Ellingsburg University
Expanded Web Presence:
Portal Implementation
Created By:
Jaci Czarnecki
Maria Duckett
Sarah Morris
Allie Timberlake
New York University
Expanded Web Presence
Ellingsburg University plans to upgrade their university website to
create a sleek new interface for the university population. In addition
to creating a site that includes an improved design and branding
elements on each page, Ellingsburg will employ the use of web
portals for their constituents. These portals will allow each student,
faculty member, staff member, and alum to create a more
personalized web environment.
Ellingsburg’s mission calls for a unique experience for each member
of their university community. From campus traditions to the
residential program, all who pride themselves as Spartans will have
the opportunity to further individualize their Ellingsburg experience
through the enhanced web options.
Why a customized portal?
As Ellingsburg students and staff move toward a more technologically
enhanced era, it is important to incorporate more modern tools for
communication, information gathering, and learning. Web portals
allow for this type of interaction by enabling the users to select and
design features that are of personal interest and pertinence.
In general, web portals are effective because they are:
User-friendly
- Single logon allows user access to individualized information (i.e.,
academic, financial, and other personal records)
 Personalized web content
- Users select interest-based web features such as academic
calendars, sporting events, and local weather.
 Increased campus communication
- Links provide direct access to selected campus resources like
campus directories, career services, and university maintenance
offices.
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Implementation
In designing and implementing the web portal, University staff
understand the importance of eliciting constructive ideas, opinions
and feedback. As a result, the Development Team has decided that
there should be a group of no more than ten University
representatives, from all sectors of the university community, working
to implement the project. These individuals should include
representatives from:
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Academic Affairs Administration
Student Affairs Administration
Faculty
Students
Information Technology Professionals
Evaluation
Once the portal has been implemented, the Development Team
intends to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project
while simultaneously assessing user satisfaction by conducting
three sets of focus groups in conjunction with an online satisfaction
survey. The evaluation will be executed according to the following
timeline:
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Three focus groups will be conducted:
1) prior to university wide implementation
2) 1 month after implementation
3) 3-6 months after implementation
The online user satisfaction survey will appear as a pop-up in
conjunction with the 1 month focus group.
Technology Based Systems
In creating the portal initiative, the Development Team has identified four
technology based systems that are essential components for implementation.
The systems will be accessed through a single sign-on found on the
Ellingsburg University homepage. The Team agrees that by locating the portal
access directly on the current University web presence, it will facilitate the use
and customization of the portal by students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
University affiliates will use their University ID and password to pass through
the initial sign on. They will then be linked to the portal and consequently, to
the following technology based systems:
 Webmail
 Blackboard
 Web advisor
- Academic Records
- Financial Statements
- Other personal information
 Research tools
Individualized Portal Creation
To more fully explain the benefits and personalization behind the
portal concept, please participate in the following interactive
example:
Meet Suzy. Suzy is a resident student at Ellingsburg University who is
setting up her portal for the first time. She studies biology and enjoys
swimming and theatre. As she goes through the three simple steps to
customize her portal, she is sure to incorporate her interests and needs to
create a personalized “hub” of information online.
These are the steps that Suzy must take:
1)
2)
3)
Sign on to the portal through the university homepage using her net ID
and password.
Select each channel to choose her preferred options and features. These
options and features will be in addition to the three standard features:
Email, About Ellingsburg, and Blackboard.
Customize layout, font, and background of portal via (Edit) links.
Ellingsburg University
About Us
Academics
1600 North Rd. Ellingsburg, NH 00210
Admissions
Alumni
Campus Directory
Athletics
Services
Fast Facts About
Ellingsburg University
•Small, liberal arts university
steeped in tradition
•3,200 students, 6 residence
halls, 3 dining halls, and 1
gymnasium
•Student-faculty ratio is 4:1
•Individualized instruction,
collaboration among all our
students, and leadership
For more information, contact our
Admissions Office at (314) 5550354.
Annual Winter Fest THIS WEEK!
Monday – Snow Sculpture Competition in the quad at 3 pm
Tuesday – Hot Chocolate and Ice Age in Smith Hall at 8 pm
Thursday – Snowball fight on the football field at 4 pm
Friday – Snowflake Formal in Percy Hall at 9 pm
My Ellingsburg
User Name: sjones
Password: *******
Sign On
(click here)
Ellingsburg University
Please choose from the following list of
options to customize your portal.
Academics
 Campus Life
 Campus Resources
 News & Events
 Other Features
 FAQ
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Ellingsburg University
Academics
Please choose from the following list of Academic options to customize
your portal.
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Major 1: Biology
Major 2:
Minor 1:
Minor 2:
Office of Academic Affairs
Web Advisor
o
Bursar
o
Course Catalogs
o
Financial Aid
o
Registrar
o
Student Schedule
o
Unofficial Transcripts
Blackboard
Bookstore
Centers and Institutes
Main Menu
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Faculty Grants
Faculty Publications
Library & Databases
o
Hours & Location
o
Due Dates/Online Renewals
o
Research Assistance
Partnerships and Outreach
Faculty and Institutional Research Initiatives
Advising
Computing & Computer Services
First Year Experience
Academic-Year Internships
Study Abroad
Academic Support Services
o
Peer Tutoring
o
Language Labs
o
Writing Center
Campus Life
Ellingsburg University
Campus Life
Please choose from the following list of Campus Life selections to
customize your portal.
