowers searched for a better solution that delivered web/mobile parity. “We needed to meet students where they are — online and on their mobile devices,” he said. 

Powering Up the Portal

The team evaluated upgrading their Ellucian portal in addition to considering solutions from Anthology and Jenzabar. But after the first Pathify demo — Bowers was sold. “It was leaps and bounds ahead of what we had,” he recalled. 

Along the way, the portal team engaged student groups (including student workers and Student Government Association members) early in the implementation process. “We wanted student feedback to help build the portal to fit their needs,” shared Bowers. Thoughtful planning and collaboration with the Pathify team ensured a smooth transition. “Our Pathify launch plan was very laid out, very detailed. We followed a specific order for success.” 

The transition from SharePoint to Pathify wasn’t just about refreshing the portal environment — it revolutionized how XULA’s campus communicated and connected. “Pathify connects all our systems in one place, allowing students, faculty and staff to access them anytime they want,” Bowers explained. Pulling systems like Banner, D2L, email, athletics and student events under Pathify’s centralized platform created a true one-stop-shop for XULA’s campus, eliminating multiple logins and bookmarks. 

Future Developments 

Bowers remains excited and optimistic for the future. “The Recipe Library makes integrating our systems easy and we look forward to activating as many widgets as possible to provide a stellar student experience,” he said. By prioritizing the needs and preferences of the modern-day student, XULA created a functional, engaging and interactive portal instance, setting a new standard for campus communication.

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is a private, historically Black institution with a rich legacy dating back to its establishment in 1925. With a full-time student body of around 3,200 students, it stands as the only Catholic HBCU in the United States. XULA is dedicated to excellence in education, preparing students for leadership and service in a diverse learning environment. The University recently transitioned from a Sharepoint student portal to Pathify, leverages D2L (Brightspace) for its learning management system and manages student information through an on-prem Ellucian Banner instance. Learn more at xula.edu.

At A Glance

  • Student Headcount: 3,181
  • Faculty & Staff: 460
  • Institution Type: Private 
  • Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Academic Programs: 71 undergraduate programs, 11 graduate programs
  • Tech Stack:
    • SIS: Ellucian Banner
    • LMS: D2L
    • Productivity: Microsoft
    • Technology Consolidated into Pathify: Ellucian SharePoint portal, two mobile apps, document farm