Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth State University myPlymouth myPlymouth

Make It StrategicMake It StrategicKenneth Kochien, Ass’t. Dir. ITSKenneth Kochien, Ass’t. Dir. ITS

Zach Tirrell, Senior Portal AdministratorZach Tirrell, Senior Portal Administrator

June, 2005June, 2005

Fast Facts About PlymouthFast Facts About Plymouth

• Located in central New HampshireLocated in central New Hampshire• Around 4000 FTE undergraduates and 1200 UHC Around 4000 FTE undergraduates and 1200 UHC

graduatesgraduates• 46 majors, 53 minors 46 majors, 53 minors • B.A., B.FA., B.S., M.B.A. and M.Ed. and CAGS.B.A., B.FA., B.S., M.B.A. and M.Ed. and CAGS.• 24,000 Alumni24,000 Alumni• Approximately 170 FT FacultyApproximately 170 FT Faculty

myPlymouth Historical myPlymouth Historical HighlightsHighlights

• SSO existed at Plymouth from around 2000SSO existed at Plymouth from around 2000• Replaced in-house developed “portal” summer Replaced in-house developed “portal” summer

2002 with CP WebPlatform 3.22002 with CP WebPlatform 3.2• Migrated to Luminis 3.2 July 19, 2004 as the Migrated to Luminis 3.2 July 19, 2004 as the

capstone event of a Banner Surefire capstone event of a Banner Surefire implementationimplementation

• Luminis 3.3 – Target: August, 2005Luminis 3.3 – Target: August, 2005

Things We’ve Done Right.Things We’ve Done Right.• Introduced community to Groups and Calendar Introduced community to Groups and Calendar

Tools with CP WebPlatform 3.2Tools with CP WebPlatform 3.2• Banner self-serve is only available through Banner self-serve is only available through

myPlymouthmyPlymouth• All courses have a default WebCT shell as part All courses have a default WebCT shell as part

of LDIof LDI• Established a Portal Content CommitteeEstablished a Portal Content Committee

• Encouraged broad participation, e.g. LibraryEncouraged broad participation, e.g. Library

• Adopted Project Management MethodologyAdopted Project Management Methodology

Things We (Could Have Done Things We (Could Have Done Better) Will Do BetterBetter) Will Do Better

• Communicate - PromoteCommunicate - Promote

• Provide more training opportunitiesProvide more training opportunities

• Gather more feedback from the usersGather more feedback from the users

• Usability testing Usability testing

• Things we’d like to have:Things we’d like to have:– CMS CMS – Better report integrationBetter report integration

Portal Content Committee Portal Content Committee • Open committee with some faculty Open committee with some faculty

representation that meets monthlyrepresentation that meets monthly

• Approves all content and service changesApproves all content and service changes

• Developed content and versioning processDeveloped content and versioning process

• Resolves user interface issuesResolves user interface issues

• Eyes and ears on the streetEyes and ears on the street

Tour of myPlymouth Tour of myPlymouth

• Demonstrate overall myPlymouth Demonstrate overall myPlymouth • SCT ProvidedSCT Provided

– BSS, My Worklist, Targeted Messages, and more… BSS, My Worklist, Targeted Messages, and more…

• Several Plymouth channelsSeveral Plymouth channels– DYK, Weather, Computing ResourcesDYK, Weather, Computing Resources– News API News API – Faculty Services (layout)Faculty Services (layout)

• YaleCas – dotProjectYaleCas – dotProject• LDNLDN

– Group Request QueueGroup Request Queue

• Observations:Observations:– Blurring of services (what’s Banner and what’s myPlymouth?)Blurring of services (what’s Banner and what’s myPlymouth?)

“IT initiatives usually do not change an institution’s fundamental position in the marketplace, nor do they change its competitive stance with peers….However, the failure to adequately invest in IT can create a less competitive environment, one that is unattractive to potential students, faculty, and staff.” Brian Hawkins, Educause, pg.12, May/June 2006

IT Competitiveness

“Colleges and universities have come to realize that their relationship with their alumni is a two-way street. If they want support from their graduates, they must give them something back in return."Schools are taking seriously the question of what's in it for the alumni," says Steve Calvert, director of alumni relations at the University of Denver. They now understand, he says, that it is not the faculty and staff but the alumni who are "the permanent constituency" of the university.”

USA Today, Alvin P. Sanoff, 6/1/05

Making myPlymouth StrategicMaking myPlymouth Strategic

• Live in February, 2005Live in February, 2005• All PSU graduates receive lifetime email and, as All PSU graduates receive lifetime email and, as

of 2005, myPlymouth accountsof 2005, myPlymouth accounts• Groups for each classGroups for each class• Alumni News ChannelAlumni News Channel• Getting Started ChannelGetting Started Channel• Did You Know ChannelDid You Know Channel• Alumni Self ServiceAlumni Self Service• Alumni Services TabAlumni Services Tab

Alumni Role - Engagement

Tracking Alumni LoginsTracking Alumni Logins

myPlymouth Login StatsmyPlymouth Login Stats

Making myPlymouth more Making myPlymouth more StrategicStrategic

• Prospective PortalProspective Portal

• Parent PortalParent Portal

Q & A and The End.Q & A and The End.