VIRTUAL STUDENT CENTER VIRTUAL STUDENT CENTER (VSC) : Implementation Phase(VSC) : Implementation Phase

Khokiat Kengskool, Khokiat Kengskool, Kandell Malocsay Kandell Malocsay Diego Arbe, Shawn Blakey and Stephanie Strange Diego Arbe, Shawn Blakey and Stephanie Strange

Florida International UniversityFlorida International UniversityAbstractAbstract

A strategy for virtual community-building has been developed in order to A strategy for virtual community-building has been developed in order to improve communications and bonding between upper division units and improve communications and bonding between upper division units and students (both native and transfer). The creation of Virtual Student Centers students (both native and transfer). The creation of Virtual Student Centers specifically tailored to the culture and key elements of each College or Program specifically tailored to the culture and key elements of each College or Program is a means of connecting students to other students, faculty, support services is a means of connecting students to other students, faculty, support services and the program in general. A Virtual Student Center is geared towards the and the program in general. A Virtual Student Center is geared towards the currently enrolled student and is created from the student’s perspective, unlike currently enrolled student and is created from the student’s perspective, unlike existing and more traditional program websites. The Site components run the existing and more traditional program websites. The Site components run the gamut from links and information on advising and academic support to bulletin gamut from links and information on advising and academic support to bulletin boards for student-to-student communication. Job openings and research boards for student-to-student communication. Job openings and research opportunities are effectively communicated. Students are able to learn about opportunities are effectively communicated. Students are able to learn about student organizations, scholarship opportunities, or special events sponsored by student organizations, scholarship opportunities, or special events sponsored by their program. The possibilities are endless and will vary from program to their program. The possibilities are endless and will vary from program to program. This paper presents the implementation phase of VSC for the College program. This paper presents the implementation phase of VSC for the College of Engineering and Computing at FIU. Website address is provided.of Engineering and Computing at FIU. Website address is provided.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING and Computingand Computing

VIRTUAL STUDENT VIRTUAL STUDENT CENTER (VSC)CENTER (VSC)

MAKING CONNECTIONS AND BUILDING MAKING CONNECTIONS AND BUILDING COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

VSC is Funded byVSC is Funded by“ “ The Title V ” The Title V ”

Federal Grant To Support Federal Grant To Support Student Success At Hispanic Student Success At Hispanic

Serving InstitutionServing Institution

Project TeamProject TeamProject Director:Project Director: Ms. Kandy Bentley BakerMs. Kandy Bentley Baker Director, Retention Planning Director, Retention Planning

Principle Investigator:Principle Investigator: Dr. Khokiat KengskoolDr. Khokiat Kengskool

Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems EngineeringAssociate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Co-principle Investigator: Co-principle Investigator: Ms. Stephanie Strange Ms. Stephanie Strange

Coordinator for Undergraduate RecruitingCoordinator for Undergraduate Recruiting

Project Investigators:Project Investigators: Mr. Diego Arbe and Mr. Shawn BlakeyMr. Diego Arbe and Mr. Shawn Blakey Program Development StaffProgram Development Staff

IntroductionIntroduction• In order to improve communication and In order to improve communication and

bonding between upper division units and bonding between upper division units and students (both native and transfer), a strategy students (both native and transfer), a strategy for virtual community-building is proposed. for virtual community-building is proposed.

• The creation of Virtual Student Centers The creation of Virtual Student Centers specifically tailored to the culture and key specifically tailored to the culture and key elements of each College or Program is elements of each College or Program is described as a means of connecting students described as a means of connecting students to other students, faculty, support services to other students, faculty, support services and the program in general. and the program in general.

• Unlike existing and more traditional program Unlike existing and more traditional program websites, a Virtual Student Center is geared websites, a Virtual Student Center is geared towards the currently enrolled student and is towards the currently enrolled student and is created from the student’s perspective. created from the student’s perspective.

• Being connected to the College, the Being connected to the College, the faculty and each other improves student faculty and each other improves student retention and graduation.retention and graduation.

