Student portal project takes another step
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/portal-demo.jpg” caption=”Preferred student portal project vendors SUN Microsystems and Fatwire Software demonstrate the out-of-the-box potential for the portal and a content management system. From left to right: Zahid Iridun(Fatwire), Fiona Griffiths (SUN account manager), John Alley and Sue Pennington (project managers), Henry Anzarouth (SUN representative).”]A demonstration of the student portal solution from the preferred vendor SUN was held on Thursday, Feb. 16 in Council Chambers. The intent was to demonstrate some capabilities and features of the portal and content management solution. Various representatives of stakeholder groups from the University, as well as students, attended the demonstration with positive feedback.
This demo was an important step in the consultations around the student portal. The process began with student focus groups last year, a survey of more than 6,000 students over the summer and now this show and tell.
“It is clear that there is a lot of excitement surrounding the student portal project across the University community,” says John Alley, director of the project management office,.”And rightly so, because this project sets the stage for the future delivery of services to students on the web – and ultimately for the delivery of services to staff, faculty, alumni and external audiences everywhere.”
That is the grand vision, but the project is starting in small steps. The first release is planned for August this year. It will provide the fundamentals – single sign-on, access to grade reports, personal timetables and other MUGSI functions. Other releases later in the fall will add more functionality for students such as sophisticated search functionality, student calendars and direct access to e-mail.
The project team is working toward the approval of the preferred vendor with the steering committee and signing of the contract in order to ramp up the project for April.
