1. East Carolina University Onestop Leveraging Enterprise Portal Technology Steven Forehand, Manager, NTDG forehands@mail.ecu.edu

2. Who is East Carolina University? Founded in 1907 Founded in 1907 Located in Greenville, North Carolina (about 80 miles south-east of Raleigh) Located in Greenville, North Carolina (about 80 miles south-east of Raleigh) Approximately 22,000 enrolled students Approximately 22,000 enrolled students Approximately 3,500 staff members. Approximately 3,500 staff members. Offers approximately 100 Bachelor degree programs, 18 Masters degree programs, and 13 doctoral programs Offers approximately 100 Bachelor degree programs, 18 Masters degree programs, and 13 doctoral programs Visit http://www.ecu.edu for more. Visit http://www.ecu.edu for more.http://www.ecu.edu

3. Who am I? Steven Forehand Steven Forehand Current Manager of the New Technologies Development Group… more later… Current Manager of the New Technologies Development Group… more later… Graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S. in Computer Science Graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S. in Computer Science 9+ years of software development experience 9+ years of software development experience Been employed by ECU since 1997. Been employed by ECU since 1997.

4. Who is the NTDG? New Technologies Development Group New Technologies Development Group Resides with Software Development Services Resides with Software Development Services Part of ECU’s Information Technology and Computing Services (ITCS) Part of ECU’s Information Technology and Computing Services (ITCS) Consists of 3 distinct divisions with 14 total employees… more later… Consists of 3 distinct divisions with 14 total employees… more later… Primarily responsible for the investigation, development and implementation of “newer” technologies Primarily responsible for the investigation, development and implementation of “newer” technologies

5. NTDG Divisions Investigation and Integration – 3 dedicated staff, development of Onestop portal Investigation and Integration – 3 dedicated staff, development of Onestop portal Application Development – 6 dedicated staff, development of applications Application Development – 6 dedicated staff, development of applications Web Initiatives and QA – 4 dedicated staff, main ECU website, usability and interface, ADA, Quality Assurance Web Initiatives and QA – 4 dedicated staff, main ECU website, usability and interface, ADA, Quality Assurance Each division has a project coordinator Each division has a project coordinator

6. 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 applications Student-centered and administrative web applications Design, development and implementation of internet/intranet applications Design, development and implementation of internet/intranet applications Investigation of new technologies Investigation of new technologies The NTDG is mainly responsible for….

7. What is a “Onestop”? Traditional Portal functionality Traditional Portal functionality Addition of managed, secure software development environment Addition of managed, secure software development environment Offers services for entire campus community (i.e. students, staff, advisers, instructors, etc) Offers services for entire campus community (i.e. students, staff, advisers, instructors, etc) Designed and developed using Macromedia Coldfusion Designed and developed using Macromedia Coldfusion For lack of better term… “Campus Portal” For lack of better term… “Campus Portal”

8. Why Macromedia Coldfusion? Minimal costs Minimal costs CFML syntax is tag-based CFML syntax is tag-based No manual compile process for testing No manual compile process for testing Source can be encrypted Source can be encrypted Short learning curve Short learning curve Allows code reuse and extensibility Allows 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 calls External object calls Java Java C++ C++

9. Why Macromedia Coldfusion? Easy to manage application and session data within applications Easy to manage application and session data within applications IDE ColdFusion Studio and now Dreamweaver are very user friendly IDE ColdFusion Studio and now Dreamweaver are very user friendly File Management (Visual SourceSafe) from within ColdFusion Studio File Management (Visual SourceSafe) from within ColdFusion Studio Easy server administration Easy server administration Simple database connectivity Simple database connectivity Job/template scheduling Job/template scheduling Clustering capability Clustering capability

10. Why Macromedia Coldfusion? Large developer community provided excellent support Large developer community provided excellent support Coding methodologies (fusebox) Coding methodologies (fusebox) Custom tags and code snippets Custom tags and code snippets Answers to the rare question Answers to the rare question Group of 4 (including a graphics artist) took only months for the first production rollout Group of 4 (including a graphics artist) took only months for the first production rollout Most legacy developers find syntax and concepts easy to understand Most legacy developers find syntax and concepts easy to understand

11. ECU Onestop Development Developed initially by a team of 4 dedicated, talented software developers Developed initially by a team of 4 dedicated, talented software developers Design and development process took approximately 8 months Design and development process took approximately 8 months First University “portal” within the N.C. University system First University “portal” within the N.C. University system Was a lot of fun! Was a lot of fun!

