For schools using both Finalsite CMS and EMS, admissions and enrollment events should be hosted in EMS (on the checklist or inquiry form), while community events not tied to student enrollment belong in CMS.
💡Quick Answers
Which platform should host admissions and enrollment events? Use EMS for any event that triggers a checklist item, collects fees (at the applicant stage or beyond), requires attendee caps or name tags, or needs iCal links in email templates.
Which events belong in CMS? Community events unrelated to enrollment, events hosted by staff without EMS access (such as coaches), and events where only a name and email are required for registration.
Can parents cancel or reschedule an EMS event? Yes, parent cancellation and rescheduling is an optional per-event setting in EMS; CMS forms do not support this natively.
How do I send automated follow-up communications for EMS events? Both platforms support automated emails after registration; EMS additionally supports iCal links and Google Calendar sync for admins via calendar sync settings.
Best Practices
All events for admissions and enrollment should be hosted in your EMS platform.
Provide event registration for prospective families on the EMS Inquiry form and host/embed the form on your CMS site.
Provide targeted registration for admissions/enrollment events after the Inquiry stage on your EMS checklist. Link all event information in your CMS to the EMS Portal.
Community events (i.e. events that are not specific to student enrollment such as Grandparent’s Day) should be hosted in your CMS platform
Questions to Consider
Is event registration required of an applicant in order to be accepted or become enrolled? If yes, this item belongs on your EMS checklist and should be hosted there. You can still promote your event on your CMS webpage and hyperlink to the EMS portal for registration.
Does event registration trigger an Admissions/Enrollment Checklist item or internal reminder? If yes, event registration should be hosted in your EMS platform or on your EMS Inquiry Form embedded on a page in your CMS site.
Who needs access to the registrant list? Are they an Admin/User/Reviewer in the intended platform? While admissions and enrollment events should be hosted on the EMS checklist and inquiry form, do you have any events that would be hosted by another party? Example: Your soccer coach would like to host an interest day and gather T-shirt sizes of attendees. This type of event is not considered a requirement and your coach will likely not have Admin access in the EMS platform. Event registration should then take place on a form in your CMS platform.
Would you like to collect a fee upon registration? This is only available in EMS at the Admissions and Enrollment stages.
Key Features/Benefits of CMS and EMS
Registration Setup
Feature
CMS
EMS
Notes
Custom appointment/event registration form
YES
YES
Build a custom form with additional fields such as T-shirt size.
Collect fee with form submission
YES
YES (Applicant --> Enrollment only)
In EMS this is only available at the applicant stage and beyond
Automatically close event registration
YES
YES
Use Scheduled Activation in CMS forms to stop receiving form submissions.
Set a custom attendee cap per event date
YES
Automate custom follow up communications upon registration
YES
YES
Custom name tag generation
YES
Parent Workflow
Feature
CMS
EMS
Notes
Only name and email required for event registration
YES
EMS requires additional contact information, including phone number and address.
Non-admissions/enrollment event registration
YES
EMS events are only intended for prospective/current student events. They are not intended for community events
Allowing a parent to cancel or reschedule
YES
Parent cancellation and rescheduling is optional per event in your EMS.
Communications
Feature
CMS
EMS
Notes
Automated messages
YES
YES
Cancellation notifications
YES
YES (Optional and Automated)
Send custom automated email notifications, such as a thank-you or follow-up email
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