The BEACON
Bringing the Ellingsburg Academic Community Online Networking
Teri Atkinson Travis Smith
Kevin Vicker Robin Zazove
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
What is a portal?
“A single entry point to a range
of relation resources and
information links: A figurative
gateway that you pass through on
your way to somewhere else”
(Keel, p.44).
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
Purpose of the Portal
• To provide students convenient access to a
variety of information and services pertaining to
their education and college experience.
• Gives students the opportunity to interact with
one another.
• To allow students to share information for classes
and activities.
• To open the lines of communication between
students, faculty, and administrators.
• To provide resources for faculty development,
instruction, and involvement.
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
Purpose of the Portal
Recent literature shows that portals can provide
comprehensive access to a variety of information. Student
portals are being used by colleges and universities across
the world in this age of expanding technology. “There
appears to be a strong positive relationship between using
information technology for educational purposes and
involvement in effective educational practices such as
active and collaborative learning and student-faculty
interaction” (Nelson & Kuh, p. 211).
The ideal portal contains a broad range of information,
but can be tailored to fit the needs of the individual user
(Ipri & Sell, 2005).
A 2004 study found that 37.1% of institutions provided a
web portal, which was an increase of nearly 9% from
2003 (Carnevale, 2004). The Beacon Portal can help
bring Ellingsburg College in to the future of technology.
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
The Beacon Portal Can Provide:
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Enrollment Status &
Registration
Downloadable Forms
WebCT / Blackboard
Transcripts & Records
Email
Student Account
Information
Financial Aid
Library Records
Sign Ups
Online Classes
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Hall Councils
Campus Traditions page
Message Boards
Searchable Directory
Campus Activities
Career Services
Community Info/Events
Classified/Marketplace
Calendar
Student-Faculty
Database
Campus Banking
Ellingsburg
College
Planning of the Portal
The Planning Committee will need to
include representatives from:
Purpose
Planning
Benchmarking
Student Portal Director
Tips
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
Vice President of Student Affairs
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Office of Student Accounts
Faculty Senate
Student Senate
Office of Financial Aid
Office of Student Life
Office of Registrar
Office of Residential Life
Webmaster
Student Portal Director
In order for the Portal to be complete, these representatives will need to
assist in the planning so that the information is complete.
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Benchmarking: Quality Student
Portals Currently in Use
University of Kansas- Kyou Portal
http://students.ku.edu
Planning
Benchmarking
Eastern Illinois University- Student Panther Information
Network http://spin.eiu.edu
Student Portal Director
Tips
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
University of Maryland- Testudo
http://www.testudo.umd.edu/
University of Florida- UF Bridges
http://www.bridges.ufl.edu/
Ellingsburg
College
Student Portal Director- Ellingsburg College
Date Posted: 2/13/05
Salary: Based on experience
Applications must be received by 2/25/05
To apply, please send cover letter and resume to
humanresources@ellingsburg.edu
Purpose
Planning
Benchmarking
Student Portal Director
Tips
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
The position of Student Portal Director will be responsible
for the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance
of the Beacon Portal. The qualified candidate will have a
bachelor’s degree in computer science, web development,
or a related field, and 4 years of experience in website
development or web portal development/maintenance.
The candidate must also have experience with managing
large budget, handling substantial amounts of information,
possess the ability to handle multiple projects at once, and
meet deadlines. Must have the ability to communicate well
with a variety of stakeholders, including students, faculty,
staff, and administration.
Ellingsburg
Keys for Starting a Successful Portal
Taken from Ipri & Sell, 2005
College
•Don't Get Shut Out: If your institution is just
beginning the process of getting a portal make sure
the library is represented and make sure those in
charge recognize the potential impact of library
services.
Purpose
Planning
Benchmarking
Student Portal Director
Tips
Implementation and
Maintenance
•Don't Fear the Keeper: Create opportunities to
collaborate with the person running the portal and
express interest early and often, even if you are not
sure how you want your patrons to experience your
presence.
Layout
References
•Don't Let the Hinges Get Rusty: Nothing keeps a
portal swinging like new content.
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
Implementation & Maintenance
• The school will need to hire a staff member
or more to be completely in charge of
managing the student portal- Student Portal
Director. This person will need to be able to
manage databases and know about
networking.
• The Webmaster and IT Support Staff will
assist with implementation.
• TRUSTe Company can be hired for data
privacy certification.
• Possible companies to contact for
assistance/software in setting up a portal are
Epicentric or Plumtree (Olsen, 2002).
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
Implementation & Maintenance
• To support the financial costs of the portal, the
university can increase student technology fees.
