Show and Tell Tuesday

We used to call it NCCU's Web Services' "Scrum Demo". The event still takes place on alternating Tuesdays at 11:30 AM (3rd Floor Michaux Bldg.), but the new event name reflects an important new emphasis. We want to know: where are you on this thing we call "NCCU Web"? What are you doing there? What do you need? What are we doing well for you? What can we do better? This new emphasis opens up the dialog, and makes you presence, your anticipation, all the more crucial to the event's success.

Be there. Tell your friends...

-dB-

We have made some enhancements to the Quick Links tab on the front page of the new NCCU web site design. Check it out along with our enhancements to the other tabs at http://www.nccu.edu/intranet/newNCCUDesign/, and let us know your thoughts!

Updates to the New NCCU Web Site Design

We've spruced up the Calendar, "Schools & Departments", and "Degrees Offered" tabs of the new NCCU web site design. Take a peek at http://www.nccu.edu/intranet/newnccudesign/index.cfm and let us know what you think!

Seeing Is Believing...

In the both the preceding and previous posts, Darin shows off brand new features from our upcoming site design. Here's a video blog that demonstrates those navigational enhancements and a little more. You'll probably prefer this larger, high-res version of the video, hosted on NCCU's streaming QT servers.

Updates to NCCU Website Redesign

We've added pictures to top stories! If an image is attached to a top story, then it will display on the front page as well. Take a look at the home page of the new NCCU redesign to get a glimps of the change.

NCCU.edu Scaled Down

Web Services has just completed the task of scaling down the New NCCU Redesign site to 800px width from 1024px width. This re-scaling of the web site will accommodate user with small computer screens which are usually are set to 800 x 600.

Web Design Fact:
Most users are using a display with 1024x768 pixels or more, with a color depth of at least 65K colors.

source: Browser Statistics Display

Reminder - Web Services Demo Today

11:30 Michaux Edu. Bldg.
Be there! Aloha!

Revamped Top Links Section

We have revamped the top links section of NCCU.edu. The site search feature has been moved into this area, the links which previously appeared here have been integrated into a "quicklinks" dropdown box, a "schools and departments" dropdown has been added which lists all the different schools and academic departments at NCCU.edu, and a "degree programs offered" dropdown has been added which lists all of our academic programs offering degrees. We hope you will find that navigating the website will be easier than ever.

Revamped Prospective Students Page

We have made some significant improvements to the prospective students page of NCCU.edu. The old page gave some general facts about the university, but did not lead visitors on any particular path. The new page directs visitors toward many courses of action, and it features a much more attractive interface.

Sprint No. 7

ITS Display Banner
Create Banner size AD for ITS.

· Display the mock-up of the banner.

Create form to manage Liaison Departments rights and privileges for Web Liaisons

A user-friendly form that allows site administrators to manage access to web applications.

· Log –in myNCCU

· Under My Navigation click on the web services folder

· Click on Web Liaison management

· Add a Liaison to the Liaison’s Department table, and assign a department to that user

· Have User log into the Knowledge Base and verify that the user has rights to edit FAQS for their assigned department

· for their assigned department

· Remove a Liaison from the Liaison’s Department table

· Have User log into the Knowledge Base and verify that the user does not have rights to edit FAQS for the department from which they were removed

Create form to manage Curriculum Guide access rights and privileges for Web Liaisons

A user-friendly form that allows site administrators to manage access to the Curriculum Guide builder.

· Log –in myNCCU

· Under My Navigation click on the web services folder

· Click on Web Liaison management

· Add a Liaison to the Curriculum Guide Access Table, and assign a department to that user

· Have User log into the Curriculum Guide and verify that the user has rights to edit curriculums for their assigned department

· Remove a Liaison from the Curriculum Guide Access Table

· Have User log into the Curriculum Guide and verify that the user does not have rights to edit curriculums for the department from which they were removed

Employee security questions
Enable employees to create security questions for their passwords.

· Log into myNCCU

· Click the profile button

· Click on password management link

· Create security questions


Employee password reset
Enable employees to reset their own password.

· From the myNCCU log-in page click on the forgot password link

· Enter User Name in the form field

· Enter responses to the security questions

· Change password

Develop Web Services Internship Program

Establish a new program that uses students (undergraduate and graduate) to conduct work on our behalf.

· Show the job description and discuss the details of the program

Beefing up Prospective Students page

Enhance the content of all prospective student pages so it is user-friendly and effective.

