Graduation is a pivotal moment for students, marking the successful completion of their academic journey. Ensuring that all graduation requirements are met is a crucial task for university staff, but it can be a daunting and time-consuming process. At the University of Pittsburgh, an innovative approach was taken to simplify and expedite this process, thanks to the collaboration between the Academic Records Office and Pitt Digital.
The Challenge of Manual Processes
In the past, verifying that students met all the requirements for graduation was a manual and labor-intensive process. One team member noted, "When you are looking at 500 students it takes a lot of time." The need for a more efficient solution was evident, and the idea of a graduation certification dashboard was born.
Developing the Dashboard
Working closely with Nalyn and Sarah, Jody and her team were able to transform the cumbersome manual process into a streamlined, automated one. "They took time to understand what our current process is — how that could be pulled out of the data warehouse and built into a dashboard," recalls a team member. The result was an innovative dashboard that visually displays which students are qualified to graduate and highlights those who need further attention.
Benefits of the Dashboard
The new graduation certification dashboard offers several significant benefits:
- Time Efficiency: The dashboard has drastically reduced the time required to certify students for graduation. "I could probably certify all the students right now in a couple hours as opposed to a whole semester," exclaimed one team member.
- Visual Clarity: The dashboard provides a clear visual representation of each student's status, making it easy to identify and address any issues. "Being able to look at the dashboard and see that students are marked green rather than red and I can dig in to see the problems a lot easier and take care of those problems," shared another team member.
- University-Wide Potential: The success of the dashboard suggests that similar tools could be beneficial across the university. "A dashboard like the graduation certification could be used across the University," noted a team member, highlighting the potential for broader application.
A Collaborative Success
The development of the graduation certification dashboard is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. By working together, the Academic Records Office and Pitt Digital have created a tool that not only saves time but also enhances the accuracy and efficiency of the graduation certification process. As one team member put it, "The certification process now is awesome."
Looking Ahead
The success of the graduation certification dashboard is just the beginning. As universities continue to seek ways to improve administrative processes and enhance the student experience, the collaboration between the Academic Records Office and Pitt Digital serves as a shining example of what can be achieved through innovative thinking and teamwork.
In conclusion, the University of Pittsburgh's graduation certification dashboard is a game-changer, transforming a time-consuming manual process into an efficient, automated one. This innovative tool not only saves time and effort but also ensures that students' graduation journeys are as smooth and seamless as possible. The collaboration between the Academic Records Office and Pitt Digital has paved the way for a more efficient and student-focused approach to graduation certification, setting a new standard for universities everywhere.