• If the school raised the fee $1.50/credit hour, at 15
credits for every student, the university would raise
$67,500 each semester.
• This fee would be enough to hire two employees to
maintain the portal on a daily basis. This fee would
also support the portal, unlike at the University of
Michigan, which had to discontinue their portal
because of the high costs (Olsen, 2002).
Ellingsburg
Portal Layout
College
The portal will be organized by the
following categories:
Purpose
Planning
My Beacon
E-mail
Academics
Finances
Library
Services
Campus
Life
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References
Faculty
Through the scrolling headline that remains on each page as the
students navigate the Beacon Portal, students will be able to view
urgent announcements about campus events, computer viruses,
and emergency notices.
Ellingsburg
My Beacon
College
“My Beacon” is the first page after the
student logs in, and can be personally
customized with the following:
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
My Beacon
Library
Email
Campus Life
Academics
Faculty
Finances
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Weather bug
Sports Scores
Local Entertainment
School News
Password Protection
and Identification
Personalized Calendar
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Local and National
News
School e-mail
Academics
Link to Library Account
Link to Student
Accounts
Students will also have the option to select any of the other
services available on Beacon to remain on the page.
References
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
My Beacon
Library
Email
Campus Life
Academics
Faculty
Finances
References
Beacon E-mail
• The Beacon E-mail account will
provide the following features in
addition to a standard e-mail account.
– Automatic forwarding from other e-mail
accounts
– Spam protection
– Firewall protection
– Pop-up protection
Ellingsburg
College
Academics
On this page, students will be able to:
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
My Beacon
Library
Email
Campus Life
Academics
Faculty
Finances
References
• Download Forms
• View Grades
– Graduation
• View Transcripts
Application
• Use BeaconCT –
– Change of major
Interactive class web pages – Proficiency forms
adjusted by instructor
– Credit transfer for
course acceptance
(Based on WebCT or
from other institutions
Blackboard Protocol)
– Student transfer to
• Graduation Audit
other institutions
Ellingsburg
College
Finances
Under this tab, students will be able to:
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
My Beacon
Library
Email
Campus Life
Academics
Faculty
Finances
References
• View and Pay
Tuition and Fees*
• Download Financial
Aid Forms
• Use Online Student
Banking
• Pay Parking
Tickets*
• Apply for Campus
Employment &
Work Study
• Pay Health Center
Fees*
• View Financial Aid
Statements
• Online Scholarship
Search and Application
• Obtain Health
Insurance Information
• View and Pay Fines to
Release Student Holds*
• Pay Student Activity
Fees*
* When making payments, a second login will be required for
security purposes.
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
My Beacon
Library
Email
Campus Life
Academics
Faculty
Finances
References
Library Services
On this page, students will be able to:
• Obtain General
Library Information
• View Course Reserves
• Email a Librarian
– Hours
• Search Library
– Map of Stacks
Holdings
– Phone Numbers
• View Items Checked • Check Status of
Library Holdings
Out
• View Items Requested • View Library Fines
– Will Include Link to
Finance Page to Pay
Fines
Ellingsburg
College
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
My Beacon
Library
Email
Campus Life
Academics
Faculty
Finances
References
Campus Life
On this page, students will be able to find:
• Online Student
Newspaper
• Schedules for Student
Radio and TV Stations
• Athletic Schedules and
Results
• Intramural Information
• Link to Computer Labs
and Technology Support
• Weekly Campus
Calendar
• Registered Student
Organization Contact
Information
• Student Government
Minutes
• Profiles of Student
Leaders
• Career Services
Information
• Upcoming Events
Ellingsburg
Faculty
College
On this page, faculty will be able to find:
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
My Beacon
Library
Email
Campus Life
Academics
Faculty
Finances
References
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Campus Events
Faculty Announcements
Online Development Workshops
Teaching Resources
Online Database Access
Faculty Senate Minutes
Manage Course Content on BeaconCT
Ellingsburg
References
College
•
Carnevale, J. (2004). Fewer colleges cut informationtechnology budgets this year, survey finds. Chronicle of
Higher Education, 51(10), A34.
•
Ipri, T. & Sell, J. (2005). Opening the portal to better
relationships. Computers in Libraries, 25(2), 6-11.
•
Nelson Laird, T. & Kuh, G. (2005). Student experiences with
information technology and their relationship to other
aspects of student engagement. Research in Higher
Education, 46(2), 211-234.
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Olsen, F. (2002). The power of portals. Chronicle of Higher
Education, 48(48), A32-33.
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Olsen, F. (2002). University of Michigan cancels portal
project. Chronicle of Higher Education, 48(33), A38.
Purpose
Planning
Implementation and
Maintenance
Layout
References