VIRTUAL STUDENT CENTER
(VSC) : Implementation Phase
Khokiat Kengskool, Kandell Malocsay
Diego Arbe, Shawn Blakey and Stephanie Strange
Florida International University
Abstract
A strategy for virtual community-building has been developed in order to improve
communications and bonding between upper division units and students (both native
and transfer). The creation of Virtual Student Centers specifically tailored to the
culture and key elements of each College or Program is a means of connecting
students to other students, faculty, support services and the program in general. A
Virtual Student Center is geared towards the currently enrolled student and is created
from the student’s perspective, unlike existing and more traditional program websites.
The Site components run the gamut from links and information on advising and
academic support to bulletin boards for student-to-student communication. Job
openings and research opportunities are effectively communicated. Students are able to
learn about student organizations, scholarship opportunities, or special events
sponsored by their program. The possibilities are endless and will vary from program
to program. This paper presents the implementation phase of VSC for the College of
Engineering and Computing at FIU. Website address is provided.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
and Computing
VIRTUAL STUDENT CENTER
(VSC)
MAKING CONNECTIONS AND BUILDING
COMMUNITY
VSC is Funded by
“ The Title V ”
Federal Grant To Support Student
Success At Hispanic Serving Institution
Project Team
Project Director:
Ms. Kandy Bentley Baker
Director, Retention Planning
Principle Investigator:
Dr. Khokiat Kengskool
Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Co-principle Investigator:
Ms. Stephanie Strange
Coordinator for Undergraduate Recruiting
Project Investigators:
Mr. Diego Arbe and Mr. Shawn Blakey
Program Development Staff
Introduction
•
In order to improve communication and bonding
between upper division units and students (both native
and transfer), a strategy for virtual community-building
is proposed.
• The creation of Virtual Student Centers specifically
tailored to the culture and key elements of each College
or Program is described as a means of connecting
students to other students, faculty, support services and
the program in general.
• Unlike existing and more traditional program websites,
a Virtual Student Center is geared towards the currently
enrolled student and is created from the student’s
perspective.
Our students need to get connected
• Being connected to the College, the faculty and
each other improves student retention and
graduation.
• 75% of Engineering students are Transfers
• Transfers (except for international students) tend
to commute, work, and attend school part time.
Generally, they do not feel connected.
One reason identified for this lack of
connection is the absence of a platform for
student-to-student and student-to-faculty
communication.
Connection is Communication
Through increased and enhanced
communication students become more
intellectually engaged, understand the
ropes, get involved and help each other.
That’s what the Virtual Student Center provides.
Real Time Interaction
The Latest News
Academic Help 24-7
Key Elements
• Interactive: Chat rooms, bulletin boards, study and class
project groups
• Easy to use and maintain: Postings done by students and
faculty online real time with automatic termination.
• Dynamic: Easy to change and update from a desktop
computer using Access database
• Easy 24-7 access to academic help: Online tutorials and
course-related materials and support.
• Student orientated information: Jobs, research
opportunities, scholarships, student orgs, sales and tutors.
Structure - Flow chart
Index
Academic resources directly related to
FIU services
Academic
Information/Opportunity
Student to student
Remote sites
Services offered to the students
by FIU
Activities and resources for
students to get connected
Links to several FIU’s pages and
services.
Structure - Flow chart
Index
Academic
Plan Your Program
Study Partner/Tutoring
Getting To Graduation
Information/
opportunity
Student to
student
Vital Contact Information
Connect with FIU
Students
Admission
Financial Assistance
Survival Information
Request An eMentor
Etc.
Organizations
Transportation
Freshmen Engineering
Housing
Transfer Students
Create an Interest
Group
Graduate Students
Student Information Mall
International Student Etc.
System Architecture
SQL
Asp
pages
Default
session
Other
Database
Data server
Application Server
Client side
OS
Interne
t
Web browser
&
GUI
Client
Benefits of Web-Enabled Database
Driven Virtual Student Center
• Centralized Source of Information which is
remotely accessible.
• Forms an interactive platform to bind students by
acting as a media of communication.
• 7/24 supporting tool for students’ needs.
• Messy notices on boards will eventually disappear.
• Free for students.
• Self Updated capable and User friendly.
Research Methodologies
• Extensive study of announcement boards across
FIU.
• Interviews existing students about the
difficulties they have been experiencing with.
• Analytical analysis of students’ needs from
diversified backgrounds.
Development Methodologies
Technologies Used:
ASP, JavaScript, VBScript, SQL
Microsoft’s .NET Development Environment
Web Server: IIS
Macromedia Studio 2004 Mx
Data Server: MS Access Server, SQL Server
Demonstration & Discussion
http://titlev.fiu.edu/vsc