Orientation professionals across the country have weighed in on a question more institutions are asking: is a learning management system actually the right tool for new student orientation? The answer, consistently, is no — and the reasons go beyond aesthetics. This comparison breaks down the key differences across three critical areas, and the institutions that made the switch share what changed when they did.
Student Life and Student Transition professionals have identified key differences between Advantage Orientation and a learning management system when it comes to delivering online orientation. The chart below highlights three areas of comparison: Access & Navigation, Design & Content, and Analytics & Support.
Access & Navigation
Advantage Orientation is fully ADA compliant, offers direct access for families, and provides guided navigation from multiple access points — giving every student and their support network a clear, accessible path through the experience. Learning management systems, by contrast, are typically not responsive, offer no direct family access, and restrict how navigation can be configured, making it difficult to deliver orientation the way your institution actually needs it.
Design & Content
Advantage Orientation includes video production and content writing assistance, a custom on-brand interface, and personalized content tracks for multiple student audiences so every student sees what's relevant to them. LMS platforms offer limited design options, no video production or content support, and a one-course-for-one-audience structure that makes true personalization virtually impossible.
Analytics & Support
Advantage Orientation provides real-time reporting tools, interactive video quizzes and assessments, and unlimited live training plus on-demand chat and email support. LMS platforms offer limited progress tracking, limited testing options, and rely on searchable online communities and support request submissions, which leaves orientation teams without the hands-on partnership they need to succeed.
The Switch In Practice
The differences above aren't theoretical. Orientation professionals who moved from an LMS to a purpose-built platform describe the same pattern: less staff burden, higher completion rates, and a student experience that finally reflects the institution behind it. Here's what that transition looked like at four institutions.
California State University San Bernardino
Megan Huston, Coordinator, Orientation Programs
"We aim through orientation to provide that motivation, that encouragement, the sense of belonging — I belong here, I belong to the school I chose. Before, when our pre-online orientation was in our LMS, the student completion rate was under 25%. When we moved to Advantage Orientation the completion rate more than doubled to over 65%."
California State San Bernardino's story is about more than numbers. Megan and her team needed an orientation experience that felt welcoming, engaging, and purposeful — something a course-based LMS wasn't designed to deliver. Moving to a dedicated orientation platform gave students an introduction that reflected the institution's mission and gave staff the completion data to prove it was working.
MiraCosta College
Tina Helmstreit, Program Manager
"In fall 2019, we were at the height of our work in my department — so proud of hitting 76% orientation completion, but it took three different processes to make it happen. It was a lot of work and we were tired. Following summer 2022 when we launched our orientation with Advantage Orientation, we are at our highest at an 80% completion rate with one tool that is self-paced, automated, and easy and engaging for students."
The results continued to build. In spring 2022, MiraCosta closed out at 68% completion. One year after launching Advantage Orientation, that number jumped to 85%. Even with a cohort of 2,100 students, it was the highest spring completion rate the college had ever seen.
What made the difference wasn't just the platform; it was what the platform did on its own. Automated reminders reached students who hadn't completed orientation after ten days, and the experience picked up right where each student left off. No restarts. No manual follow-up from staff.
"Look what happens when you are all in the pocket, everything is cohesive, you have a robust tool that works for you."
Read the full story...
Sampson Community College
Amelia Elmore, Director of Enrollment and Student Success
"Pre-COVID we offered in-person orientation, but we discovered that many of our students hold jobs and were unable to come to campus. We created an online orientation in Moodle — one major downfall was the manual process involved in getting students loaded into the orientation. We wanted something that was more professional looking. The fact that Advantage Design Group is an Ellucian Ethos connected partner played a huge role in our decision. We were able to integrate our online orientation with Colleague, present more personalized content based on admit type, and have orientation holds lifted directly off student accounts once they completed orientation. I feel like we're really taking advantage of all that technology has to offer."
Sampson Community College needed more than just a better-looking orientation. They needed a smarter one. Moving from a course built in Moodle to a dedicated orientation platform meant freeing themselves from manual processes that burdened staff, integrating directly with their existing student information system, and delivering a personalized experience that met students where they were. For a community college population balancing jobs, families, and coursework, that kind of seamless, automated experience is essential to success.
See the Full Comparison
These stories reflect a consistent pattern: when institutions move orientation out of their LMS and into a purpose-built platform, completion rates rise, staff workload drops, and students arrive better prepared. To see how Advantage Orientation stacks up feature by feature, view the full comparison chart.
Want to see what Advantage Orientation looks like for your institution? Request a live tour today.