MySAU portal now available to students
Arielle Wilson
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: News
St. Ambrose students can now access their e-mail, Blackboard and Beeline from one convenient website called Portal. The Information Technology department just launched the Portal website after developing it for over two years.
Irene Kremer-Palmer, director of information technology at St. Ambrose, had the idea to bring Portal to SAU students. Through many combined efforts, a grant was received that made it possible to develop the Portal website.
"We listened to and heard the student desires for a better way to access all of the St. ambrose systems," Kremer-Palmer said. "We wanted to give students the single place where they could get to all of our systems instead of going to various websites. This will make their lives easier."
Other features of Portal include access to e-newsletters, a master calendar, secure student-to-student messaging, translators, currency converters, and a directory of faculty, staff and students.
Kremer-Palmer said some students have voiced concerns about the large amount of login IDs and passwords that are needed to access the St. Ambrose systems.
Lori Brown, service desk administrator and manager of the IT department, feels that student comments will be vital to the success of Portal.
"The student suggestions and comments are very important to us," Brown said. "We are willing to do whatever makes Portal a great application for our students."
Students can fill out and submit feedback and survey forms on the Portal website.
"The student input will help us refine and enhance Portal," Kremer-Palmer said.
With the help of the Student Government Association, some student and faculty groups have already been able to test out Portal.
"Last fall, SGA was approached by the IT department to be part of a pilot test group that would use, analyze and comment on the Portal application," Miles Chiotti, student body president, said. "I was given an account and showed it at an SGA meeting. The senators and guests that night were extremely impressed with all that it could do."
Irene Kremer-Palmer, director of information technology at St. Ambrose, had the idea to bring Portal to SAU students. Through many combined efforts, a grant was received that made it possible to develop the Portal website.
"We listened to and heard the student desires for a better way to access all of the St. ambrose systems," Kremer-Palmer said. "We wanted to give students the single place where they could get to all of our systems instead of going to various websites. This will make their lives easier."
Other features of Portal include access to e-newsletters, a master calendar, secure student-to-student messaging, translators, currency converters, and a directory of faculty, staff and students.
Kremer-Palmer said some students have voiced concerns about the large amount of login IDs and passwords that are needed to access the St. Ambrose systems.
Lori Brown, service desk administrator and manager of the IT department, feels that student comments will be vital to the success of Portal.
"The student suggestions and comments are very important to us," Brown said. "We are willing to do whatever makes Portal a great application for our students."
Students can fill out and submit feedback and survey forms on the Portal website.
"The student input will help us refine and enhance Portal," Kremer-Palmer said.
With the help of the Student Government Association, some student and faculty groups have already been able to test out Portal.
"Last fall, SGA was approached by the IT department to be part of a pilot test group that would use, analyze and comment on the Portal application," Miles Chiotti, student body president, said. "I was given an account and showed it at an SGA meeting. The senators and guests that night were extremely impressed with all that it could do."
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