Primary Author: Mike Alexander
At a multi-campus university like Penn State, inconsistent systems and procedures for the management of clubs and organizations increases the necessary level of effort and decreases the efficacy of student clubs and organizations. With over 900 student clubs and organizations, 100 created this year alone, there is a need for a standard system to ensure continuity from year to year and organization to organization.
Core Capabilities
– Internal File Sharing/Collaboration
– External Website for the Organization
– Ability for multiple members of the club/organization to edit the website
– WordPress/Blogs/similar content management system – what you see is what you get
– Ability to view and update membership rosters, executive officers, etc.
Additional Functionality
– Messaging Capabilities- club/organization email addresses and distribution lists
– Electronic submission of forms such as budget requests
– Access to club and organization financial balances and records
– Ability to have a public and private calendar, and share events with a larger organizational calendar (Similar to Google Calendar)
– Information about the organization’s adviser
– Ability for club officers/adviser to grant or revoke access
– Different levels of access/permissions
– Room and Equipment reservation
– Student Profile/Directory (similar to Yammer- not similar to Facebook)
Organizations like Homecoming and THON make successful use of Google Apps to manage their organizations. Members are all on a common platform, able to share and collaborate on documents, view each other’s calendars, and send messages with a single log-on and password. A similar system would be the ideal student aim for a service like this.
Penn State Altoona, Penn State Shenango and Penn State York are currently using OrgSync as their club management system. Both students and student affairs staff alike have reported positive experiences in the system.
Ian Krouse, SGA President, Penn State Altoona:
Ever since the transition to OrgSync for ALL clubs and organizations here at Penn State Altoona, we as the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life have noticed and heard nothing less then fantastic feedback. At first, many clubs/orgs. were very confused with the specific software but the Office of Student Life has held a handful of events trying to familiarize the software will all clubs/orgs. Essentially, this is a new social networking service for many colleges and universities. From our understanding, students have meet close friends and have created close associates within Penn State Altoona’s 80 thriving clubs/orgs. from the use of OrgSync. Not only does this service hinder the weight of the Student Government Association for budget request, but also, keeps the Office of Student life organized on a electronic service. We both recommended OrgSync to the entire Commonwealth. Without a service, like or close to OrgSync, some of our clubs/orgs. would crumble. The social networking aspect keeps the students aware of all events on campus and allows officers to notify executive board members of important dates. To note a few troubling shooting problems (there are not many), the card reader attachment has been on the fritz for quite some time. With this card reader device, a Penn State ID would be swiped to note a student’s attendance at an event and keep track of how many students attended for future reference. Another item to critique is the fact that when students fill out the event form. Every form is the same. This leaves the students with one option, even if their specific event is completely different from another. For example, Fundraisers for a club to Blood drives. For a quick conclusion, this service is well worth the funding for EVERY Commonwealth campus. If every campus had this service, sky’s the limit!
You know my thoughts on OrgSync. Within this document, I feel as if there should be something in regards to blogging. We see our students using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to try and get in contact with friends around campus about simple issues they are having. Such as, what class I need to take to complete my entrance to major, what a student may have missed in class due to an illness, or even asking questions about a specific major. This could all be compiled on a blog! Breaking each major down by different categories would help the navigation process for the student and his/her questions could be answered by other students.