In the bustling of university life, connectivity and organizations are important. Behind the scenes, dedicated individuals like Curt Herridge, Associate CIO for OIT Applications, Lane Duncan, Director for Integration Services, and Mike Rossi, Applications Administrator, have been working to establish and fine-tune SMU360, powered by CampusGroups, a revolutionary platform aimed at enhancing the connectivity and experience of the SMU community. Much goes into standing up a new platform and the Extract, Load, Transform (ELT) process associated with it.
SMU360 was introduced to SMU approximately two years ago, and serves as an all-in-one campus experience management platform with it’s primary mission to connect individuals — particularly students — to various organizations and resources at SMU.
One notable example of its impact is within the realm of Greek life. SMU360 was used to streamline tasks such as member management, fee collection, form submissions, and event organization for sororities and fraternities. Instead of spreadsheets floating around, all pertinent information now resides within the platform and is accessible to authorized individuals across departments and organizations.
While Student Affairs provides essential technical support for many organizations utilizing SMU360, being integrated into the platform grants them access to a wealth of centralized data, simplifying their operations significantly. Michael Rossi serves as the primary contact for non-student groups seeking technical assistance, further streamlining the support process. As SMU360 gains traction across the university, its utility expands beyond organizational management. From conducting surveys to managing elections, creating forms, and even facilitating registration, the platform serves as a versatile tool for various campus functions. Its seamless integration with other systems, such as Canvas and STABLE, further enhances the user experience through simplified authentication processes.
Despite its growing popularity, the journey of SMU360 has not been without challenges. Recent issues with data transmission stress the importance of vigilant oversight and collaboration. Thanks to the diligence of Mike Rossi and the OIT team, these challenges were addressed, ensuring minimal disruption to users.
If you have not explored its capabilities, now is the perfect time to discover the possibilities that SMU360 offers. Visit smu.edu/smu360 and experience the future of campus connectivity firsthand.
