Human-Centered Solutions for a Field That’s Always Been Personal
The Story behind why Via created Via International for ISSS
In international student and scholar services, the work is deeply personal—but the tools haven’t always been.
For decades, ISSS offices have been expected to manage ever-changing regulations, expanding caseloads, and increasingly complex journeys with systems that were never designed for the way this work actually happens.
The landscape itself has only added to the challenge.
Offices operate within fragmented ecosystems—often navigating Student and HR Information Systems like Ellucian Banner, Oracle PeopleSoft, CX Jenzabar, or Anthology, all while managing disconnected processes ranging from paper forms to legacy and outdated software.
Some institutions are SEVIS batch-heavy. Others have never touched batch processing before transitioning to Via.
The variation is wide—but the need is consistent:
A system flexible enough to meet you where you are, and strong enough to take you where you need to go.
The field hasn’t stood still. But too often, the technology has.
At Via, we knew something had to change—not just the features, but the foundation.
We didn’t want to build another tool.
We wanted to build a better way of thinking about what it means to support international students and scholars—and the professionals who serve them.
Built by Practitioners, for the Field
Just like our flagship software in education abroad, Via International was designed from the first line of code to the last design tweak, by a team of former DSOs, AROs, risk managers, and international ed veterans who understand .what it feels like to do this critical work and live in this space every day.
Via International is the result of listening—really listening—to the people doing the work.
We’ve spent months in conversation with ISSS offices of every shape and size. From solo offices to large, decentralized teams, the challenges were consistent:
“Our system doesn’t work.”
“We spend more time fixing data than advising students.”
“We have to train students to use our portal—it should just work.”
“We don’t need bells and whistles. We need stability, clarity, and flexibility.”
So that’s what we built.
Person-Centric ＞ User-Centric
There’s a reason we don’t say “user-centric” at Via. You don’t support “users.” You support people—individuals with stories, fears, families, dreams, and deadlines.
Person-centric design means:
- One record that follows an individual from application to OPT to STEM to employee—No more starting over at each visa type.
- A portal that speaks their language, shows them what matters now, and empowers them to take action confidently.
- A platform that doesn’t rely on long narrative emails, but on clear actions, intuitive requests, and visible progress.
We didn’t just center the student—we centered you, too. Advisors, reviewers, admins, SIOs—everyone who supports compliance and student success.
Delivering on Via’s Values
Everything in Via International was built around five core values:
1. Accessibility
Students and scholars should be able to see what they need, when they need it. Offices should be able to act quickly without workarounds or IT tickets.
2. Empowerment
3. Innovation
From real-time SEVIS integration to configurations that actually save time, innovation isn’t just about speed—it’s about reducing stress and empowering you to create the system you need and want.
4. Advocacy
5. Connection
We built Via International to bridge the gaps between departments, systems, and people—because international education doesn’t happen in isolation.
The Work Is Human. The Tools Should Be, Too.
This isn’t about software. It’s about making your job more manageable, your international population more empowered, and your office more sustainable.
Via International is more than a product. It’s a commitment—to the field, to the people in it, and to what international education is really about.
Ready to see it in action?
Discover what Via International can do for your office.
➡️ Book a chat with our team
