In June, we rolled out phase one of Simmons Connection, our new centralized source for technology resources at Simmons. At that time, we let everyone know that Simmons Connection is a platform that will change and improve over time. We want to inform you of a few changes that we’ve already made based on your feedback and to make you aware of additional resources for helping you make the most of Simmons Connection.

One area that we want to make especially clear is that all AARC functionality still exists within Simmons Connection. Some things might be in new places, but we haven’t removed any of the tools you used previously. For example, faculty and advisors can still view course rosters under theAcademic Resources menu, and everyone can access the Course Catalogby clicking on it under the Online Services menu. The new course catalog displays full information about each course being offered, as well as enrollment info and the option (if you are a student) to add a course to your Preferred Sections List while viewing the course description.

We have also made several changes based on feedback we received from you, including improved menu structure in AARC and replacing the Gmail link for students so that it is grouped with other Google Apps in Connection. In addition, we have recently fixed the data feed for the course catalog and corrected an issue that prevented class rosters from printing correctly. These are just a few of the improvements, small and large, that we’re continuing to make based on your input.

If you are having trouble using Simmons Connection, you can always call the Service Desk at 617-521-2222. In addition, our project website offers step-by-step instructions and short video tutorials on many aspects of Simmons Connection. This fall, we will be offering even more training sessions as everyone returns for the start of a new semester. We’ll be announcing the dates and times of these trainings soon.

For now, we hope you’ll continue to provide feedback on Simmons Connection, and we will continue to make updates and improvements to improve your experience.