StudentsConnect: A Web Application to Track Library Permissions and Leave Requests in Hostels Using MERN

This study focuses on developing “StudentsConnect,” a web-based hostel management system, as a solution to the inefficiencies faced by students when obtaining library permissions and submitting leave forms through traditional administrative channels. Currently, hostel administrations rely heavily on manual approvals and paper-based documentation, which often result in delays, administrative overload, and data mismanagement. Existing research on digital solutions for educational administration primarily addresses classroom and academic management, leaving a gap in real-time hostel and library permissions systems tailored for hostel setting. This research aims to bridge that gap by providing a digital solution that not only simplifies permission workflows but also enhances student independence and administrator productivity. By developing StudentsConnect using the MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) stack, this study leverages real-time data handling and a user-centric design to reduce the processing time of student requests. The methodology includes designing, implementing, and testing the platform in a controlled hostel environment to evaluate its impact on student satisfaction and administrative efficiency. The StudentsConnect significantly improves the responsiveness of hostel administration, reduces request handling times by 90% and increases the efficiency of permission management by 85%. These results demonstrate the potential of digital management solutions in transforming hostel administration by promoting operational efficiency and enhancing the student experience