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East Carolina East Carolina University University OnestopOnestopLeveraging Enterprise Portal Leveraging Enterprise Portal TechnologyTechnologySteven Forehand, Manager, NTDGSteven Forehand, Manager, NTDG

[email protected]@mail.ecu.edu

Who is East Carolina Who is East Carolina University?University?

Founded in 1907Founded in 1907 Located in Greenville, North Carolina Located in Greenville, North Carolina

(about 80 miles south-east of Raleigh)(about 80 miles south-east of Raleigh) Approximately 22,000 enrolled studentsApproximately 22,000 enrolled students Approximately 3,500 staff members.Approximately 3,500 staff members. Offers approximately 100 Bachelor Offers approximately 100 Bachelor

degree programs, 18 Masters degree degree programs, 18 Masters degree programs, and 13 doctoral programsprograms, and 13 doctoral programs

Visit Visit http://www.ecu.eduhttp://www.ecu.edu for more. for more.

Who am I?Who am I?

Steven ForehandSteven Forehand Current Manager of the New Current Manager of the New

Technologies Development Group… Technologies Development Group… more later…more later…

Graduated from East Carolina University Graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S. in Computer Sciencewith a B.S. in Computer Science

9+ years of software development 9+ years of software development experienceexperience

Been employed by ECU since 1997.Been employed by ECU since 1997.

Who is the NTDG?Who is the NTDG?

New Technologies Development GroupNew Technologies Development Group Resides with Software Development Resides with Software Development

ServicesServices Part of ECU’s Information Technology Part of ECU’s Information Technology

and Computing Services (ITCS)and Computing Services (ITCS) Consists of 3 distinct divisions with 14 Consists of 3 distinct divisions with 14

total employees… more later…total employees… more later… Primarily responsible for the Primarily responsible for the

investigation, development and investigation, development and implementation of “newer” technologiesimplementation of “newer” technologies

NTDG DivisionsNTDG Divisions

Investigation and Integration – 3 Investigation and Integration – 3 dedicated staff, development of dedicated staff, development of Onestop portalOnestop portal

Application Development – 6 dedicated Application Development – 6 dedicated staff, development of applicationsstaff, development of applications

Web Initiatives and QA – 4 dedicated Web Initiatives and QA – 4 dedicated staff, main ECU website, usability and staff, main ECU website, usability and interface, ADA, Quality Assuranceinterface, ADA, Quality Assurance

Each division has a project coordinatorEach division has a project coordinator

NTDG in a “nutshell”NTDG in a “nutshell”

E-business/e-services applications E-business/e-services applications E-commerce E-commerce Portal infrastructure development Portal infrastructure development Student-centered and administrative web Student-centered and administrative web

applications applications Design, development and implementation Design, development and implementation

of internet/intranet applications of internet/intranet applications Investigation of new technologiesInvestigation of new technologies

The NTDG is mainly responsible for….

What is a “Onestop”?What is a “Onestop”?

Traditional Portal functionality Traditional Portal functionality Addition of managed, secure software Addition of managed, secure software

development environmentdevelopment environment Offers services for entire campus Offers services for entire campus

community (i.e. students, staff, advisers, community (i.e. students, staff, advisers, instructors, etc)instructors, etc)

Designed and developed using Designed and developed using Macromedia ColdfusionMacromedia Coldfusion

For lack of better term… “Campus Portal”For lack of better term… “Campus Portal”

Why Macromedia Why Macromedia Coldfusion?Coldfusion?

Minimal costsMinimal costs CFML syntax is tag-basedCFML syntax is tag-based No manual compile process for testingNo manual compile process for testing Source can be encryptedSource can be encrypted Short learning curveShort learning curve Allows code reuse and extensibilityAllows code reuse and extensibility

Custom tags (CFML and java based)Custom tags (CFML and java based) User defined functions (UDF)User defined functions (UDF)

External object callsExternal object calls JavaJava C++C++


Easy to manage application and session Easy to manage application and session data within applicationsdata within applications

IDE ColdFusion Studio and now IDE ColdFusion Studio and now Dreamweaver are very user friendlyDreamweaver are very user friendly

File Management (Visual SourceSafe) File Management (Visual SourceSafe) from within ColdFusion Studiofrom within ColdFusion Studio

Easy server administrationEasy server administration Simple database connectivitySimple database connectivity Job/template schedulingJob/template scheduling

Clustering capabilityClustering capability


Large developer community provided Large developer community provided excellent supportexcellent support Coding methodologies (fusebox)Coding methodologies (fusebox) Custom tags and code snippetsCustom tags and code snippets Answers to the rare questionAnswers to the rare question

Group of 4 (including a graphics Group of 4 (including a graphics artist) took only months for the first artist) took only months for the first production rolloutproduction rollout

Most legacy developers find syntax Most legacy developers find syntax and concepts easy to understandand concepts easy to understand

ECU Onestop ECU Onestop DevelopmentDevelopment

Developed initially by a team of 4 Developed initially by a team of 4 dedicated, talented software dedicated, talented software developersdevelopers

Design and development process Design and development process took approximately 8 monthstook approximately 8 months

First University “portal” within the First University “portal” within the N.C. University systemN.C. University system

Was a lot of fun!Was a lot of fun!

