Revolutionizing Student Experience: The Features of the New Student Information System at ELAC
East Los Angeles College (ELAC) is undergoing a significant transformation in how it manages student data and delivers services. For many years, ELAC has relied on a 40-year-old student information system (SIS) called DEC, written in the outdated CORSOL programming language. Recognizing the limitations of this legacy system, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), which includes ELAC, is implementing a new SIS called PeopleSoft. This article explores the features and benefits of the new system, contrasting it with the existing DEC system.
The Limitations of the Legacy DEC System
ELAC's existing SIS, DEC, is a "hodgepodge of independent modules" that require separate logins. This makes the system inefficient and slow, especially for today's tech-savvy students. The manual, paper-based processes for tasks like registering for classes further contribute to the system's inefficiencies. The cumbersome nature of DEC hinders both students and faculty.
PeopleSoft: A Modern, Integrated Solution
PeopleSoft promises a modern, integrated solution to address the shortcomings of DEC. It offers a centralized platform for students to manage various aspects of their academic journey.
Streamlined Enrollment and Academic Management
PeopleSoft will allow each student to create a schedule of classes while viewing the student’s past academic records and current progress report. Students trying to enroll in a full class can get onto an electronic waiting list, making it a paperless process. This one-stop portal will also provide financial aid information and applications. The new system will support mobile access, allowing students to enroll in classes from smartphones.
Enhanced Communication and Resource Access
The college’s faculty will also benefit from the new system. PeopleSoft will allow the faculty to view a calendar of their assigned classes with the class roster as well as the course’s waitlist. Additionally, faculty may upload the class syllabi, worksheets, homework, and any announcements.
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Simplified Personal Information Updates
Going in deeper, the portal will give students access to change any personal information right away online. The feature to update information online will hopefully lessen the long lines in the student service’s offices and making transitions more efficient.
Online "To-Do" Lists
According to McMahan, there will be an online “to-do list” for each student to follow throughout the year.
The Transition to PeopleSoft
The LACCD has been configuring the drawing boards for years to make the new SIS work seamlessly with its nine campuses. Furthermore, the PeopleSoft teams are in progress of converting and validating around 80 million student records into the new SIS. Teams from each campus are spending a couple of days per month at the District Office just entering and auditing degree and certificate information. This is in effort of designing degree audit reports for students. Moreover, the LACCD is working with PeopleSoft to synchronize all this data into a mobile application so that students can access this information across all common medias.
The debut for the new SIS PeopleSoft is planned for November 2015.
Benefits of the New System
The implementation of PeopleSoft is expected to bring numerous benefits to ELAC students and faculty.
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Increased Efficiency and Convenience
The integrated nature of PeopleSoft will eliminate the need for multiple logins and paper-based processes, saving time and effort for both students and faculty.
Improved Access to Information
Students will have easy access to their academic records, financial aid information, and other important resources through a single, user-friendly portal.
Enhanced Communication
Faculty will be able to communicate with students more effectively by uploading course materials and announcements directly to the system.
Better Data Management and Reporting
“We hope to gain up-to-date access to data, both for institutional and student purposes."
Supporting Student Success
Helping students succeed today takes more than great teaching - it takes the right systems.
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Integration with Other Technologies
This system integrates all of our technologies and simplifies the user experience. Visions has been partnered with Amazon since 2015.
The Importance of Cloud Computing
This course introduces cloud computing which shifts information systems from on-premises computing infrastructure to highly scalable Internet architectures. The course provides a solid foundation of cloud computing technologies and provides students with the understanding required to effectively evaluate and assess the business and technical benefits of cloud computing and cloud applications. Case studies are used to examine various industry cloud practices and applications. This course addresses cloud database management which supports a number of different approaches for storing data. In the course, students define, operate and scale both SQL and noSQL data storage solutions. This course considers factors that should be balanced during the design of a storage solution. Principles are applied by performing exercises using Amazon RDS and SQL to create and fill tables, retrieve and manipulate data. Object-based APIs are used to serialize objects to Amazon DynamoDB for noSQL solutions. Cloud computing systems are built using a common set of core technologies, algorithms, and design principles centered around distributed systems. In this hands-on introductory course, students use the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Management Console to provision, load-balance and scale their applications using the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and the AWS Elastic Beanstalk. Protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computing systems and data is of utmost importance to all organizations. In this hands-on introductory class, students learn how Amazon Web Service (AWS) uses redundant and layered controls, continuous validation and testing, and a substantial amount of automation to ensure the underlying infrastructure is continuously monitored and protected.
Related Courses
The college offers courses that provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in today's technology-driven world.
CO SCI 201: Introduction to Information Systems
(Formerly CO SCI 201). This course teaches concepts of information systems and their role in business. This course focuses on information systems, database management systems, networking, Internet, e-commerce, ethics and security, computer systems hardware and software components, and webpage development. This course covers a complete presentation of database creation and management using Access. This course teaches advanced techniques in word processing and spreadsheets. This course is designed to introduce students the basics of web design using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), Photoshop, Content Management Systems, and web editing tools. The course does not require any prior knowledge of HTML or web design. Students learn basic internet concepts and technologies. Students learn to develop web sites by applying concepts like tables, layers, cascading styles sheets, frame sets, image maps, lists, forms, and dynamic content using basic JavaScript and JQuery.
CO SCI 276: Cloud Computing
CSU (Formerly CO SCI 276).
Cyber Security, Information Security and Risk Management
This course introduces the fundamental concepts and skills required to pursue a career in Cyber Security, Information Security and Risk Management, at an organizational level. Topics covered include hardware, software, processes, communications, applications, policies, and procedures with respect to organizational Cyber Security and Risk Management best practices.
Networks and Data Communications
This course covers the fundamental principles and concepts of networks and data communications.
PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance
This course provides an introduction to troubleshooting and maintenance techniques for personal and laptop computers. The course provides the student with applicable knowledge in different hardware such as RAM, hard drives, and processors. A step by step approach is taken to operating system procedures used for maintaining and repairing personal computers.
Purpose-Built System
Purpose-Built. Refined over more than a decade, it brings together all the tools needed to run efficient, student-centered operations. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, LPAD was built inside a working educational environment, and shaped by years of hands-on experience.
Streamlined Ordering System
Home School parents order their curriculum online. To make this process easy we created our very own online ordering system that streamlines ordering into an “Amazon-like” experience.
Managing materials for over 8,000+ students sounds overwhelming - this is why we built something better. Our student ordering system gives families 24/7 access to a simple online portal where they can manage budgets, track orders, and get what they need - fast. Over the past 25+ years, we’ve refined every step of the process to make sure materials are delivered on time, every time. Orders are automatically routed for approval, and our staff can monitor fulfillment from start to finish. We’ve also partnered with trusted vendors like Amazon, Staples, Bookshark, Lakeshore Learning, and Rainbow Resource Center to provide seamless integration. Efficient ordering isn’t just about convenience - it’s about giving every student the tools they need to learn, without delay.
tags: #student #information #system #elac #features
