Setting the Standard: Portal Proposal at Ellingsburg University Ted Lewis, Danny Meuninck, Rachel...
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Transcript of Setting the Standard: Portal Proposal at Ellingsburg University Ted Lewis, Danny Meuninck, Rachel...
Setting the Standard: Portal Proposal at
Ellingsburg University
Ted Lewis, Danny Meuninck,
Rachel Ott, Deanna Rella
University of South Carolina
Setting the Standard
“The idea that a prospective student can establish a lifetime relationship based on an initial visit to an institution’s Web site has become a reality for many colleges.”
- Katz & Goldstein, 2002
Ellingsburg will set the standard for its peer institutions while setting a standard for all department Web pages within the university.
Portals vs. Web Presence Portals
Single log-in Can be personalized Process optimized for
users Allow for electronic
groups Easier to use
Web Presence Multiple Log-In Same for all users Process optimized for
department Allow only for specific
users Rather complex
With portals, colleges and universities could see “increased revenue through improved recruitment and retention, reduced recruitment costs, improved customer service, quicker yield conversions, [and] improved customer satisfaction.”
What is a portal? “Portal is a term, generally synonymous with
gateway, for a World Wide Web site that is or proposes to be a major starting site for users when they get connected to the Web or that users tend to visit as an anchor site.”
-searchCIO.com
Visual Example of Portal-Boston College
Other Definitions
“An environment that fits specific needs, or stated another way, architecting the environment so people can do what they need to do.”
-The University of Washington
“An interactive gateway to resources and services.” -Boston College
“A user-centric Web page that allows users to easily locate all the Web content they commonly use-a ‘one-stop Web page’.”
-Cornell University
Why use a Portal?
Encompassing sense of membership Central database into University resources Increased efficiency Publish information campus-wide Single log-in Connection for University Alumni Instantaneous research Access for perspective students, parents, and
government officials
Types of the Portals Horizontal enterprise portals (HEPs)
Set standard E.g., Yahoo! and Netscape
Vertical enterprise portals (VEPs) Currently at most institutions E.g., PeopleSoft and Blackboard
CPAD Portal – customized, personalized, adaptive desktop Goal for the future Unique portal reflecting individual needs, interests, and preferences
VEP- Enterprise Portal Ellingsburg University would most benefit from using
a Vertical Enterprise Portal, simply referred to as an “Enterprise Portal”
VEP-Enterprise Portals offer customized services and allows EU to create individual niches for different audiences (e.g. students, faculty, staff, alumni, etc…)
VEP-Enterprise Portals are commonly found at institutions of higher education
The Enterprise Portal Provides channels for a single organization, such as in a college or
university setting Channels offer link information or services that are available at the
institution and are of value to that organization’s customers e.g., prospective students, current students, family members, alumni,
and supporters of athletic programs Serves as a means for users to get things done more efficiently and
effectively Ability to allow each user to define a unique and personal view of
the campus web e.g., students can add their own links
Channels Channels are the options the portal provides Should contain a wide array of channels that the user
can choose from based on individual interest Categories of services that would be used include:
Communication tools (e.g., e-mail, Web-based discussion groups)
Information resources (e.g., library resources, institutional data) Translocation services (e.g., paying tuition, registering for
classes)
Communication Tools Communication tools allow users to interact with each other,
sharing information in a safe environment. Examples:
E-mail Portal based e-mail systems allow users to communicate within specific
groups (e.g. residence halls, class, administrative offices, or clubs) Chat rooms
Portal based chat rooms enhance student learning experiences in safe and monitored environments
Announcements Portal based systems can reduce supply costs by providing an electronic
way to advertise
Information Resources Information resources allow users to do research about
their institutions as well as outside them. Examples:
Library Resources Portals allow for cross-resource searching, customized data
mining of content, web page personalization, and support services (e.g. online references, Inter-Library Loan systems, etc…)
Institutional Data Portals would allow all interested parties to view information
about the university
Translocation Services Translocation services allow for “paper-free” services, faster and
more complete customer service, and easier access for users. Examples:
Admissions/Orientation On-line applications and Financial aid applications
Academic Online registration, grade reports, and transcripts
Financial Pay bills, apply for student loans, financial aid application, and debit
system for student ID Extra-Curricular
Sign up for clubs, committees, and organizations; online housing selection; online applications for job opportunities
Other Channels Institutions of higher education commonly use the
channels listed previously and they are the “standard” for most colleges and universities
Additional channels can be added that specifically address the particular needs of Ellingsburg University
Channels can evolve and change based on the needs of EU’s changing population and customer base
Planning Team
Academic Departments Admissions/Orientation Alumni Affairs Athletics Bookstore Board of Trustees Bursar Communications Library
Faculty Senate Health Center Residence Life Research/Assessment Registrar Student Government Student Union Technology
The following offices or groups will be represented:
How to get started Focus Groups
Utilize focus groups of students, faculty, staff and alumni to see what their Web based needs are
Research Peer Institutions Look at other institutions of similar size in the region
and see what they are doing on their websites Review Literature
General resources are available for more information on this topic
Communication Between Systems Ellingsburg must perform an analysis of its legacy
systems and have a defined strategy for migration from legacy systems to new software either with the design team or the vendor.