Develop? Why not Develop? Why not purchase?purchase?

Evaluated packaged and open-source Evaluated packaged and open-source solutions (i.e. Uportal)solutions (i.e. Uportal)

Others did not offer the “entire” Others did not offer the “entire” packagepackage

Functionality was somewhat limitedFunctionality was somewhat limited Some processes were unnecessarily Some processes were unnecessarily

difficult (i.e. channel development)difficult (i.e. channel development) Had a talented staff… could do it Had a talented staff… could do it

ourselves… and better.ourselves… and better.

Is the Onestop Is the Onestop successful?successful?

Used by over 98% of studentsUsed by over 98% of students Used by over 94% of staff and facultyUsed by over 94% of staff and faculty Over 15,000,000 logins by 82,000 Over 15,000,000 logins by 82,000

unique visitors since 2000unique visitors since 2000 Strong campus supportStrong campus support Recently selected over SCT Luminis Recently selected over SCT Luminis

… more later…… more later… Nearly zero maintenanceNearly zero maintenance Requires little fundingRequires little funding

SCT Luminis vs ECU SCT Luminis vs ECU OnestopOnestop

ECU recently purchased SCT Banner ECU recently purchased SCT Banner Enterprise solution.Enterprise solution.

After analysis, Onestop chosen over SCT After analysis, Onestop chosen over SCT Luminis as campus “portal”Luminis as campus “portal”

ECU Onestop 100% compatible with SCT ECU Onestop 100% compatible with SCT Banner (including self-service Banner (including self-service applications)applications)

ZERO functionality loss with selection of ZERO functionality loss with selection of Onestop over Luminis… Onestop over Luminis…

Onestop better financial decisionOnestop better financial decision Onestop would work with any campus’ Onestop would work with any campus’

SCT Banner implementationSCT Banner implementation

SecuritySecurity

Servers use 128-bit SSL security for Servers use 128-bit SSL security for HTTP requestsHTTP requests

ECU Onestop requires login by ECU Onestop requires login by University userid and passphraseUniversity userid and passphrase

Servers located behind several Servers located behind several firewallsfirewalls

Hardware clustering solution offers Hardware clustering solution offers better performance and securitybetter performance and security

Datasources are located behind firewallDatasources are located behind firewall To date, no major hacksTo date, no major hacks

ECU Onestop Login ECU Onestop Login ProcessProcess

Go to Go to http://onestop.ecu.eduhttp://onestop.ecu.edu Login using University email userid Login using University email userid

and passphraseand passphrase Login verifiedLogin verified Roles and permissions are Roles and permissions are

establishedestablished Session createdSession created Access granted! Have funAccess granted! Have fun

Roles and Group Roles and Group PermissionsPermissions

Roles and permissions are determined Roles and permissions are determined dynamically according to University dynamically according to University databasesdatabases

Can be member of large groups (i.e. Can be member of large groups (i.e. student, employee, adviser, instructor, student, employee, adviser, instructor, etc)etc)

Can be member of small group (i.e. Can be member of small group (i.e. specific department, job class, student specific department, job class, student class, etc)class, etc)

Permissions can be given to an individualPermissions can be given to an individual

Roles and Group Roles and Group PermissionsPermissions

Content and applications based on Content and applications based on roles or combination of rolesroles or combination of roles

Dynamic roles allow “instant” access Dynamic roles allow “instant” access to applications and contentto applications and content

Dynamic roles require very little Dynamic roles require very little maintenancemaintenance

Allows creation of traditional, Allows creation of traditional, maintained groups.maintained groups.

ECU Onestop “Tabs”ECU Onestop “Tabs”

Sections of the portal content are Sections of the portal content are accessed through “tabs”accessed through “tabs”

Each tab contains user specific and Each tab contains user specific and customizable contentcustomizable content

Not all tabs are available to all usersNot all tabs are available to all users

ECU Onestop “Tabs”ECU Onestop “Tabs”

Home – first tab encountered, channelized Home – first tab encountered, channelized content with login areacontent with login area

My Page – traditional “portal” with My Page – traditional “portal” with channelized, personal contentchannelized, personal content

Tools – personalized applications available Tools – personalized applications available to usersto users

Profile – “snapshot” of current userProfile – “snapshot” of current user Community – threaded discussion, chat Community – threaded discussion, chat Email – one click access to University Email – one click access to University

email systememail system

Have it your wayHave it your way

Look and feel entirely customized by Look and feel entirely customized by useruser

