With the resources contained in the portfolio, advisors will have a dynamic image of a student s life at Wesleyan and be better able to guide students through their academic program. The portfolio, says Assistant Professor Steven Angle should make advising better by making it easier for faculty to access and organize the information that s needed to advise well. Access to most information in the student portfolio is restricted to the student and the faculty advisor. Using a password system, selected pages can be made available to other users on the Web if the student chooses. This way, students can use sections of the portfolio to show parents or prospective employers the kind of work they have done at Wesleyan.
Current plans allow students to keep their portfolios for a period of ten years after graduation.
ITS tested a prototype of the portfolio during the spring semester last year with a group of 400 students and 20 faculty members. During the summer, members of ITS and Academic Affairs readied the student and faculty portfolios for distribution to all students and faculty this fall. Using the portfolio is relatively easy, especially for those familiar with Web technology. Training assistance and support, including ongoing workshops and a helpline, will be provided throughout the year for both students and faculty under the direction of Project Manager Jenny Pyke.