Lib Ed: Wind Down

Woo Hoo! Lib Ed is live! Awww, but wait, there's more...

Pending Courses from Old Database

We still need to close the loop on courses pending in the old database. There's a lot of junk but on the chance there are valid submissions waiting to be acted upon, we should carefully scrub it. I've suggested a strategy.

Training

I will schedule a training session with Emily (anyone else want in?) where we'll review the back-end database. At the conclusion of training, we symbolically "turn over the keys" to LAC, who from then on is responsible for training new users and managing the solution day-to-day.

Enhancements

We met with and trained the evaluator last week. She suggested several enhancements to the solution. We went live without incorporating them because to do so would have delayed our release and we need time to consider them. The suggestions are list below. If you want to incorporate them, we'll open a new project.

• Add file upload capability so students can attach documentation
• Add a way for the evaluator to recognize a re-submission following a request for more information
• Collect the students EmplID
• Add fields for resident or transfer credits
• Add fields for local or external sponsor
• Add rollovers or pop-ups that explain fields, processes or policies
• Add fields to learn if the student has taken the course already
• Add another field or change the label on an existing field in order to get the department in addition to the course number
• Clarify what URL the student should provide (link to department or specific course)
• Add field to collect term (spring, fall, winter)

When to Stop

I don't know enough about the subject matter to tell for sure, but I wonder if these enhancements extend our solution too far into the Office of Admissions. I don't advocate slamming the door as soon as it acheives our objectives. I want to dovetail with their systems or processes so there's a nice hand-off, making it easy and seamless for both staff and students. Perhaps there's a query, a feed, a printout, an automatic e-mail that achieves this.

I'm wary, however, that additional fields detract from the primary purpose of the solution; confuse the student by encouraging improper procedure; or create a back-door to Admissions that runs through the LAC. Another concern is the time required of IT staff to implement changes and provide on-going support. While we understand and endorse the concept of greater good, we are primarily responsible to OIP.