Student Advising Service

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The University of Toronto has implemented an enterprise vendor application, Salesforce, to support academic divisions in transforming their student advising service. The administrative application has been launched in the Office of the Faculty Registrar at the Faculty of Arts & Science, and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.

Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI) is currently working in partnership with the Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education (VPIUE) to expand and rollout administrative functionality at the Faculty of Arts & Science’s College and Unit offices, along with implementing and launching the service at three other Faculties: the Faculty of Information, the Faculty of Music, and the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. This innovative solution will present the interconnected student story, streamline the student and staff experience, promote evidence-based student support practices, ensure consistent and transparent service delivery, and increase administrative efficiencies.

What is the Student Advising Service?

U of T has implemented and will continue to expand the Salesforce Student Success Hub for Higher Education platform to enable consistent, best practice advising within and between divisions through effective access to, interaction with, and management of a comprehensive student advising record.

Why Transform the Student Advising Process?

Many current advising practices within the academic divisions rely on manual processes that are supported by a range of tools and varying practices. This poses challenges for students and staff as they seek and provide consistent, timely and holistic guidance regarding critical issues in their journey at the University. Given these challenges in the advising landscape, U of T is implementing the Student Advising Service to make it easier for students to navigate resources in the community and receive help when and where they need it.

Student Advising Service functionality surrounds a student in a circle

BENEFITS

The new Student Advising Service will establish a foundational system capable of meeting both student and advisor needs at its initial launch with the potential for future improvements as the system matures. When complete, the full solution will:

Staff 

  • Provide insights into the interconnected student journey.
  • Consolidate student details through advisor notes and comprehensive profiles.
  • Proactively identify issues students are facing, allowing advisors to develop success plans and follow students’ progress.
  • Allow advisors to efficiently refer students to Faculty-based and shared services.
  • Provide actionable intelligence and insights leading to improved decision-making capabilities.

Students 

  • Allow students to quickly find the information they need when they need it using a common advising solution.
  • Provide multiple ways to seek advising help, including with an advisor, attending a walk-in appointment, accessing the Student Advising Service knowledge base or submitting a support request.
  • Provide a supportive environment and equitable access to the opportunities available.

University of Toronto 

  • Support institutional goals for student success, quality service, and student retention and graduation.
  • Advance U of T’s mission to re-imagine and re-invent undergraduate education and demonstrate its commitment to helping students connect to the community and pursue enriching experiences.
  • Advance the Next Generation Student Information Services (NGSIS) Program, which creates and deploys technological solutions that help students fully engage in rewarding learning experiences and achieve academic and personal success.

SYSTEM INTEGRATION

The Student Advising Service will provide a comprehensive view of student data sourced from multiple U of T applications.

The Student Information Service will integrate with ROSI, Staff Single Sign On, SharePoint, TCard Photo, Security Auditing, and Outlook (Plugin)

TIMELINE

  • A – Task: Implementation: Faculty of Information, Faculty of Music, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Starts September 2023, Ends August 2024
  • B – Task: Student Portal Design and Development, Starts September 2023, Ends August 2024
  • C – Task: Course Information System (CIS) Integration, Starts December 2023, Ends August 2024
  • D – Task: Student Record API , Starts September 2023, Ends December 2023
  • E – Task: Graduate Advising Working Group, Starts March 2024, Ends August 2024

EXECUTIVE SPONSORSHIP

  • Dwayne Benjamin – Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management
  • Swetlana Signarowski – Executive Director, Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration
  • Scott Mabury – Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships & Vice-Provost, Academic Operations
  • Susan McCahan – Vice-Provost, Academic Programs and Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education
  • Bo Wandschneider – Chief Information Officer
  • Sandy Welsh – Vice-Provost, Students
  • Melanie Woodin – Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science