· Click on Prospective Students from nccu.edu

· Highlight the new features of the new layout

Create Dropdown for Department and Schools

Place departments and schools into a drop down for easy navigation

· Show drop-down of Schools and Colleges, and Degree Programs from the Grey Bar Navigation of nccu.edu

Add Delete Button to The Eagle Status
Allow users to delete a posted Eagle Status

· Log into myNCCU
· Post a status
· Delete the status

Help!

Dear NCCU Web Liasons and Advocates:

This is one of those times where we depend on you to help us with some vital work that we simply can't do. You told us about a need, so we've fulfilled it. Now, we need you to spread the word.

Specifically, we've enhanced NCCU Online Campus Directory [or "OCD", for short] to accommodate your photos, biographies and resumes/vitas. Come see it (and much more) at our regularly scheduled bi-weekly demo, this Tuesday. Here is screenshot mock-up. You like, yes?

So, what can *you* do to help? Only you can help NCCU succeed where even the very best Web-based promotion fails: we need your Word Of Mouth. Grab some Faculty members and colleagues, and *show* them our new and improved OCD. Let them see *your* OCD profile (which includes your photo, bio, and PDF resume). It's fun to watch someone's facial expression when you've shown them something that prompts lights mental light bulb or, "Oh, yeaaaaaah.... Hmmmm."

It all starts with your example. Post your Photo, Resume/Vita, and Bio Info *today*. How? It's very easy; it *has* to be. See for yourself at http://www.nccu.edu/knowledgebase/faq.cfm?id=55


Yours,

-dB-

Video Blog Volume 01

Your NCCU Profile

We are planning to beef up your NCCU profile with pictures, bios, vita, and other interesting information. The first step - porting the profile application into our development environment - was completed today. You will notice that the URL of the profile update page has changed:

https://www.nccu.edu/intranet/appsadmin/directory/update.cfm

Stay tuned for for updates to this application.

Holla @ Each Other

This just added to my.nccu.edu (Now, also known as MyEOL): Eagle Status - It's a shout box; it's an instant message board! It slices; it dices!!

Actually, it's a quick and easy way for you and your co-workers to keep track of each other. Enter your status (140 characters or less) in the "What are you doing now" box, click "Post", and pla-DOW! You've instantly updated everyone as to where you are and what you're doing.

Holla @ Us...

The new feedback app is up... With a little coding acumen, the Kampyle app we've chosen is fairly easy to install and customize... From the end-user side - it's a quick, painless, and if need be, anonymous way for user to convey their thoughts and suggestions... To "holla", as it were.

We were shocked by the sheer volume of feedback that poured in, immediately after launching it "live". And Darin (whose post idea I just boosted) comments that the response is "overwhelmingly positive".


Nice...

Announcement Archive Version 1.0
Release Date: 9/12/2008

New Features:

• Announcements are tailored to specific audiences.


• Announcements can only be viewed by internal audiences.

MAC Address Registration

MAC Address Registration Version 1.0
Release Date: 9/12/2008

New Features:

• Students can register their MAC addresses with ITS.


• ITS ddminstrators can track which machines they have serviced for students.

NCCU Curriculum Guide

Curriculum Guide Version 1.0
Release Date: 9/12/2008

New Features:

• Academic departments can create online undergraduate curriculum.


• Curriculum can be viewed online.


• Course descriptions have been added to where available.


• Application administrators can create and edit coursed.

Known Issues:

• The curriculum description and details cannot be added to a new curriculum. The curriculum must first be saved then edited.

NCCU Knowledge Base

Knowledge Base Version 2.175
Release Date: 9/15/2008

Features:

• A searchable knowledge base that can be searched by:
  • Keyword
  • Audience
  • Department
• Each FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) is assigned:
  • Title
  • Department
  • Audience
  • Question - "How Do I ...?"
  • Answer
  • Keywords/Tags
• You can "Delete" and "Update" a FAQ after it has been created in the Knowledge Base.
• If a FAQ is searched for, and the results returned are "Not found", users have to the opportunity to "Send feedback" to the Administrative Staff which will alert them to create the new FAQ and make it available.

Accessibility:

• Web Liaisons and Web Services have administrative rights to the Knowledge Base where they can create and update FAQs and also maintain the Knowledge Base as well
• The Knowledge Base Admin Page can be accessed through My NCCU (http://my.nccu.edu) using your Active Directory account.

