THE STUDENT PORTAL: A STUDENT-FOCUSED, COLLABORATIVE PROJECT Jude Doble, project manager, student...

T H E S T U D E N T P O R T A L : A S T U D E N T - F O C U S E D , C O L L A B O R A T I V E P R O J E C T

Jude Doble, project manager, s tudent portal (SSO)

Pavol Chvala, porta l lead developer

( IST)

STUDENT PORTAL

STUDENT PORTAL

• Student communication tool• Aggregator of information• Responsive • Just-in-time information

STUDENT PORTAL

• It works well• It scales well• It looks cool• And students like it!!!

But this is not enough.

If you build it, they won’t come

STUDENT PORTAL

Key audiences

• Students• Staff and faculty• Senior leadership

STUDENT PORTAL

Three key things need to happen

• Consult• Collaborate• Communicate

Rinse, wash, repeat.

STUDENTS

Consult• Gather information – not just to tick a box• Use suite of tools

Focus groups, booths, surveys, social/digital media

Feedback mechanism for users

• Feedback provides insights you can act on• It’s always about the users

STUDENTS

Collaborate• Identify best partners to help you achieve

your goals Student leaders, student governments

• More than feedback – work together on direction to get buy in

STUDENTS

Communicate• Know your audience

“Who” changes your

message and platform

Takes time and effort

but critical

• Timeline When does it make sense to share?

STUDENTS

Communicate• Email from Dean/SSO• Social media• Digital media• Imprint• Trusted sources – profs,

advisors & student societies

STAFF AND FACULTY

Consult• Can’t assume we know their area/work• Asking is critical

What info do your students need to know?

What do you struggle to tell students?

What have been your successes?

How could portal make communications easier?

STAFF AND FACULTY

Collaborate• Ask for insights • Identify project champions

Faculty/area insights

Help access key people

Support with planning and roll out

STAFF AND FACULTY

Communicate• Know your audience and platforms

Meetings/presentations

Daily Bulletin

Email

• Timeliness• Can’t do it alone

If changing business processes, tell ‘em early, tell ‘em often

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Consult• Project sponsor key

Champions project, opens doors, political influence/savvy

• Identify the people who need to know and how to get in front of them

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Collaborate• Ask for insights• Get them interested and engaged

The best PR you could ask for

Offer time and resources

Trickle down effect can be powerful

“The portal is a very promising initiative that brings students together

and makes their lives easier in tangible, meaningful ways.”

Bill Chesney, Associate Dean, Undergraduate, Faculty of Arts

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Communicate• Know your audience

They are busy

Short, sweet, in person the best

Let them ask questions = engagement

CHALLENGES

• Resources• Technology • Timing • Long-term project• Inaccurate assumptions• Not a direct path• Lots of moving parts

SUCCESSES

• It works!• Students like it!• Have campus buy-in from audiences

Still lots to do but moving positive direction

• Have a plan that makes sense• Have fun

We have slogans!

“This portal. No words. So beautiful.” – Arts student“This doesn’t suck.” – Math student

SUCCESSES

• We have slogans!

YOUR PROJECT

• Consult• Collaborate• Communicate

• Rinse, wash, repeat.

STUDENT PORTAL

Questions?

Jude Doble

jude.doble@uwaterloo.ca

Pavol Chvala

pchvala@uwaterloo.ca