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Student Handbook
o Student Conduct Codes
Student Activities
Undergraduate Student Government
Commuter Student Services
Service Learning Options
Religious Life
Special Programs Offices
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Campus Life Center
Arts & Performances on Campus
Athletics
o Club Sports
o Intramurals
o Division Teams
Main Menu
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Room Reservations
Event Planning Office
Campus Maps
Housing Options
Residence Life
Judicial Affairs
Dining Services
Dining Menus
Health Services
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Counseling Services
International Programming
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Fitness Centers: Hours of operation,
location, schedules, membership
Computer Facilities
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Campus Resources
Ellingsburg University
Campus Resources
Please choose from the following list of Campus Resources to customize
your portal.
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Campus Phone/E-mail
directory
Administrative Departments
Student Affairs
Offices/Contacts
Human Resources
Post Office
Campus Shuttle Schedule
Research
Main Menu
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Maintenance
Campus Police/Safety
Accounts Payable
Office for International
Students
Career Services
o Student Employment
o Professional Job Seekers
News & Events
Ellingsburg University
News & Events
Please choose from the following list of News & Events to customize your
portal.
News:
Events:
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Ellingsburg Today
Press Releases
Alumni News
Faculty Government Agendas
Faculty Government Decisions
Student Government Agendas
Student Government Decisions
New York Times Front Page
The Chronicle Front Page
On-campus events calendar: today,
tomorrow
Off-campus events calendar: today, this
week, this month
Lexis-Nexis
CNN
Main Menu
University Wide Events Calendar
Academic Year Calendar
Administration Calendar
Alumni Event Calendar
Arts & Performance Calendar
Athletics Calendar
Club Event Calendar
Student Government Calendar
Faculty Calendar
Financial Aid Calendar
Food Services Calendar
Health Center Calendar
Housing Calendar
Lecture (speaker series) Calendar
Library Calendar
Other Features & FAQs
Ellingsburg University
Other Features & FAQs
Please choose from the following list to customize your portal.
Other Features:
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University History
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University Mission
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University Traditions
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University Directory
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University Slide Show
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Student Profiles
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Weather
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Search Engine
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Horoscope
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Online Chat/Bulletin Board
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Links to Transportation
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Fun Facts about Ellingsburg
Main Menu
FAQs:
What is my username and password?
Your first initial and the first 7 letters of
your last name. Your password is your
student ID number.
Do I have to access the portal?
Since e-mail is a major means of
communication on campus, you must
access the portal to activate your e-mail.
The rest of the portal is customized to
your preferences and if you choose to, you
may utilize it only to check and send email.
Enter Completed Portal
Ellingsburg University
26º F Sunny
Welcome Suzy!
Email:
About Ellingsburg:
Friday, Feb. 25, 2005
3 new messages
University Information & Traditions
Fun fact of the day:
News & Events
News
Ellingsburg Today
New York Times
Campus Events
Theatre @ Ellingsburg
•Ellingsburg Players Present: “Guys
and Dolls” February 20-25 @ 7pm in
the Logan Theatre. Tickets $5
•Auditions “Cabaret” February 26
and 27 @7pm in the Logan Theatre.
Prepare a song and be ready to
dance!
Athletics
Swim meet schedule (all meets are
at 5pm)
2/23 Ellingsburg v. Spartansburg (H)
2/25 Monroe v. Ellingsburg (A)
3/1 Ellingsburg v. Harvard (H)
3/15 NCAA Championships @ Trinity
Other Features (Edit)
Academics
Blackboard
WebAdvisor
Biology Department
click here for calendar of upcoming
events
•Tuesday, February 22- 6pm- Careers in Marine Biology, Grey Building, Room 101
•Friday, February 25- 7pm- Grand Opening of New Lab Facilities, Grey Building Lounge
Campus Life
Student Activities- events for the week (click for future
events)
•Tuesday, February 22-7pm- “Napoleon Dynamite” Student
Union
•Wednesday, February 23- 8:30pm- Open Mic Night, Coffee
Shop
•Friday, February 25- 9pm- Hawaiian Luau Dance- Student
Union
Campus Resources
Cafeteria Menu Specials
Tacos
Vegetarian Chili
Salmon
Student Government Announcements
Thursday, February 24- 7pm- Campus
Open
Forum- Come out and voice your
campus concerns. Student Union
•Campus shuttle schedule
•Campus phone/e-mail directory
Research
Career Services
Tuesday, February 22- 4pm- Resume Writing Workshop- Office of Career Services
Friday, February 23- 12-2pm- Internship Fair- Student Union
FAQ’s
Conclusion
As is evident through our demonstration, Ellingsburg students, faculty, staff, and
alumni could benefit greatly from the implementation of a University web portal.
The personalization options available through web portals facilitate communication,
interaction, and education and ultimately serve as a gateway into campus life and
information. By encouraging campus-wide communication through the features
like the campus events calendars, academic updates, and student services program
listings, the web portal connects students to the University community. This
connection creates a bond between the University and the student body, thus
increasing student satisfaction and positively affecting the retention rates of our
students.
Ellingsburg University prides itself in maintaining an individualized campus
environment for all of its affiliates. The institution has consistently strived to
establish University features that distinguish these values and the incorporation of a
University web portal further supports this goal.
Finally, as society moves toward a more interactive and technological era, it is
essential that institutions of higher education follow suit. Therefore, Ellingsburg
University needs to remain current with advancements in technology. A
personalized web portal is the ideal way to attain this end while preserving the
institutional character.
References
Frazee, J. (2001). Charting a smooth course for portal development: San Diego State
University. Educause Quarterly. 3(24), 42-48. Retrieved on February 21, 2005
from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eqm0134.pdf.
Olson, F. (2002, August). The power of portals: More colleges create web portals that
can be customized to help students and professors. The Chronicle of Higher
Education. 48(48), A42.
Zazelenchuk, T., E. Bowling. (2003). Considering user satisfaction in designing webbased portals. Educause Quarterly. 26(1), 35-40. Retrieved on February 21, 2005
from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eqm0315.pdf.