Terra Dotta is a database maintained by the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) that stores records for all international students and scholars at Washington University in St. Louis.
For students, Terra Dotta tracks biographical information, addresses, program information, work authorizations, and SEVIS transactions.
Before an international student can begin their studies at WashU, they must receive a status eligibility document and apply for an entry visa at a U.S. consulate abroad. The most common statuses are F-1 and J-1; with F-1 being most common. Status eligibility documents for these two statuses are issued by the OISS. Before these documents can be issued, however, the admitting department must enter the student into the Terra Dotta database and send supporting documentation to the OISS.