Spint No. 5 - 09/05/08 - 09/15/08

Replace old Document Library with New Document Library - 1.5 Days to complete

• Need to remove the old document library so that all new changes will be visible via the web.

Add audience specific news to news application - 2 Days to complete

• Administrators will be able to designate specific audiences for specific news stories

Add audience specific news to the intranet - 1 Day to complete

• Users will see news and announcements according to log-in role

Hide Internal News on Archive Page - 1.75 Days to complete

• All faculty, staff, and student news and announcements will no longer display in the public News Archive list.

Mac Address Registration - 1.5 Days to complete

• Automatically registers a student's Mac Address

Enable Liaison Log-in to FAQ and Curriculum Guide - 2 Days to complete

• Add the login feature for all Web Liaisons to new web applications

Knowledgebase Feedback Form - 1.5 Days to complete

• A form placed on each knowledgebase entry that seeks to enhance solutions/answers through user feedback.

No Body Asked...But you shall Recieve

In our third Story we wanted to give our Web Liaisons the right to update their specific Departments document library. Now when you log in to the intranet, you will see a folder under "My Navigation" called Web Liaison. Click on that link and you will see another link that says "Document Library" and when you click on that you will be taken to a land of Document Library managing bliss! There you can add Documents, save over Existing Documents, modify the information associated with a certain document, and delete Documents. This is the same for Document Packets as well.

Our Current Sprint Results 08/21 - 08/29

So far we have completed 2 out of our 6 stories. The first one we tackled was Fixing some bugs in our current Document Library. We wanted to change some Dynamics Text Fields to static Text Fields to allow users to manually type in information instead of using dynamic pre-filled drop downs. In the past Users had to assign a contact person and a Author to every document, if these two people where not the same you would get an error when you submitted the information. By adding Static fields you can now make your author and contact person two different people.

In our next story we wanted to modify our Document Library to cater to our Web Liaisons. We have now added features where a Web Liaison can log in to our intranet(my.nccu.edu), click on the Web Liaison Folder under my navigation, go directly to the Document Library admin page, and be able to modify, edit, and submit documents that cater to there specific department.

Updated Look for NCCU.edu

In one of the last updates sent out, Web Services showcased the concept design for NCCU.edu. In response, we received a number of helpful comments and suggestions. All of which have been taken under consideration. Miji Bell, Director of Public Relations, subsequently introduced our revised design to the Chancellor where he gave an approving nod.

Not long after, due to a series of emergency projects, we were to put the implementation of NCCU's look on hold until further notice. Now, in an effort to resuscitate the frozen project, I have asked Mike Render, our newly hired and talented graphic designer, to freshen the look and provide an updated concept design for your review. Once approved by administrators, we will begin placing the look into the content management system.

MyNCCU (The new Intranet)

On April 16, 2008, Web Services launched MyNCCU. In the days that followed the release, everything seemed to work according to plan, as users were logging in and taking advantage of the tools provided. Unfortunately, a week or so later, we started to received reports that Banner users were unable to connect to Internet Native Banner (INB). Confused, we all in ITS tried to figure out why some people were unable to connect while others could. It was an odd and downright perplexing problem. In the end, we deduced that it had something to do with Java. Both Banner and MyNCCU used different versions of Java. Unfortunately, the version of Java used by Banner (j. initiator) did not like MyNCCU and it hindered some users from logging on to the system. In an effort to minimize the connectivity issues, we disconnected MyNCCU and returned to the previous design.

Donald Nolen, Director of Enterprise Information Systems (EIS), was aware of the issue and stated that NCCU would upgrade to a newer version of Java, which should resolve all conflicts between Banner and MyNCCU. A date for the upgrade was unknown at the time, but I was lead to believe it would happen after the students left. That meant our newly designed and launched web site would remain grounded until after graduation.

Staying true to his word, Mr. Nolen made necessary changes to Banner and moved all INB links to the new server. This was great news for the Web team because that meant we could revisit the process necessary to launch our "baby."

As it stands now, MyNCCU is available for testing. Therefore, I would encourage you to log in (http://my.nccu.edu) and fully test its functionality. Please provide any feedback that you may have.

Web Services Updates NCCU.edu

On Thursday, January 24, 2007, Web Services will launch an updated version of NCCU.edu. Scheduled changes will include direct links to the online application, Institutional Advancement, and NCCU's emergency notification site (PIER). Additional updates will affect the placement and functionality of news and events. Click here to see concept design.