InCommon Federation Discussions About Online Student Services

[Ann West <>]

Dear Colleagues,

I hope your Fall Semester went well, and you're anticipating a relaxing time with family and friends over the Holiday.

In the InCommon Student area and CommIT, there's lots going on. Please look for the announcement of a Community Update call after the first of the year.

In the interim, we have a request: 

InCommon and PESC members who are members of the Common App should be aware of the Common App's annual membership survey to collect input from their membership regarding features that should be included in the next version of CA.  While we all realize that this has been a challenging year for the Common App and its members, they are still actively soliciting input for desired features and resource allocation for the next CA development cycle.  The CommIT Steering Committee, InCommon, and PESC encourage Common App members to express their desire for CommIT support in the next release of CA.  You can accomplish this by indicating in Questions #6 & 7 that this is a Requirement Change related to Identity Management and Authentication.  In Question #8, you can indicate the specific benefits that this change would provide to your institution.  For example:

·         My own institution will no longer have to provide a mechanism for managing accounts and passwords for applicants.  

·         Common App and other processes related to FAFSA will become easier to manage.  

·         The experience for the applicant using Common App will be simplified as more services related to the application process utilize CommIT. 

 

Normally the deadline for input is November 15.  This year, however, in light of current challenges, the deadline is waived and CA is considering all feedback and suggestions until there is no more time to include them for the 2014 development cycle.  Regardless of when that occurs, CA will collect suggestions throughout the year. Since there are many benefits in connecting CommIT and CA, please provide input on this front to the Common App as soon as possible.  

 

Thank you!

 

Ann West

Assistant Director,

InCommon Assurance and Community

Internet2 based at Michigan Tech

 

office: +1.906.487.1726 

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