University Web Portal Proposal
for
Ellingsburg University
February 25, 2005
Presented by:
G. Andrew Hohn, Director of Residential Life
Reggie Lucien, Office of Telecommunications
Cynthia Newhouse, President of the Faculty Senate
College of Student Affairs Program
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Ave CTR246
Tampa, Florida 33620
What is a portal?
A portal is defined as:
A website considered as an entry point to other websites, often by
being or providing access to a search engine.
A University web portal:
A one-stop client-oriented web site that personalizes the portal's
tools and information to the specific needs and characteristics of the
person visiting the site, using information from university databases.
Why does Ellingsburg University need a
web portal instead of just a website?


Better service to students, faculty, staff and community
Opportunities for collaboration between different populations


Opportunity to increase the image of the University





Opportunity for business partners
Online payment opportunities for individuals to pay fees faster and more conveniently
(Reduces student’s time spent in lines).
Can reduce amount of time and money used by current offices



Opportunity to provide information on campus wide decisions efficiently and effectively
Unifies campus offices and resources
Opportunities for increased campus revenue


Help with student retention and admissions
Competitive with other institutions
Better organization for University resources


Online chat rooms, discussions boards
By providing online submission of forms and information offices such as Financial Aid and
the Registrar can better allocate human and material resources to other projects.
University of Pennsylvania estimates paper based procurement systems cost $150 per item
while eprocurement systems only cost $10 per item.
Places Ellingsburg University in position to compete for higher quality students.
Today’s College Student

Today’s students are part of the Millennial
generation. As such, they are most
concerned with some of the following:




Security
Collaboration
Technology
Achieving success
Person-Environment Congruence


Person-environment congruence is the degree of fit between the
person and their surrounding environment. If the person’s
personality type is similar or nearly similar to the environment in
which he/she resides, this person is said to be congruent with
his/her environment.
Further, the degree of person-environment congruence is predictive
of an individual’s attraction to and satisfaction with, and stability
within an environment. Consequently, the likelihood of staying in
the environment will be high when the congruence is also high.
Millennials and Person-Environment Fit




Millennials want security (such as the security of being able to track their
own paperwork, grades, advising, etc.), want innovative mechanisms for
collaboration (such as online chat rooms and discussion boards), are
familiar with and prefer to use technology, and are focused on achieving
high standards while also seeking a sense of relief.
Therefore, the more Ellingsburg University matches these qualities to its
students, the higher the person-environment congruence.
Since person-environment fit can be predictive of satisfaction, stability, and
attraction, and since this consequently increases the likelihood of remaining
in that environment, Ellingsburg University can potentially increase its
retention rates through the creation of a portal.
Thereby, matching their educational environment with today’s student.
Challenge and Support




Sanford’s challenge and support theory provides us with the knowledge that
a setting must provide similar amounts of both challenge and support (plus
one principle).
If the setting does not provide enough support (technology) to deal with
the challenges within a college student’s life, it may be considered to be an
incongruent person-environment fit.
Since today’s student is so accustomed to the use of technology, an
environment which is not compatible with this expectation may not be as
attractive.
Therefore, it may affect admission, retention and success.
Safety and Portal Design


It is important to consider the implications
of portal design on the safety and security
of Ellingsburg University.
Some potential safety threats are:



Personal safety
Delivery of services
Preservation of records
Safety and Portal Design (cont’d)

Personal safety factors related to portal design include the increased risk of
stalking due to increased access to information.


Computer viruses, denial of service attacks, and hacking can all potentially
affect the universities ability to provide services.


Having a well-developed campus safety program (University Police), advocacy
program, and well-equipped IT department can help reduce this risk.
Use of up-to-date network security precautions can reduce this risk.
Information that is stored within the system may be vulnerable to potential
identity thieves.

Careful monitoring of information combined with up-to-date network security
precautions can reduce this risk.
Portal Examples


Researched other institutions of various sizes
to compare portal designs.
All institutions researched are located in the
North Eastern United States.



Plymouth State University
Northeastern University
New England College
Plymouth State University
FAST FACTS
Enrollment: 3,800 Undergraduate Students
Located: Plymouth, New Hampshire
Features:
•Secure Log In
•Access to Financial Aid information
•Register for classes
•View records
•Announcements
•Email access
•Online calendar
•Library access
•Weather updates
•Chat with peers
•Store information
•Much more
Northeastern University
FAST FACTS
Enrollment: 18,676 Students
Located: Boston, Massachusetts
Features:
•Secure Log In
•Access to Financial Aid information
•Access to personal information
•Register for classes
•View holds
•Review fees
•Student deadlines
•Access to online payment records for
employees
•Online calendar
•Bookstore access
•Much more
New England College
FAST FACTS
Enrollment: 1,000 Students
Located: Henniker, New England
Features:
•Secure Log In
•Access to Financial Aid information
•Access to Personal information
•Register for classes
•Display class schedule
•View holds
•Review fees
Needs Based Assessment
Before Ellingsburg University will be able to unveil our projected portal,
we must first determine what the different populations would want
from this project.
OUR PLAN:
Exit interviews for graduating seniors on what would have benefited
them during their undergraduate years.
Random sampling for sophomores and juniors with questionnaire.
Survey of FTIC Students to determine what they would find
beneficial. This survey would be conducted through the First
Year Experience courses taught on campus.
Faculty and Staff surveys.
Portal Design Planning Committee








Director of Residential Life
Representative from Office of Communications
President of Faculty Senate
Reference Librarian
Representative from Admissions
Representative from Registrar
Student Government Association President
Technology Department liaison
Implementation Timeline








Create Beta Version of My EU.
Propose project to Ellingsburg University
President- WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
Evaluate Current web portal.
Start promotion campaign to inform current
students.
Create online tutorial program for “My EU”.
Hold training sessions for “My EU” for Students,
Faculty and Staff.
Require course registration for Summer 05/Fall 05
terms to be completed via “My EU”.
April



Conduct Needs Assessment.

