We just returned from ACHA 2025 in New Orleans - and it was one for the books. From early-morning panels to late-night happy hours, one thing was clear: student health leaders are doing too much with too little. The cracks in the system aren’t just showing — they’re widening.

Volta showed up as a new name in the space and quickly left as one of the most talked-about at the conference. If you stopped by our booth, heard our name over breakfast, or sat in on a colleague’s demo, you’re probably wondering what made us stand out.

Here are five things we heard over and over again from institutions, brokers, and carriers — and why they matter.

1. Immunization Compliance Is the Entry Point

Without exception, every institution we met raised the same primary operational challenge: immunization compliance. The issues were remarkably consistent: whether it was managing complex state requirements, communicating deadlines to students, or relying on outdated tools…everyone seemed to be feeling the pressure.

Volta automates this from end to end. We connect to thousands of EHRs and all state registries, streamline record collection, and providing clear visibility into compliance gaps—even automating hold removal when requirements are met. As one health center director put it:

“This is the first time I’ve seen something that makes me think I could actually take a vacation in August.”

That's right - implement Volta and maybe sipping an Aperol spritz on the Italian countryside can be in your sights too 🍹

2. From "What" to "Why"

One of the most consistent questions we heard: "Why are our students waiving out of the school health plan?" No one had an answer — Volta does.

This data gap extends far beyond insurance decisions. Volta gives you visibility into critical health and engagement trends across campus - in real time. Questions like:

“How many students on campus have the flu?”

“Are we seeing early indicators of a measles outbreak in first-year housing?”

“Quantitatively, how is the national climate impacting our students' mental health?”

These insights — and many more — are delivered in a clean, actionable format designed for institutional leaders. Whether you’re tracking equity gaps, monitoring public health trends, or reporting on student outcomes, Volta turns fragmented data into meaningful decisions.

3. Our $0 Model Raised Eyebrows

Many institutions were surprised to learn that Volta can be implemented at no cost to the them. We work directly with your insurance partner to cover platform costs, so your team can focus on student care without chasing down budget approvals.

That said, we’re flexible. For institutions that prefer direct licensing arrangements, we're flexible in finding the right approach. The key principle remains the same: cost should never prevent you from making data-driven decisions that improve compliance, retention, and your institution's financial performance.

4. Small Schools Need Big Support

One of the conference's most striking themes was how many smaller institutions are managing sophisticated compliance requirements with minimal staffing—often just one or two people handling immunizations, insurance, records, and student outreach.

Volta was built with these resource constraints in mind. Volta was built with these resource constraints in mind. Our platform implements quickly - often within two weeks, operates intuitively, and includes comprehensive, white-glove support that feels like your own team. Whether you’re a major research institution or a two-person health center, we’re here to help.

5. Higher Education Is Ready for a Reset

Across every conversation, we heard variations of the same sentiment:

“Where has Volta been — I’ve needed this for years.” 

Frustration with the status quo has been brewing. Institutions are tired of juggling clunky portals, disconnected systems, and processes that haven't evolved in years. Meanwhile, brokers and carriers are under pressure to deliver value beyond plan pricing. It’s time for a new standard.

Rather than adding another point solution to your existing stack, we provide a unified platform that connects compliance, enrollment, waivers, immunization tracking, care navigation, and reporting — all in one place. No more juggling systems. No more compromises. Volta delivers. Period.

And we’re just getting started.

Looking Ahead: A Note on Timing

We’re currently onboarding a limited number of schools for the 2025–2026 academic year. Due to integration requirements and our commitment to quality implementation, institutions that wait may not be eligible to launch Volta’s core compliance features until Fall 2027.

If you're ready to move beyond the status quo, now is the time to act. We'd welcome the opportunity to show you what Volta can accomplish for your institution.

>> Book A Demo 

Dr. Tsikata Apenyo, MD MBA
Chief Executive Officer, Volta