12. Develop? Why not purchase? Evaluated packaged and open-source solutions (i.e. Uportal) Evaluated packaged and open-source solutions (i.e. Uportal) Others did not offer the “entire” package Others did not offer the “entire” package Functionality was somewhat limited Functionality was somewhat limited Some processes were unnecessarily difficult (i.e. channel development) Some processes were unnecessarily difficult (i.e. channel development) Had a talented staff… could do it ourselves… and better. Had a talented staff… could do it ourselves… and better.

13. Is the Onestop successful? Used by over 98% of students Used by over 98% of students Used by over 94% of staff and faculty Used by over 94% of staff and faculty Over 15,000,000 logins by 82,000 unique visitors since 2000 Over 15,000,000 logins by 82,000 unique visitors since 2000 Strong campus support Strong campus support Recently selected over SCT Luminis … more later… Recently selected over SCT Luminis … more later… Nearly zero maintenance Nearly zero maintenance Requires little funding Requires little funding

14. SCT Luminis vs ECU Onestop ECU recently purchased SCT Banner Enterprise solution. ECU recently purchased SCT Banner Enterprise solution. After analysis, Onestop chosen over SCT Luminis as campus “portal” After analysis, Onestop chosen over SCT Luminis as campus “portal” ECU Onestop 100% compatible with SCT Banner (including self-service applications) ECU Onestop 100% compatible with SCT Banner (including self-service applications) ZERO functionality loss with selection of Onestop over Luminis… ZERO functionality loss with selection of Onestop over Luminis… Onestop better financial decision Onestop better financial decision Onestop would work with any campus’ SCT Banner implementation Onestop would work with any campus’ SCT Banner implementation

15. Security Servers use 128-bit SSL security for HTTP requests Servers use 128-bit SSL security for HTTP requests ECU Onestop requires login by University userid and passphrase ECU Onestop requires login by University userid and passphrase Servers located behind several firewalls Servers located behind several firewalls Hardware clustering solution offers better performance and security Hardware clustering solution offers better performance and security Datasources are located behind firewall Datasources are located behind firewall To date, no major hacks To date, no major hacks

16. ECU Onestop Login Process Go to http://onestop.ecu.edu Go to http://onestop.ecu.eduhttp://onestop.ecu.edu Login using University email userid and passphrase Login using University email userid and passphrase Login verified Login verified Roles and permissions are established Roles and permissions are established Session created Session created Access granted! Have fun Access granted! Have fun

17. Roles and Group Permissions Roles and permissions are determined dynamically according to University databases Roles and permissions are determined dynamically according to University databases Can be member of large groups (i.e. student, employee, adviser, instructor, etc) Can be member of large groups (i.e. student, employee, adviser, instructor, etc) Can be member of small group (i.e. specific department, job class, student class, etc) Can be member of small group (i.e. specific department, job class, student class, etc) Permissions can be given to an individual Permissions can be given to an individual

18. Roles and Group Permissions Content and applications based on roles or combination of roles Content and applications based on roles or combination of roles Dynamic roles allow “instant” access to applications and content Dynamic roles allow “instant” access to applications and content Dynamic roles require very little maintenance Dynamic roles require very little maintenance Allows creation of traditional, maintained groups. Allows creation of traditional, maintained groups.

19. ECU Onestop “Tabs” Sections of the portal content are accessed through “tabs” Sections of the portal content are accessed through “tabs” Each tab contains user specific and customizable content Each tab contains user specific and customizable content Not all tabs are available to all users Not all tabs are available to all users

20. ECU Onestop “Tabs” Home – first tab encountered, channelized content with login area Home – first tab encountered, channelized content with login area My Page – traditional “portal” with channelized, personal content My Page – traditional “portal” with channelized, personal content Tools – personalized applications available to users Tools – personalized applications available to users Profile – “snapshot” of current user Profile – “snapshot” of current user Community – threaded discussion, chat Community – threaded discussion, chat Email – one click access to University email system Email – one click access to University email system

