The Digital Experience is Anytime, Anywhere

The University of Arizona has been focused on improving its digital experience even before the COVID-19 pandemic. We know students expect personalized, on-demand interactions powered by robust technology capabilities. As part of the University’s overall Strategic Plan released in 2018, supporting student success by developing high-quality digital experiences and relationship management has been a key goal in which the CIO Division has played an active partner.

Increasing enrollment, growth of online courses, and the impact of the pandemic on remote and hybrid learning, has prompted the CIO Division to lead several initiatives to develop a more modern digital technology ecosystem to meet student expectations.

The following information highlights some of the changes and enhancements that occurred in FY21 and how they work to support the University’s digital experience.

Student Administration

Trellis support was added to the Office of the Registrar.

Change of Schedule Form was delivered rapidly during the pandemic for students to request course changes digitally. 5.4K forms were submitted with an 81% approval rate.

Trellis expanded functionality for financial aid, enrollment, case notes; and adding, dropping or modifying classes.

Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid migrated to Trellis to replace four standalone systems that were used to serve students.

Trellis Event Management debuted with Student Spring Take-A-Break Day. 13 events were created and the platform was released for general availability in May.

Campus ReEntry: system changes were made to UAccess Student to support re-entry effectively.

Commencement 2021 online increased participation through hybrid modality, providing accessibility to those who might not otherwise has been able to attend in person.

Centralized ordering of technology equipment for other units across campus enabled secured receipt of delivery and efficient distribution during the pandemic.

Instruction

Redesigned Student Center was released with a new mobile experience and Google Analytics was implemented to understand usage patterns to evolve and improve the usage experience for students.

Early Progress Reports adoption grew in FY21. EPRs sent increased 27% to 4.3K and number of courses increased 102% to 198.

UAccess Student enabled Global Direct for online international students.

Multiple classroom modalities were supported to include asynchronous, synchronous, flex and fully remote learning environments.

Student Tech

OSCR student computer labs have been a critical learning resource. They have easy access, good visibility, and proximity to food and other resources including technical consultants.

Gear-to-Go served an important need across the university throughout the pandemic, keeping instructional technology available to instructors and others.

In partnership with Eller College of Management, HyFlex classrooms were built to enable new modes of teaching and learning.

Zoom Virtual Drop-In: new high-touch, expert outreach process enabled balancing across modalities of service: Email, Phone, Drop-in and Live Chat.

Virtual Computing for Academic Technology (VCAT) saw dramatic increase in use driving a need for expanded licensing.

Arizona Mobile

Redesigned Arizona Mobile provided improved accessibility, delivered a new digital parking permit and mapped COVID test locations.