The Construction and Practice of Private College Campus Portal System

Nowadays, lots of college campus portal systems have many problems, such as teachers and students do not want to use the systems. This paper, which analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of two kinds of portal systems, and it also insight the demands of teachers and students, is in order to construct a portal system which applies to the private colleges with combining the Portal system and the CCS system. Hoping the portal system’s construction plan can have a certain reference value for the other universities and colleges who are going to construct campus portal system.

Construction Plan for Digital Campus Portal

The goal of the platform construction for campus portal is to integrate distributed, heterogeneous applications and information resources, and by the unified access, to achieve seamless access and integration of various application systems, offering an integrated environment for information access, transfer, and collaboration so as to achieve a personalized service application with efficient development, integration, deployment and management.

Accommodating End-Users' Online Activities with a Campus Portal

A major objective of this article is to propose a framework for development of a campus portal accommodating the end-users’ online activities, especially students who are normally considered as a major group of users for the campus portal. By summarising between the literature review in the domain of traditional information systems development methodology and Web-based information systems development methodology and the findings of the research, an appropriate model can finally be concluded and recommended, and is presented in this article. Although this article can be considered as a standalone article, it is recommended that the reader read the article entitled “The Need for a Comprehensive Methodology for Campus Portal Development.” Additionally, the complete version of this research can also be obtained from the digital thesis section of the University of Wollongong Library (http://www. library.uow.edu.au).

A Comprehensive Methodology for Campus Portal Development

A campus portal is an exciting recent phenomenon forming part of the new generation of online services for all stakeholders in institutions of higher education. Conceptually, the general notion of a portal should be to be distinguished from that of other Web-based applications and the traditional phase of this research indicates that the major distinguishing characteristics of a campus portal are (1) personalisation, by which end-users are only able to access information and online services pertinent to their activities, and (2) customisation, by which end-users are able to select their preferred information channels and optional online services.

Campus Portal Strategies

This chapter is designed to assist campuses and their leaders in determining whether to pursue a portal project. For those universities that choose to create portals, a series of strategies and approaches are presented to guide and assist in the success of the effort. This material is provided from the perspective that campus portals can provide a new way to connect with students, faculty, alumni and the community. Strategies are presented to determine whether to undertake a portal project, and the campus readiness for this effort. Nine different approaches to campus portals are presented, together with suggestions on project organization. Project success factors are developed together with potential planning pitfalls for campus portal projects. Finally future approaches for portals are discussed with thoughts for portal acceptance on campus.

Portals

Whether 18 years old and raised on the Internet or an adult seeking the convenience of online service, today’s student expects personalizable, online self-service, along with high-touch access to help when self-service falters. Personalizable, online self-service is the promise of the campus portal, a promise that can be achieved and afforded if colleges and universities take seriously the challenge to transform and redesign the form and substance of their high-touch interactions with students and other stakeholders.

Begin with the End (User) in Mind

This chapter presents a case study of the campus portal planning process at San Diego State University. The authors describe the use of participative decision-making strategies that capture the voices of key stakeholders, identify their concerns and priorities, and facilitate a successful portal rollout. Data was collected from faculty, students and campus leaders through a series of focus groups, interviews and online surveys. Findings were examined in light of the literature on technology adoption and the authors’ familiarity with portal initiatives at other large public universities. Participants described their vision of the ideal portal solution in terms of features, user interface and functionality. While faculty and students expressed enthusiasm about a campus portal, they also had concerns regarding training, support, reliability, security and standards. The authors make recommendations for addressing user concerns such as providing direction and leadership, segmenting the rollout, communicating the benefits and providing organizational support.