THE WEB

I.T.S./BC were early adopters of the idea of using the web as a universally accessible means of accessing critical institutional data and for providing useful tools and information to our users. The BC web servers are accessed by an average of 70,000 hits each day. This validates the utility of the sites, as well as puts BC in the forefront of web applications within CUNY. The entire site was completely redesigned last year and has been the most popular format to date. I.T.S. has made a variety of functions available on our 24hr/7day accessible web sites. Some examples include:

 • BCLink Information Kiosks

BC has moved information access out into the lobbies and byways of the college campus. The BCLink kiosks provide access to the BC website; event and academic calendar information; a campus map; and a phone directory. Advanced features enable students to view and print out unofficial transcripts, check course availability and schedules, as well as change their PIN number. The kiosks have been designed to assist users with visual impairments and include large 17" displays and cabinets featuring a Braille Keyboard and headphone jack & volume controls. In addition, the kiosks feature audio announcements and directions.

Check out BCLlink Information Kiosks at the following locations:

• SUBO
  
• The Library
  
• Whitehead
  
• Boylan
  
• Old Ingersoll
  
• Plaza
  
• Hillel Gate
  
• Plaza/Roosevelt Lobby
  
• Roosevelt Lobby
  
• James Basement (near the Copy Center)
  
• James (1st floor near Admissions)
  
• Ingersoll Extension Lobby

 • Web Grading

Several departments have already piloted a new facility created by I.T.S. that allows faculty to submit their term grades to be loaded into SIMS via an easy-to-use and secure web page facility. In addition, administrators have been provided with web-based tools to monitor the submission status of the course sections. The electronic submission system not only saves much costly and error-prone manual scanning, but also makes grades available to students on-line much more quickly. Full implementation begins Fall 2000.

 • Student transcript/grades access

Students can now access their transcripts on-line and also view their term grades. They can also update their SIMS PIN # and change their address information in SIMS.

 • Smart Calendar

A new Smart Calendar was created which not only uses a central SQL database to store events, but allows the decentralized update and maintenance of calendar entries by the appropriate departments (with full multi-layer security). Web users can search the calendar by date, by week, by month etc.. They can also view various special interest calendars.

 • Course Search System

Students can search for courses which meet various criteria (instructor, time slot, credI.T.S., etc..) and use the search results to build an on-line mock-up schedule.

 • GPA Calculator

Students can use an on-line GPA calculator to computer their GPA with all of the official BC grades and values.

 • Graduate application on-line

BC was a pioneer within CUNY in allowing students to apply for admission via the web. Applications received via the Web based Graduate Application On-line are routed to an enterprise SQL database that will soon be piped directly into the colleges Applicant Tracking System.

 • Scholarship application on-line

Students can apply on-line for a variety of awards and scholarships. This information is routed to an enterprise SQL database that will soon be supplemented with other back-end systems to assist in the award and tracking of the final awards.

 • On-line submission of student alternate e-mail addresses

Students (and faculty on their behalf) can use an on-line facility to submit their off-campus e-mail address for use in SALI and SIMS references, thereby enabling faculty to keep

 • Affirmative Action Applicant Tracking

With the increased use of the web to solicit and recruit applicants for college positions, it became difficult and time consuming to encourage applicants to submit AA data. A web based SQL database application was created which referenced vacancy position #’s and allowed on-line applicants to complete their AA questionnaire on-line. The data is then printed out for the Affirmative Action Office and also stored for later electronic analysis.

 • Web Caching

In order to use the colleges limited Internet access capacity as efficiently as possible, I.T.S. has installed web caching systems which attempt to store frequently used web pages locally so that requests for the pages can be serviced locally without the need to download the information again from the Internet. This facility currently services an average of 40-50% of the campuses web requests!

 • Web Proxy Servers

The BC Library subscribes to many web-based journals and reference materials. The subscription terms limit access to these materials to BC staff connecting from on-campus via our network. The BC Web Proxy Servers allow faculty and staff to route their web connection via the campus network after authenticating themselves and thereby access the subscriptions from off campus via the web.

 • Streaming Video

I.T.S. has implemented a complete suite of streaming video servers which are heavily used by the faculty to deliver multi-media video content on their web pages and to their classes, as well as by the college administration to broadcast various events, such as commencement, dedication ceremonies, etc..

 • Increased Internet bandwidth

Working with CUNY, I.T.S. has increased the Internet access capacity by over 50% and improved the allocation of throughput to favor the academic functions of the college.

 • WBCR on the Web

I.T.S. launched an audio simulcast of the college WBCR radio station on the college web page.

 • LibCam

I.T.S. publishes a live 60 second interval video feed of the new library construction site.