Year in Review: Here’s What Happened in 2023
Posted on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024
As we begin a new year at Algonquin College, we want to reflect on what the R3 Project has accomplished in 2023. So, if you’ve found yourself caught up in the whirlwind of events and milestones (and who can blame you, there were so many!), fear not – we’re here to unpack the highlights to ensure you don’t miss a beat!
2023 R3 Project Highlights: AC Community Engagement
First things first, 2023 was a big year for the R3 Project. Here’s a glimpse of the substantial contributions the AC Community has made:
- We started the development of the Learner Change Management Plan, and we ignited a collaborative spark! A whopping 960 learners provided input and participated in consultations. Together, we set the stage for transformative change and a brighter educational future. Let the power of our collective efforts pave the way for innovation and growth!
- 47 Change Champions representing diverse corners of the College dedicated their time to seven meetings. Their mission: to capture the essence of the R3 Project and bring back vital messages to their faculties and departments. Oh, and did we mention that they’re also the invaluable conduits that help gather insights from the AC Community?
- Seven working groups held a grand total of 158 meetings with the aim to support the decision-making process of how Thesis SM can work best for learners and employees. These working groups continue to play a pivotal role in making two of our project objectives – improved student success and satisfaction and improved employee satisfaction and productivity – become a reality!
- We started the “Train the Trainer/Tester” sessions with Thesis. During these sessions, 51 AC employees received training from Thesis and will play a crucial role in testing the system and training all SIS users. These training sessions have been a great opportunity to really get to know the ins and outs of both Thesis SM and the new Student Portal!
- The R3 Project was invited to eight departmental meetings, where attendees had the opportunity to ask relevant questions. In 2024, we hope to attend more of these meetings, because we know how important it is to stay involved and learn more about what everyone at the College is thinking!
- Over 604 unique participants attended seven events, including Showcase and Business Process Walkthroughs! We’re incredibly thankful that so many of you came to these events and asked such great questions. Your continued support and participation are crucial to our project’s success!
These events provided an opportunity to hear from various members of our community, whether they were presenting or asking questions. There was a lot of engagement and participation from the AC community!
This cross-College collaboration has been nothing short of inspiring and continues to demonstrate that this SIS implementation truly is “for the College, by the College”.
R3 Showcase
In 2023, we had a total of five R3 Showcase events! Each one highlighted a specific theme to help the AC community gain a better understanding of the work being done on the R3 Project. Most of these events also had live demos that highlighted different features within the new SIS and Student Portal. And don’t worry – we’ll continue to provide more live demos at upcoming Showcase events!
February 28: New Admissions Process
We presented a thorough review of the current Admissions process at Algonquin College and shared how the new Admissions process will work in Thesis SM.
There was also a demo that highlighted the application journey. This showcased the Applicant Checklist feature in the Thesis Student Portal, which will enhance the Admissions process for our learners and streamline the work for our employees.
Watch the Live Demo:
May 1: Thesis SM Go-Live Date Announcement
AC President and CEO, Claude Brulé, shared the exciting news of when Thesis SM and the Thesis Student Portal will go live.
We walked through the process of choosing the go-live date, provided an overview of upcoming project timelines, and gave a quick refresher on training plans leading up to and after our go-live date. If you’ve ever wondered how the go-live date might affect your work, then this is the event for you!
Watch the full Showcase event to find out when we’re going live:
September 26: Program Curriculum Setup
We reviewed the Program Curriculum setups for GeneSIS and Thesis SM and looked at an example of how it will be represented in future state.
We also introduced new Thesis SM terminology, including Educational Goal, Course Master, Program Curriculum, and Program Curriculum Requirements. You can also check out our Glossary to learn more about the new terminology that comes with a new SIS, Student Portal, and business processes.
The event concluded with a live demo, showing how to find programs of study and campus offerings.
Watch the Live Demo:
November 14: Integrations and Student Payment
We provided an overview of typical SIS functionality and compared integrations in GeneSIS to those in the new SIS, Thesis SM.
There was also a live demo showing how students will submit payments using Flywire in the Thesis Student Portal. The goal with this process – along with our other business processes – is to improve the students’ journey at Algonquin!
Watch the Live Demo:
December 7: Project Highlights and Awards Application Process
For this Showcase, we went over some of the 2023 Project highlights, including the work of the R3 Project’s Business Systems Analysts and Business Analysts.
There was also a live demo, which went over how students will submit a bursary application in the Thesis Student Portal. This simplified process will help improve the students’ overall journey!
Watch the Live Demo:
Business Process Walkthrough Events
The goal of Business Process Walkthrough events is to provide a better understanding of how future business processes can work within the new SIS. As the project team continues its work during the Personalize Phase, we have been able to host two of these events in 2023!
March 29: Create/Update Organization Records, Create/Update Organization Contact, and Manage Matched Records
In addition to walking through the three business processes, we also provided a quick review of what a business process is and our overall expectations.
Watch the full Business Process Walkthrough:
October 30: Document Submission Management and Create/Update Document Type
For this event, we provided an overview of Business Process Models and how Thesis SM business processes are adapted to meet the needs of Algonquin College. We then reviewed two business processes.
Watch the full Business Process Walkthrough:
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So, there you have it! These are only some of the many highlights that the R3 Project team has accomplished in 2023. We have a lot planned out for 2024, so stay tuned for more information on what’s upcoming.
Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page to learn more about the R3 Project!
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