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.

In recent months, the Simmons Technology team has been hard at work on a new centralized platform that integrates many of the technology services offered at Simmons. This new product, called Simmons Connection, will be available to everyone at Simmons on June 4th.

We’ve kept the best of what the existing portal (My.Simmons) had to offer and added new services like email and event management. We’re most excited about two brand new features: Planga and Mox. Planga is a new event and group management tool that will make keeping track of your upcoming events easier than ever. Mox is a mobile app that will give you one-touch access to many Simmons Connection features. You can use it to view announcements, search the directory, and quickly navigate to upcoming events on Planga.

We also want you to know that, while email will look different for students, they will still have Simmons email addresses and the changes to email will not affect how students interact with professors or staff members.

While many technology services are already available in this first iteration of Simmons Connection, we do want you to know that it is a living, evolving platform that we will continue to refine and improve by making incremental changes over time. Like many of our projects, the creation and rollout of Simmons Connection has been rooted in a philosophy of continuous changes to functionality and usability based on your feedback. Accordingly, there is a prominent feedback link within Simmons Connection and we hope that you will use it to provide your thoughts and, in turn, help guide the decisions and changes we make.

We will be working this summer to include new features and improve the overall functionality of Simmons Connection. To keep you up to date on new developments, we have created a project website where you can find out more information about Simmons Connection and get access to some of the most common questions about how to use it. You can find it at project-connection.simmons.edu.

You spoke, we listened.

In order to create a better and more useful one-stop location for Simmons information, we have begun a project to replace MySimmons. The new system, called Simmons Connection, will improve on the existing portal and add new features, such as email integration, collaboration tools, and, soon, integration with Simmons Moodle.

In January, we sent a survey to students asking what you liked about MySimmons and what you would like to see changed or added to a new system. Based on this feedback, we began designing Simmons Connection from the ground up with your needs in mind. For example, we are working to add features you requested, such as a combined calendar/course schedule, as well as access to other Simmons services without having to log in separately.

In addition to building the Simmons Connection, we are also designing mobile apps so you can access this information from any device.

Simmons Connection will be available to students beginning Summer 2012. As soon as it’s ready, we’ll send an announcement along with information about new features and how to use them.

And don’t worry, Simmons Connection isn’t just for students. We will soon be sending a separate survey to faculty and staff to find out what features you want and need and we’ll then begin designing a version of Simmons Connection just for you.