Cardinal Points

Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Megan Munroe [Click to enlarge]

A new Internet portal is being developed in an attempt to provide more comprehensive and convenient services for Plattsburgh State students.

Over the past year, PSUC faculty members have been designing the portal to facilitate the college's information. Portals are applications that integrate services and collect information valuable to the user.

The system features a one-time sign on, logging users into their e-mail, Banner Web etc.

"Once you log into the portal, all things Plattsburgh will be accessible to you," said Mark Mastrean, assistant to dean for communications.

"There are going to be a lot of features available in this portal," added John Bradley, senior staff associate for computing and media services. Upon logging on, the portal will provide immediate access to Banner Web, Angel and Plattsburgh Web mail, without the need to enter additional usernames or passwords. There will also be a daily calendar, important announcements, reminders and access to club information. Every page in the portal is on a tab with different channels that are customizable to preference.

The portal will not only be available to students. There is a separate one designed for faculty and staff. There are hopes to create portals for alumni, parents and incoming students.

The intent of the system is to make information from the college accessible by interest, for each individual student. Students would be able to have access to information that they actually wanted, as well as being fed the things that are important to their success at Plattsburgh.

Cerise Oberman, dean of library and information services, said the portal will "push information rather than students having to pull it."

"I think it's good because they don't have to log in to Banner, log out, log in to Angel, log out, log in to Web Mail, it's more central," said Angel Acosta, student association president.

The primary concern of both the developers and the students is privacy. Brendan Moore, a junior at PSUC said he thinks there "might be a security issue."

To set all minds at rest, developers said are aware of privacy issues and plan to take necessary precautions to ensure that the portal is safe.

"Become aware that you have to look out," Bradley said. He added that he hopes to have regular password changes to promote internet safety.

For the students or faculty members fearing change, don't worry, the old way is still an option. "None of the old things are going away," Mastrean said. The developers are hoping to have improved on the old system enough that people want to use the portal.

"Once it's up and running people will just begin to have a taste of what it has to offer," Oberman said.

The portal is set to be released in the upcoming fall semester.

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