Meeting Minutes
December 12, 2002

Present: Mac Avery, Linda, Crouch, Bob Fryberger, Chris Gotski, Andy Marangakis, Malinda Miller-Huey, Gary Pollock, Bonnie Templeton, Barbara Todd, Paula Vaughan

JA-SIG Update (Bob Fryberger, Gary Pollock)

• The conference revolves around a collaboration of universities working on java applications, including uPortal.
• The new version of uPortal, 2.1, is more stable and includes LDAP groups.
• The next update will probably not be out for at least a year, so we should use 2.1 for our development effort.
• Performance testing: 2.02 and up are stable enough for testing. Anything over 10 channels per tab causes performance problems (slower response times, per observational data, based on 10 threads per tab, 1000 concurrent users, 8 servers tops.
• We need to ensure quality assurance including performance, caching, use threads.
• Most people are linking out to larger apps (WebCT, calendar, etc.)
• Cal Poly has 1-click access (1 sign on, click out to apps)
• WebCT has incorporated uPortal v1.6
• Upgrades can be difficult (carrying personalization forward)
• Pilot Groups: chosen in two ways: 1) representative groups of those who would use the portal; 2) convenient/available people.
• “Quick Poll” channel is intriguing: i.e., did you ride the bus today, etc. Question changes every few days; the channel runs all the time.
• Ability to have a channel that mixes mandatory and optional options is not part of the framework (i.e., can’t be mandatory for some people and optional for others).
• Web proxy channels passes credentials downstream.
• Presentations will be on the web site in a few days.
• uPortal specific conference in June here in Interlocken. Bob is on the program committee.
• CalPoly uses a data warehouse behind the scenes in case the mainframe is down.
• Sun has inexpensive 900 mhz machines – need to configure for the prototype.
• Never underestimate the bandwidth of a stationwagon full of mag tapes.
• UBC portfolio (development in process): everything about the student in an on-line personalized portfolio.

Course web page repository

• Should we start with WebCT courses? Link via SIS? How do we gather? How do we manage?
• Students and Council of Associate Deans want this.
• Plan on this being in the portal in the future, start the effort now. Perhaps set up a sample for the prototype?
• University of Washington has a demo.

Exercise to Divide the potential offerings up by tab

The list of prototype possibilities was divided up among the following tabs: Main, Academics, Finance, Student Life, My Page.

The Core Team then voted on their top three picks per each tab (number 1 pick gets 3 points, 2 gets 2 and 3rd pick gets 1 vote per person). Note: Votes were requested of the absentee members after the meeting. The notes below reflect the final vote. The prototype will focus on the high-vote getters amongst the student survey results and the Core Team.

There will also be a guest tab. Suggestions for this tab include: Maps, Search, Directory, Department Pages, Weather, Ask Ralphie.

Planned for the future:

• centralized listing of course web pages (effort starts now but completion will go beyond our prototype target dates)
• library reserve
• library records