Themes change the look (graphics) of all Themes change the look (graphics) of all content including individual applicationscontent including individual applications

My Page channels can be selected and My Page channels can be selected and arranged arranged

Channels can be “forced”Channels can be “forced” Again, content and applications Again, content and applications

available are based on “roles”available are based on “roles”

Applications AvailableApplications Available

Course grades and schedulesCourse grades and schedules Course catalogsCourse catalogs Course registrationCourse registration Tuition paymentsTuition payments Parking Citations and Appeals (interacts Parking Citations and Appeals (interacts

with T2 solution)with T2 solution) Various surveys (i.e. DE Survey, Adviser Various surveys (i.e. DE Survey, Adviser

Survey, etc)Survey, etc) MoreMore

A sample of typical “student” applications or “tools”….


Advisee listing – including contact information and Advisee listing – including contact information and schedulesschedules

Course rosters – including contact information and Course rosters – including contact information and schedulesschedules

Service RequestService Request View pay check informationView pay check information Faculty and Staff trainingFaculty and Staff training Publications databasePublications database Academic difficulty reportsAcademic difficulty reports MoreMore

A sample of typical applications offered to advisers, instructors, employees, etc.


Employment opportunitiesEmployment opportunities Campus Directory / People SearchCampus Directory / People Search Register vehicle and purchase permitRegister vehicle and purchase permit Majors and degreesMajors and degrees Course catalogCourse catalog Graduation and honors listingGraduation and honors listing

A sample of typical applications offered to all (or most) users…

Application DevelopmentApplication Development

““Portal” and internal applications Portal” and internal applications written in CFML.written in CFML.

APIs provided for formatting, data APIs provided for formatting, data elements, and business logic.elements, and business logic.

““Portal” and internal applications Portal” and internal applications written using Fusebox development written using Fusebox development methodologymethodology

Rapid Application DevelopmentRapid Application Development

Questions to ask Questions to ask ourselvesourselves

What do others have that we want?What do others have that we want? What do they not have that we want?What do they not have that we want? What technologies are available for What technologies are available for

doing what we want?doing what we want? Is it feasible to make this work Is it feasible to make this work

within our environment?within our environment? Is it worth the effort?Is it worth the effort?

What’s missing? What’s missing? Changes?Changes?

Dynamic content formattingDynamic content formatting Currently, each channel or app is Currently, each channel or app is

responsible for displayresponsible for display Theme settings passed to apps for Theme settings passed to apps for

formattingformatting Multiple display types established at the Multiple display types established at the

application levelapplication level PDAPDA cell phonescell phones

Consistency is hard to maintainConsistency is hard to maintain


Reusable codeReusable code Currently, some reusable code is stored Currently, some reusable code is stored

in CF Custom Tags and UDFsin CF Custom Tags and UDFs Not efficientNot efficient Duplicate code in various channels / apps is Duplicate code in various channels / apps is

difficult to maintaindifficult to maintain

Adaptability to other channel Adaptability to other channel standardsstandards

Advanced Proxy capabilityAdvanced Proxy capability


Single Sign-On capabilitySingle Sign-On capability Interaction with JMS (i.e. SCT LDI)Interaction with JMS (i.e. SCT LDI) Greater use of web services to syndicate Greater use of web services to syndicate

data for external and internal sites.data for external and internal sites. Portal StandardsPortal Standards

Investigating threeInvestigating three JSR 168 Portlet SpecJSR 168 Portlet Spec JA-SIG channel archive (educational market)JA-SIG channel archive (educational market) Web Services for Remote Portals (WSRP)Web Services for Remote Portals (WSRP)

As always, improved performanceAs always, improved performance

Moving Forward…Moving Forward… “Version 2”“Version 2”

Single Sign-OnSingle Sign-On JMSJMS Expanded development APIExpanded development API Environment controlled content rather Environment controlled content rather

and application controlledand application controlled Full support of SCT Banner solutionFull support of SCT Banner solution Macromedia “Blackstone” or CF version Macromedia “Blackstone” or CF version

7.07.0 Expanded Channel architecture supportExpanded Channel architecture support

Expectations with Expectations with “Version 2”“Version 2”

Will be based on Macromedia Will be based on Macromedia “Blackstone” platform.“Blackstone” platform.

Will be “object” basedWill be “object” based Better support for external applications Better support for external applications

(i.e. Banner, Blackboard, T2, etc.) not (i.e. Banner, Blackboard, T2, etc.) not based on CFML.based on CFML.

Better support of industry standardsBetter support of industry standards Summer 2005 “beta” releaseSummer 2005 “beta” release Possible package and licensing for Possible package and licensing for

marketingmarketing

So… how does it So… how does it work?work?

Live Demo… Keep our fingers crossed!Live Demo… Keep our fingers crossed!