US Universities Adopt Next Gen to Navigate Complex Regulatory Demands

Next Gen Platform Enhances SEVIS Compliance and Student Support Services

EdTech solutions company Terra Dotta has launched ISSS Next Generation (Next Gen), a platform designed to help US institutions navigate complex regulatory requirements while managing compliance and student support. The system offers comprehensive visa lifecycle assistance, covering processes from admissions to OPT and PERM visas, while reducing the IT burden for international officers, allowing them to respond more efficiently to evolving compliance demands.

Travis Ulrich, senior vice-president of enterprise solutions at Terra Dotta, reportedly noted that administrators are expected to handle compliance matters faster and more accurately despite ongoing budget constraints and limited staffing. He emphasised that compliance, although always a priority, has become increasingly critical due to recent SEVIS terminations and heightened scrutiny of OPT students.

A key feature of the platform is its direct interface with SEVIS, enabling international officers to access termination data swiftly and provide timely support to affected students. The system is being rolled out to Terra Dotta’s 275 partner institutions across the United States and has already been adopted by the country’s largest J-1 visa provider. Terra Dotta CEO Ben Psillas was quoted as saying that Next Gen addresses the urgent need for reliable, automated solutions, designed specifically for non-technical users. He highlighted that the system was developed in collaboration with industry experts to ensure ease of use and efficiency.

The platform provides end-to-end support throughout a student’s academic journey, including visa processing, document uploads, and guidance on academic culture and life in the United States. It also enables institutions to manage student and scholar services alongside employment-based workflows, covering post-graduation OPT, STEM, H-1B, and PERM visa types. During the Trump administration, many students reportedly discovered their SEVIS records had been terminated only after checking the online system maintained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In response, Next Gen seeks to mitigate such risks by ensuring timely notifications for students on when to report their employment details, particularly in light of recent DHS directives warning that OPT students must update their SEVIS records or risk removal proceedings.

Acknowledging the unpredictability of government policy, Ulrich suggested that international education remains resilient, adding that Terra Dotta’s experience with SEVIS enables it to develop tools that assist institutions in adapting to evolving compliance requirements. With the launch of Next Gen, the company is urging institutions to move beyond outdated compliance management systems, originally designed over a decade ago. Ulrich reportedly remarked that the world has changed and universities must embrace solutions that offer greater flexibility. By integrating compliance with modern workflows, Terra Dotta aims to equip institutions with future-proofing tools that safeguard international students while streamlining visa and employment processes, ensuring smoother academic transitions.

Editor's Note

As regulatory demands become increasingly complex, institutions must find effective ways to manage compliance while supporting international students. Terra Dotta’s Next Gen platform addresses this challenge by integrating visa processing, student services, and employment-based workflows into a single system. Stricter SEVIS monitoring and DHS directives have increased compliance concerns for OPT students, with many facing record terminations and needing urgent support. Next Gen's direct SEVIS interface enables international officers to quickly identify and assist affected students. The platform also streamlines visa management and automates updates, reducing administrative burdens and allowing staff to prioritise student engagement and academic success amidst budget constraints and increasing workloads.

Skoobuzz observes that solutions like Next Gen offer institutions long-term adaptability, ensuring they can respond effectively to regulatory changes while maintaining a supportive environment for international students.