Hi everyone,

Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI) would like to update you on the latest major production releases and updates for the NGSIS program and student systems. From August 1 to October 31, 2023, EASI completed 27 releases for a wide range of applications.

The following are major changes during this timeframe:

ACORN Absence Declaration Changes (September 5)
On September 5, the ACORN team, in collaboration with the University Registrar’s Office, released updates to the Absence Declaration feature within ACORN. These changes include updates to the number of declarations a student can make in a single session. Students will also automatically receive a copy of the declaration once submitted, and have the option of emailing the declaration to their instructor or other administrators who need to be made aware of the absence.

Timetable Builder (August 1 to October 31, 2023)
Timetable Builder allows students to easily create and optimize their course schedules with a convenient, user-friendly and accessible user experience. Divisional calendars can now be linked to courses in Timetable Builder, users can now see Credit Value under course information, and room location has been removed from course sections, directing users to access this information through ACORN.

Curriculum Management (CM) (August 1 to October 31, 2023)
Curriculum Management allows divisions to propose, change and retire courses and programs using divisional specific governance processes. Forms have been changed and additional data points have been created to accommodate graduate programs and courses. Course and program approval workflows were also modified, and the School of Graduate Studies programs were uploaded to Curriculum Management. Graduate course upload is in progress.

Student Advising Service (SAS) (August 1 to October 31, 2023)
On July 26, the University of Toronto launched the Student Advising Service, a platform set to enhance advising supports and resources for the University’s students and advising staff, increase administrative efficiencies and increase overall student wellbeing, success and retention. In August, all advising staff in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) and staff working in the Office of the Faculty Registrar at the Faculty of Arts & Science (A&S) started to use the service. Staff in A&S colleges have been trained through the month of October and A&S academic units will follow later in the 2023-24 academic year. The SAS team is currently onboarding three new divisions: the Faculty of Information (iSchool), the Faculty of Music, and the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, as well as working to implement the student facing portal, which is expected to launch in the summer of 2024.

Accommodated Testing Services (ATS) (August 1 to October 31, 2023)
Accommodated Testing Services coordinates on-campus assessment accommodations for students with disabilities who are enrolled in in-class courses offered on the St. George Campus. ATS has released the following enhancements:

• Ability for administrative staff to change the test type of test definition.
• Functionality for students to book term assessments for an upcoming session.
• Ability to move a booking across a test definition.
• Functionality to export test definition to Clockwork when there is no booking associated with it.
• Additional technical housekeeping tasks were completed to improve the technical foundation and structure of the system.

Course Information System (CIS) (August 1 to October 31, 2023)
The Course Information System streamlines syllabi and exams processes for instructors and administrators. CIS has made the following releases: 

• FAS Exam Details Module Enhancements (August 23, 2023)
  Enhancements to the Exam Details module for the Faculty of Arts & Science to align CIS with the updated business needs and processes.
• Divisional Course Policies & Statement Updates (September 2023)
  Updated course statements for the Faculty of Arts & Science, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and the Faculty of Music.
• Additional Module Enhancements (October 12, 2023)
  Minor enhancements to the Final Exam and Syllabus Builder modules for the Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, and Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

Sincerely,
Student Information Systems