July
March

June-
February


January-
May
Evaluate problems experienced during unveiling
(course registration).
Create solutions for problems before upcoming
summer Orientation Programs.
Continue to strategize solutions for any residual
design flaws.

Alter “My EU” for version 2.0 with
improvements (if necessary).
November


Conduct second Needs Assessment
Evaluation.
October

Evaluate overall implementation process for
summer Orientation and identify any
problems that arose.
September

Work closely with Orientation and other
offices to ensure smooth transition and
integration of “My EU”.
August

Have “My EU” integrated into Orientation to
instruct incoming students on how to utilize
new web portal.
Propose Update to “My EU” to University
President.
Unveil “My EU” version 2.0.
December
Continue to evaluate current web portal and
its effectiveness.
Tasks that have currently been accomplished are in gray text.
“My EU” Beta Version 1.0


Our Beta Version will introduce the web portal to the University.
The Beta Version will consist of:













Email Access
My Classes (course websites and updates)
Directories
Search feature
My Organizations (personalized)
Quick links (personalized)
Library Access
Fee Payment
Blackboard
On-line Registration
Course Search
Personalized weather updates
Link for comments and suggestions
Channels Offered
Students










Student Organizations
Email Access
Library Access
Registration
Course Search
Online Transcripts
Fees Payment
Grades
Course Information
Personal Information
Faculty & Staff




Course Websites
HR Information
Payroll
Email Access
Community



List of Community Events
Online Calendar
Open communication
opportunities through
Ellingsburg University and
surrounding community
Ellingsburg University
Search
Home
Help
EU Library
Course Search
EU Email
Log out
Welcome to My EU, John J. Owen
Friday- February 25, 2005
News:
Do you owe money?
Quick Links
On-line Registration
University Directory
Registrar
Ellinsgburg Library
Blackboard
Search
By clicking on the link below you will
College Democrats
be able to view all of your current fees
Kappa Sigma
owed to EU. Everything from tuition to
NRHH
parking tickets can be paid on-line.
Omicron Delta Kappa
This new on-line feature will allow you
Student Government
to avoid those long lines.
UE Surf Club
Pope is hospitalized again
Conn. nears OK of gay civil unions
Kennedy's children become her guardians
Putin says Russia bound to democracy
Probe leaves out ex-commander at Guantanamo
Financial Aid
Bookstore
On-line payment
Change my Quick Links
My Classes:
Directories
Students
Faculty and Staff
Academic Department
Campus Offices
TR
SYG 2000
User
MWF
MAC 2233
Password
TR
SLS 2260
MWF
Technical Support
Help
This week on campus:
You are currently enrolled in
12 credit hours.
ENC 2210
My Organizations
Technical Writing
12:30-1:45
•Online Directory of Summer Courses available
•Men’s Basketball game Monday Feb 28th at 7pm
•Financial Aid Workshop for your FALL FAFSA
•Student Government Elections, Monday February 28th
Introduction to Sociology
2:00-2:50
Business Calculus
What do you think
of the new MYEU.
Give us your
feedback.
Weather
EU Photo
of the week:
26°F
11:00-12:15
Leadership Fundamentals
1:00-1:50
My-EU Beta Version 1.0- Fall 2005
Fair
In this photo, first year student Kyle Artz
takes a stroll through one of our campus
parks during this past fall semester.
Feels Like:
16°F
Potential Technology-Based Systems

SCT Luminis


SCT Banner


Administrative and self-service solution featuring a multi-application that supports mediumto-large-sized institutions
SCT fsaAtlas


Microsoft-based, enterprise-wide student management solution for institutions with complex
business and organizational requirements
SCT Plus


Microsoft-based solution for smaller and specialized institutions
SCT Matrix


Oracle-based, Internet-native solution for medium to large student enrollments
SCT PowerCAMPUS


Standards-based platform, that combines portal features, infrastructure, and enterprise
applications that enables institutions to give constituents centralized and customized Web
access to campus information
Leading multipurpose suite and SEVIS reporting application for use in International
Student/Scholar Offices
SCT Campus Pipeline

Enterprise software that supports centralized Web access
References



Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., & Guido-DiBrito, F. (1998). Student Development in College: Theory,
Research, and Practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Muntz, P. (2004). Millennials go to college. Journal of College Admission, 183, 26-27.
New England College


Northeastern University




http://my.plymouth.edu/cp/home/loginf
Schaefer, R.M. (2002). Technology- safety and security. New Directions for Student Services, 99,
77-86.
Strange, C.C., Banning, J.H. (2001). Educating by Design: Creating Campus Learning
Environments That Work. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
UMass Portal Strategy


http://myneu.neu.edu/cp/home/loginf
Plymouth State University


http://www.nec.edu
http://intranet.uml.edu/peoplesoft/portal/UMass%20Portal%20Primer.pdf
University Web Developers’ Mailing List

http://www.usask.ca/web_project/uwebd/portals_faq.html