Overview

Background

Paperless admissions phase 2 is building on the work done in phase 1 and is mainly concerned with making improvements to existing software to enhance the usability of the system for admissions staff in order to process applications more efficiently and with less resource. In addition, covered in this project are changes to contextual data (SAC027) which was subsumed by this project which deal with changes/enhancements to the way the University processes applications. This also helps the University meet the requirements of the outcome agreements produced via the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

The project is supporting the admissions strand of the student systems roadmap, supports the student experience project and is part of the strategic plan of the University in terms of providing equality and transparency of processes.

Scope

The project is building on the existing software implemented via paperless admissions phase 1. The project will improve paperless admissions and resolve existing issues that have been reported over the last few months. In addition this project will build on the existing widening participation processes embedded into paperless admissions and improve the way in which the University processes applications fairly and equally.

Objectives

As this is being built on top of existing software the objectives are to improve the existing software to facilitate the usability of the software for admissions staff and keep a consistent experience for applicants to the University thus improving the student experience.

The areas which will be improved are:

• Changes to the application hub itself
• Improving data displayed
• Changes to RCD functionality
• Additions to the search screen
• Improvements to the decision making process
• Resolution of existing issues
• Technical improvements to the software to improve speed and usability

In addition to this the project will take on the objectives of SAC027 which includes:

• Delivering a way for the ACORN dataset to be used within application decision making
• Incorporating higher/level3/GCSE attainment data to be used in application decision making
• Production of flags to highlight those applicants with multiple widening participation indicators
• Delivering these new data items into BI Suite for reporting

Deliverables

The deliverables include:

• Application HUB improvements e.g. ability to create bulk clearance checks
• Data display changes e.g. movement of fields and consistency of data displayed like always using the same student forename field for all parts of admissions processing
• RCD improvements e.g. allow admissions to process applications per course group
• Additions to the search screen e.g. allowing admissions to be able to retrieve on email address
• Improvements to the decision making process e.g. ability to make bulk unconditional offers
• Resolution of existing issues e.g. consistency of fields used to link tables to prevent duplication of data displayed
• Delivering a way for the ACORN dataset to be used within admissions decision making and reporting
• Incorporating higher/level3/GCSE attainment data to be used in admissions decision making and reporting
• Production of flags to highlight those applicants with multiple widening participation flags
• Delivering new data items into BI Suite for reporting
• Delivering new data items into ADMISMI for management information reporting

Benefits

• Provide admissions with the tools to improve efficiencies when processing applications
• Reduce admissions officer (AO) resource needed to process applications which can be diverted to enhancing the applicant experience
• Reduce errors during widening participation identification and improve efficiency
• Improve efficiency in both Student Systems support and the College offices
• Continuous improvements to Paperless ensure that the University use one system for all UG admissions processing
• Consistent processes across the University improves the student experience
• Further realising our commitment to widening participation and removing unnecessary barriers to the University for students from underrepresented groups
• Improve transparency of admissions decision processing
• Improve reporting of admissions processing, increase accuracy and help provide meaningful data
• Resolve existing issues in paperless admissions and improve system usability

Success Criteria

There will a post live support by the SSP project team during October before it is handed over to IS Apps Managment.