Meeting Minutes
August 13, 2003

Present: Mac Avery, Sue Crowley, John Culshaw, Rick Denton, Eric Gray, Chris Hemphill, Carolyn Landa, Dave Lilly, Malinda Miller-Huey, Kaye Orten, Gary Pollock, Barbara Todd, Paula Vaughan

Fall Meetings: Meetings throughout the Fall will be held the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 3 p.m., Telecomm 215.

Next Meeting: September 10th, 3:00 p.m., Telecomm 215

Prototype Update

• The prototype test ran through this past weekend. The last few days, it was opened up to all students (an announcement was made via the Buff Bulletin). This increased the unique user count from approx. 700 to approx. 1100, and increased survey respondents from 13 to 190.
• Overall, the prototype was very positively received by the students.
• Survey results for all but the last survey are on the project web site. Detailed survey data is on the team site.
• Survey results for the final, and most detailed survey (where the value of each channel was ranked), were distributed to Core. The results are on the team site now and will soon be on the project site.
• Web Browser compatibility
• The portal is documented (per uPortal, testing and our login site) as being compatible with the following browsers: Netscape version 6.2 and above, Mac IE version 5.1 and above, PC IE version 5.5 sp2 and above.
• We’ve heard good reports from a handful of other browsers.
• Safari has been tested and has significant problems that seem to center around the login to PLUS.

Performance Load

• The summer usage load did not tax the machines at all.
• Performance testing is on the fall schedule. We are considering hiring a consultant for this.

Portal Initiatives

• Student schedule enhancements. Paula will draft specs, send out to core for review – in time for next CADS meeting.
• Guest login is done: ralphieb and buff work with portaldemo (the site that is currently available).
• WebCT within the portal is a high priority with students, ITS and project sponsors.
• Self Account create and password reset are needed on the login page since access is identikey-dependent.
• PLUS migration issues received mixed responses in the survey (some very specific examples, some suggestions that have already been done, some comments about why take anything out of PLUS). It’s possible the question was not clear. In any case, it needs to be carefully thought through and consideration must be given to populations who need PLUS who would not have access to the portal (admits, former students and non-degree students who do not yet have an identikey). Paula, Gary, Malinda and Burton are putting together a plan.
• SOAP for real-time calls to UMS data. Core recommends starting with the student schedule (currently using real-time data in PLUS). Billing detail and bill balance should be done later; UMS is working on an on-line bill process.
• News from various campus sources. Process, technical and content guidelines need to be developed and distributed. An automated review process (for proper format) needs to be developed.
• Student File System initiative is in process at ITS with a pilot running this fall and the hope that it will be available in the portal when both go into production this spring.
• Calendaring – a trio of conundrums: technical, process and marketing to campus.
• Centralized course information. We have received a Vision 2010 grant to do the analysis for this during the fall.
• Skins – students voted high for school colors followed by more choices. Theme-based choices didn’t seem to be as high a priority with students. Web Comm has already started work on this.
• Accessibility – Web Comm is working to schedule additional testing.
• New release – Gary is researching and will present his findings to the tech team.
• Library presence – two issues: more visible links; authenticated access to resources. Will discuss further.
• Off-Campus student housing need no longer be on the list as a proprietary package is being purchased.
• Dining menus – a fun channel that students voted for in the fall and may be fairly easy. Need to discuss with Jeff.
• Address update – many addresses, many issues. Paula, Malinda, Barb and Sally will meet to discuss.
• Financial aid – many issues. A meeting is scheduled for September.
• Graduate School – needs graduate school news and, perhaps, graduate-specific channels. Will have further, in depth discussions this fall.
• Law School – is working on Law School-specific channels as our pilot for distributed development.

Communication Plan

• An updated communication timeline and matrix was distributed. Review and send corrections/updates and additional suggestions to Paula. It is important to be very proactive about communication this fall. We’d like to schedule presentations, etc. with people/departments well in advance.
• Text needs to be written for the Spring Registration handbook. Core agreed that Paula, Malinda and Barb could tackle this.
• The updated timeline and matrix are on the teamsite, in the “presentations etc ” folder.