Legacy Systems refer to systems already in place that would be too costly to replace or eliminate (e.g. Blackboard)
In order for Ellingsburg University’s Web Portal to operate properly all existing legacy systems (e.g. Blackboard, student e-mail, WebCT) must be compatible.
Ongoing Assessment for Improvement Gain insight into the success of the portal by
collecting information data such as: Number of users, trends, requests for assistance, and monitoring
usage looking specifically at click patterns
Establish focus groups about the portal Involve as diverse of a population as possible (e.g.
administrators, students, faculty, and alumni) Use focus information to compile an annual questionnaire
that monitors areas of improvement for the future
Portal Organization Specific for each audience
Perspective Students, Current Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Parents, Supporters of Athletic Programs, Visitors
Side Directory Side bar of important links geared towards the above audience
Tech Support Online access to trouble shooting guide and FAQs
Personalization Allow users to personalize their portal to include particular links
for their specific needs
Good “Practice Sites” University of Washington
http://myuw.washington.edu University of California Los Angeles
http://my.ucla.edu Boston College
http://www.ja~sig.org Louisiana State University
http://paws.lsu/edu University of Minnesota
http://onestop.umn.edu
Web Portal Vendors Java in Administration Special Interest Group
(JA~SIG) http://www.ja-sig.org/
U-Portal http://mis105.mis.udel.edu/ja-sig/uportal/
UDDI http://www.uddi.org/
Relevant Literature Web Portals and Higher Education: Technologies to
Make it HappenRichard N. Katz & Associates
Designing Portals: Opportunities and ChallengesAli Jafari & Mark Sheehan
The Future of Higher Education: Rhetoric, Reality, and the Risks of the MarketFrank Newman
Useful Web Information EDUCAUSE: “a nonprofit association whose mission is to
advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology”
EDUCAUSE has countless articles and book references and should be the starting point for Ellingsburg University’s web portal design.
www.educause.edu
How to “Set the Standard”
With the use of web portals, Ellingsburg University can be on the cutting edge of technological advancements in higher education, while at the same time cutting its costs, eliminating unwanted paper processes, and providing a better, faster, more reliable service for their customers.
References Frazee, J. P. (2001). Charting a smooth course for portal development.
EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 3, 42-48.
Green, K. C. (2003, April 15). Tracking the progress of portals and web-based services. EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research: Research Bulletin, 2003(8), 1-12.
Jackson, M. E. (2002, September 15). The advent of portals. Library Journal, p. 36-39.
Jackson, M. E. (2004). The current state of portal applications in ARL libraries: Results of a survey conducted by the ARL portal applications working group. Association of Research Libraries. Washington, DC.
Katz, N. K., & Goldstein, L. (2002). Summing up: In Katz R. N. & Associates, Web portals and higher education technologies to make IT personal (p. 155-162). Jossey-Bass Inc.
Katz, N. K. (2002). It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a …Portal?: In Kratz R. N. & Associates, Web portals and higher education technologies to make IT personal (p. 1-31). Jossey-Bass Inc.
Leibowitz, W. R. (1999, October 15). Alumni offices use electronic media to forge closer ties with graduates. The Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A45.
Lightfoot, E., & Ihrig, W. (2002, January 8). The next-generation infrastructure. EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research: Research Bulletin, 2002(1),
1-11.
Looney, M., & Lyman, P. (2000, July/August). Portals in higher education: What are they, and what is their potential? EDUCAUSE Review, 28-36.
Olsen, F. (2002, August 9). The power of portals: More colleges create Web services that can be customized to help students and professors. The Chronicle of Higher Education, p. 32.
References continued