In a Foreign Land and Loving it!

By Misty Wells, UNT Central Web Support

You can refer to me as some may say, a foreigner.  I come from a working world a thousand miles away (figuratively speaking).  A world that looks different, talks different, and acts different.  A world where you sometimes feel suffocated. A world where opportunities and skills can sometimes be suppressed.  This world, as most people know it, is Corporate America.

Since leaving the private industry sector and joining the public industry sector I have experienced a more enjoyable atmosphere and have been introduced to great innovations that are about to emerge on the campus of University of North Texas (UNT).  Being a part of UNT’s Computing and Information Technology (CITC) department and the Central Web Support team presents a challenge as well as great opportunity.  CITC has given me not only the chance to contribute my current skills, but also the possibility to take on advanced technology and detailed projects that will be of great benefit to the students, faculty, and staff of UNT.

PeopleSoft Enterprise Portal

A portion of these new developments and projects is the PeopleSoft Enterprise Portal.  The portal will be a secured intranet for all UNT community members.  It is a single entry of access to PeopleSoft and non-PeopleSoft applications tailored to the individual user’s role.  Furthermore, the portal platform provides the infrastructure required to deploy enterprise-wide access to Internet-based applications, knowledge management suites, collaborative services, and marketplace sites through a common Internet browser. The portal will give faculty and staff the advantage of using PeopleSoft applications specific to their role, the capability to communicate with students when necessary, the ability to access personal information, as well as a way to perform University business and check e-mail from any computer.  For students, the portal will function as an integrated Web site to check their EagleMail online, in addition to interacting with their classes, professors, and friends.  The student will also be able to use online tools for class research or planning, receive campus club and event information, and conduct business with the University.  Both the faculty and staff will be able to integrate external web information into their customized portal.  (See below for a sample of what’s to come)

Faced with the challenge of bringing the portal to a reality, this is and will continue to be a huge learning curve for me, however it’s a learning curve that I have been eagerly awaiting.  With the creativity, commitment, and energy possessed by others working on this project, I enthusiastically look forward to the great things that the portal will bring to UNT.

 I am glad to say that I have finally come to a land of opportunity.

Portal Features