• 75% of Engineering students are 75% of Engineering students are Transfers Transfers

• Transfers (except for international Transfers (except for international students) tend to commute, work, and students) tend to commute, work, and attend school part time. Generally, they attend school part time. Generally, they do not feel connected.do not feel connected.

Our students need to get Our students need to get connectedconnected

One reason identified for this One reason identified for this lack of connection is the absence lack of connection is the absence of a platform for student-to-of a platform for student-to-student and student-to-faculty student and student-to-faculty communication. communication.

Connection is Connection is CommunicationCommunication

Through increased and enhanced Through increased and enhanced communication students become communication students become

more intellectually engaged, more intellectually engaged, understand the ropes, get understand the ropes, get

involved and help each other. involved and help each other. That’s what the Virtual Student Center That’s what the Virtual Student Center

provides.provides.

Real Time Interaction The Latest News

Academic Help 24-7

• Interactive: Chat rooms, bulletin boards, study Interactive: Chat rooms, bulletin boards, study and class project groupsand class project groups

• Easy to use and maintain: Postings done by Easy to use and maintain: Postings done by students and faculty online real time with students and faculty online real time with automatic termination.automatic termination.

• Dynamic: Easy to change and update from a Dynamic: Easy to change and update from a desktop computer using Access database desktop computer using Access database

• Easy 24-7 access to academic help: Online Easy 24-7 access to academic help: Online tutorials and course-related materials and tutorials and course-related materials and support.support.

• Student orientated information: Jobs, research Student orientated information: Jobs, research opportunities, scholarships, student orgs, sales opportunities, scholarships, student orgs, sales and tutors.and tutors.

Key ElementsKey Elements

Structure - Flow chartStructure - Flow chartIndex

Academic

Information/Opportunity

Student to student

Academic resources directly related to FIU services

Services offered to the students by FIU

Activities and resources for students to get connected

Remote sites Links to several FIU’s pages and services.

Structure - Flow chartStructure - Flow chartIndex

Academic Information/ opportunity

Student to student

Plan Your Program

Study Partner/Tutoring

Getting To Graduation

Request An eMentorEtc.

Vital Contact Information

Admission

Financial Assistance

Survival Information

Freshmen Engineering

Transfer Students

Graduate Students

Student Information Mall

International Student Etc.

Connect with FIUStudentsOrganizations

Transportation

Housing

Create an InterestGroup

System ArchitectureSystem Architecture

Database

SQL Asppages

Internet

Client sideOS

Web browser&

GUI

DefaultsessionOther

Data server Application Server Client

Benefits of Web-Enabled Benefits of Web-Enabled Database Driven Virtual Database Driven Virtual

Student CenterStudent Center• Centralized Source of Information which is Centralized Source of Information which is

remotely accessible.remotely accessible.• Forms an interactive platform to bind students Forms an interactive platform to bind students

by acting as a media of communication.by acting as a media of communication.• 7/24 supporting tool for students’ needs.7/24 supporting tool for students’ needs.• Messy notices on boards will eventually Messy notices on boards will eventually

disappear.disappear.• Free for students.Free for students.• Self Updated capable and User friendly.Self Updated capable and User friendly.

Research MethodologiesResearch Methodologies• Extensive study of announcement Extensive study of announcement

boards across FIU.boards across FIU.• Interviews existing students about Interviews existing students about

the difficulties they have been the difficulties they have been experiencing with.experiencing with.

• Analytical analysis of students’ Analytical analysis of students’ needs from diversified backgrounds.needs from diversified backgrounds.

Development Development MethodologiesMethodologiesTechnologies Used:Technologies Used:

ASP, JavaScript, VBScript, SQLASP, JavaScript, VBScript, SQLMicrosoft’s Microsoft’s .NET Development .NET Development

EnvironmentEnvironmentWeb Server: IISWeb Server: IIS

Macromedia Studio 2004 MxMacromedia Studio 2004 MxData Server: MS Access Server, SQL ServerData Server: MS Access Server, SQL Server

Demonstration & Demonstration & DiscussionDiscussion

http://titlev.fiu.edu/vsc