Mosaic will get a new look and mobile friendly features this fall as part of an upgrade of the system.

The most noticeable difference will be a refreshed user interface that is more mobile friendly and that provides end users with some options to personalize Mosaic. (The user interface difference is roughly analogous to the difference between Windows 7 and Windows 10.) Mosaic’s underlying administrative processes will remain largely unchanged.

The upgrade will consist of a series of updates beginning in late October and continuing for at least the next year as new features are introduced. Initially users will see a new homepage. The new interface will gradually be deployed to other parts of the system through 2017. Some pieces of the system will retain their current look.

The upgrade has two driving purposes: to take advantage of features in the new versions of the PeopleSoft software Mosaic is built on; and to keep the University on vendor supported versions of the underlying software. This upgrade will position the University to adopt additional features in the future.

Members of the university community are invited to attend a preview of the new user interface on July 12, 13 and 14 in BSB 244 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to see, use and provide comments on an initial draft of the upgraded Mosaic interface.

Common questions about this fall’s Mosaic upgrade

Are we replacing Mosaic?

No. This is an upgrade of the existing, PeopleSoft-based system. The majority of administrative processes will stay the same. The most noticeable change will be the mobile-friendly user interface.

Will it be like the launch of Mosaic?

This will be a much smaller, less disruptive project. Spreading the upgrade over a year in a series of incremental steps will also reduce the impact to end-users.

Isn’t it too early to do this?

McMaster is pursuing a strategy of frequent, smaller upgrades with an eventual goal of upgrading every 12-18 months. It has been three years since the first piece of Mosaic launched, so this fall is an appropriate time to begin.

Will I need training to use the upgraded system?

No. The steps to complete most tasks and processes will be substantially the same.

Is mobile really so important?

This upgrade is primarily about improving the underlying technology and providing the University with the option to adopt new features. The mobile interface is just the most visible manifestation but given the growing importance of mobile use, especially among students, it was an obvious feature to adopt immediately. (The University has seen mobile usage on its website go from about one percent to almost 20 percent of users in the past five years.)

What will the new interface look like?

Below are two examples of a current view in Mosaic and a possible future design. The future look is still evolving and these pages will likely change as users provide feedback.