Transforming Wellesley College with PHP

Chris Card, Web Developer Wellesley College <?php echo "How PHP is Transforming Wellesley College"; ?>

What's PHP? PHP is an open-source server-side scripting language designed for Web development to produce dynamic Web pages. Can be directly embedded in HTML documents instead of having to call separate files to process data. Allows Wellesley developers to collect, save, manipulate, and present persistent data in our web applications.

What inspired this transformation? The Drivers and Our Philosophy

What inspired this transformation? NEED DATA

Data challenges facing higher ed Data Collection

Data challenges facing higher ed Data Collection Data Processing

Data challenges facing higher ed Data Collection Data Processing Data Storage

Data challenges facing higher ed Data Collection Data Processing Data Storage Data Cost

Wellesley College's solution to data challenges Transform old, paper based workflows into standardized, database supported, PHP Applications Corral legacy forms and update them using our PHP Framework

Highlights of our PHP Framework Allows Developers to Create base level Apps in ~45 seconds Supplies Developers with a Standard Library of Oracle, MySQL, and Utility Functions Governs the "Look and Feel" of the Applications Handles User Roles, Allowing for Role Based Access Control

Highlights of our PHP Framework Administrators can Proxy Login as Any Other User Automatically Loads JQuery and YahooUI Datatable Libraries Allows "Single Sign-on" between our Fac/Staff/Student portal "MyWellesley" and the application

Transformation in Action Student Checklist Application

Student Checklist: Goal Create a solution to help enrolled students manage required form submission prior to arrival on campus, and allow administrators to easily monitor student progress and compile data

Student Checklist: Proposal Transform all paper based forms into PHP forms supported by a MySQL backend Create a UI layer to easily show students what they had/hadn't completed with easy access to the required forms Allow Administrators to keep tabs on meta- data as well as drill down to individual students Automate Administrator data compilation/workflow where applicable

Student Checklist: An agile approach Used an Agile design philosophy to simultaneously develop and test different parts of the application Allowed Departments to drive the Application design (within the established scope) and manage as much of the Application as possible "Forever Beta" gave the understanding that the Application would/could change if need be

Student Checklist: Functionality Student Side: Checklist has between 7 to 29 Items depending on the type of student All Items Include: Complete, Incomplete, Untracked Indicator Due Dates Titles and Toggleable Descriptions Link to PHP (or other) Form Priority Rating

Student Checklist: Functionality Student Side (continued): Items are updated in real-time based on student completion All form progress can be saved and submitted later All forms follow a standard "look and feel"

Student Checklist: Functionality Student Functionality Example

Student Checklist: Functionality Administrator Side: All checklist items are fully updateable Meta-data for student completion is calculated automatically and updated in real- time Department specific content is available based on Administrator "role" All data is downloadable in CSV format "Super" admins have ability to open or close the application to students

Student Checklist: Functionality Application Automates the Process of Assigning Students to First Year Seminars and Writing Courses based on Student Preferences

Student Checklist: Functionality Administrator Functionality Example

Student Checklist: The results Extraordinary response to all checklist items (except "I Am Here") Student needs were met through better communication and having a "tool" to help them act more independently Exposed weaknesses in some existing College processes, ability to adjust workflows, and Administrator response times Source: NASPA presentation by Anne Manning and John O'Keefe

Effects across campus Requests for applications have grown substantially Visibility and positive perception of LTS on campus has increased Staff efficiency and time effectiveness has increased

Financial impact Significant cost savings vs. commercial solutions Better able to provide commercial solutions when the need occurs, or, can invest the savings in other aspects of the department Data collection, processing, and storage cost reduction

Environmental impact Less Paper Consumption and Waste

The takeaway PHP Apps are a fast, efficient, reliable way to address data related challenges across Campus can accurately model complex workflows increase the efficiency and time effectiveness of the departments using them relieve a huge amount of budgetary pressure are good for the environment can drastically increase the "good will" towards and positive perception of your

Questions? If you have a question at a later date, feel free to contact me via email at: ccard@wellesley.edu

<?php echo "Thank you for coming!"; exit; ?>