21. Have it your way Look and feel entirely customized by user Look and feel entirely customized by user Themes change the look (graphics) of all content including individual applications Themes change the look (graphics) of all content including individual applications My Page channels can be selected and arranged My Page channels can be selected and arranged Channels can be “forced” Channels can be “forced” Again, content and applications available are based on “roles” Again, content and applications available are based on “roles”

22. Applications Available Course grades and schedules Course grades and schedules Course catalogs Course catalogs Course registration Course registration Tuition payments Tuition payments Parking Citations and Appeals (interacts with T2 solution) Parking Citations and Appeals (interacts with T2 solution) Various surveys (i.e. DE Survey, Adviser Survey, etc) Various surveys (i.e. DE Survey, Adviser Survey, etc) More More A sample of typical “student” applications or “tools”….

23. Applications Available Advisee listing – including contact information and schedules Advisee listing – including contact information and schedules Course rosters – including contact information and schedules Course rosters – including contact information and schedules Service Request Service Request View pay check information View pay check information Faculty and Staff training Faculty and Staff training Publications database Publications database Academic difficulty reports Academic difficulty reports More More A sample of typical applications offered to advisers, instructors, employees, etc.

24. Applications Available Employment opportunities Employment opportunities Campus Directory / People Search Campus Directory / People Search Register vehicle and purchase permit Register vehicle and purchase permit Majors and degrees Majors and degrees Course catalog Course catalog Graduation and honors listing Graduation and honors listing A sample of typical applications offered to all (or most) users…

25. Application Development “Portal” and internal applications written in CFML. “Portal” and internal applications written in CFML. APIs provided for formatting, data elements, and business logic. APIs provided for formatting, data elements, and business logic. “Portal” and internal applications written using Fusebox development methodology “Portal” and internal applications written using Fusebox development methodology Rapid Application Development Rapid Application Development

26. Questions to ask ourselves 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 doing what we want? What technologies are available for doing what we want? Is it feasible to make this work within our environment? Is it feasible to make this work within our environment? Is it worth the effort? Is it worth the effort?

27. What’s missing? Changes? Dynamic content formatting Dynamic content formatting Currently, each channel or app is responsible for display Currently, each channel or app is responsible for display Theme settings passed to apps for formatting Theme settings passed to apps for formatting Multiple display types established at the application level Multiple display types established at the application level PDA PDA cell phones cell phones Consistency is hard to maintain Consistency is hard to maintain

28. What’s missing? Changes? Reusable code Reusable code Currently, some reusable code is stored in CF Custom Tags and UDFs Currently, some reusable code is stored in CF Custom Tags and UDFs Not efficient Not efficient Duplicate code in various channels / apps is difficult to maintain Duplicate code in various channels / apps is difficult to maintain Adaptability to other channel standards Adaptability to other channel standards Advanced Proxy capability Advanced Proxy capability

29. What’s missing? Changes? Single Sign-On capability Single Sign-On capability Interaction with JMS (i.e. SCT LDI) Interaction with JMS (i.e. SCT LDI) Greater use of web services to syndicate data for external and internal sites. Greater use of web services to syndicate data for external and internal sites. Portal Standards Portal Standards Investigating three Investigating three JSR 168 Portlet Spec JSR 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 performance As always, improved performance

30. Moving Forward… “Version 2” Single Sign-On Single Sign-On JMS JMS Expanded development API Expanded development API Environment controlled content rather and application controlled Environment controlled content rather and application controlled Full support of SCT Banner solution Full support of SCT Banner solution Macromedia “Blackstone” or CF version 7.0 Macromedia “Blackstone” or CF version 7.0 Expanded Channel architecture support Expanded Channel architecture support

31. Expectations with “Version 2” Will be based on Macromedia “Blackstone” platform. Will be based on Macromedia “Blackstone” platform. Will be “object” based Will be “object” based Better support for external applications (i.e. Banner, Blackboard, T2, etc.) not based on CFML. Better support for external applications (i.e. Banner, Blackboard, T2, etc.) not based on CFML. Better support of industry standards Better support of industry standards Summer 2005 “beta” release Summer 2005 “beta” release Possible package and licensing for marketing Possible package and licensing for marketing

32. So… how does it work? Live Demo… Keep our fingers crossed!