This service within ULink is designed for university departments, programs, or specific administrative units to request the creation of a new digital information card to be displayed on the ULink portal. These cards are intended to provide tailored access to resources or information for specific user groups, making relevant content easily discoverable for students, faculty, or staff.
Purpose
The primary purpose of requesting a new "Information Card" is to:
- Improve Accessibility: Consolidate and present frequently used links, announcements, or specific applications in a highly visible and organized manner within the ULink portal.
- Targeted Communication: Deliver relevant information and resources directly to specific user groups (e.g., all students, only engineering faculty, graduate assistants) without cluttering the main portal for everyone.
- Streamline Workflows: Provide quick access to departmental systems, forms, or external websites essential for particular roles or tasks.
- Enhance User Experience: Reduce the time users spend searching for specific information by placing it directly on their personalized ULink dashboard or a relevant category tab.
Key Features and Process
Requests for new Information Cards are typically submitted through the IT Service Desk within ULink, and involve a detailed proposal process to ensure the card serves a legitimate university need and aligns with ULink's design and functionality guidelines.
-
Initiation of Request
- Accessed via the "ULink - Request New Card" form on this page.
- The requestor is typically a department representative, IT liaison, or program administrator.
-
Detailed Card Specification: The request form requires comprehensive information about the proposed card:
- Card Name: A clear and concise title for the card.
- Function: A description of what the card is intended to do or what information it will provide.
- Purpose and Scope: A detailed explanation of why the card is needed, its objectives, and the extent of its reach (e.g., "This card will provide quick access to advising resources for all undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences.").
- Card Content (Text & Links): The specific text, headlines, and URLs that should appear on the card. This includes internal ULink links, external website links, or links to university forms/documents.
- Additional Systems/Services Affected: Identification of any other university systems or services that will be impacted or integrated with this new card.
- Desired Location: Where the card should appear in ULink (e.g., on the main dashboard, under a specific category like "Academics," "Campus Services," "Employee," or "Reporting").
-
User Group Selection: The requestor specifies which user roles or groups should have access to this new information card. Examples include:
- Students (Undergraduate, Graduate, Online)
- Employees (Faculty, Staff, Casual Labor, Student Workers)
- Advisors
- Finance/Budget Owners
- Specific departmental roles (if applicable, with a description of necessary Banner roles/attributes for this new group).
-
Review and Approval Process:
- Once submitted, the request is routed to the appropriate functional teams, sponsors, and the ULink portal lead for review.
- This review ensures the card's necessity, technical feasibility, security compliance, and alignment with overall university communication strategies.
- Approvals from relevant stakeholders (e.g., departmental heads, IT governance committees) may be required.
-
Development and Deployment:
- Upon approval, the IT team or ULink administrators proceed with the development and configuration of the new information card within the portal.
- The card is then deployed to the specified user groups and categories.