web base

WHAT IS VNET?
One of our primary goals is to enhance the information flow and
access for both the administrative and academic communities in a
manner that is easy and cost effective. To this end, we want a
system with a shorter learning curve and lower support and
maintenance requirements than high-end applications. Other
web-based solutions in the educational market offer
implementation costs in our budget range, but their features do
not meet our requirements.
To be effective VNet has to be more than just a portal system. It
also needs to be a system platform that is very similar in design,
capabilities, and features to the Windows or Apple operating
systems. The major difference is that all VNet applications are
designed to run from the server, and they will mainly be accessed
through a web browser. Hence, VNet is a “web operating system
platform” with most of the basic capabilities a user may expect
from a traditional OS. That is, it has a desktop, applications,
development environment, and a built-in security system.
CAPABILITIES SUMMARY
VNet connects to all major databases (Oracle, MySQL,
Access, Sybase, Filemaker and others).
The server side and client side are compatible with the most
popular operating systems on the market (Windows, OS X
and Linux).
It has a secured and encrypted communication environment
including a virtual file management system that allows higher
file security.
It is mostly based on open source applications that allow
most of the built-in functionality of VNet to be available to
developers for modifications.
APPLICATIONS
VNet’s fast and efficient application development environment
has allowed us to create complex and unique applications in a
relatively short amount of time. We have been able to include
high-end features that are only available from prohibitively
expensive commercial applications. Currently, we have 16 fully
developed applications and others are under design.
VNet applications currently include: VDesktop (user customized
web environment), VAdmin (admin management), VContacts
(contact management), VCalendar (calendar and scheduling),
VRecord (records tracking), VHome (web user file management
environment), VHomepage (web page automated design), VClass
(electronic course management), VReservation (room and
equipment reservation system), VResource (electronic
publishing), VPublication (publication and search engine system),
VNews (news publication), VPurchase (purchasing management),
VReport (report generation), VAdvising (tools for advisor record
keeping and management).

VRECORD
VRecord provides the ability to archive, update, and retrieve
records quickly and easily. Input methods can be web form
submissions or scanned document attachments; yet the
information is stored in a consistent format for easy retrieval and
update purposes.
FigureVRecord also provides a view window with information on the
user’s academic and administration records and notifications of
the processing status of previously submitted documents. In
addition, VRecord can be used as a powerful tool to publish
encrypted web forms instantly.
VCLASS
VClass is an innovative academic tool. By using the VClass
streaming feature, professors provide their students with video
versions of their class lectures through the web without technical
intervention by technical staff. In addition, professors have the
ability to post any course related material such as notifications,
notes, practice problems, and much more on the Internet with the
click of a button.
Figure


VCALENDAR
VCalendar condenses the overwhelming amount of information
regarding appointments, tasks, and events into a manageable and easily accessible format. This application enables the user to sort
all the necessary and important day-to-day functions, to manage
workflow, and to list daily tasks and campus announcements.

VAdvising
VAdvising integrates several of the existing applications such as
VCalendar, and VRecord. The application not only facilitates
advising contact between students and advisors, but it also permits
the creation of databases critical to student academic development
planning and program. VAdvising has the ability to generate
reports based not only on the data created by the user but also
information from other databases; therefore, it provides faculty,
academic programs managers, and administrators a quick, costeffective
means of generating assessments, institutional
effectiveness reports, and other documents central to institutional
strategic planning and student academic management.
As an advising tool VAdvising makes it possible for students to
set up appointments with their advisors and to keep track of each
session. The advisor has his or her own portfolio in which they
manage their appointments, pull up a snapshot of the student’s
academic record from the student records system, see the
student’s request sheet which lists the issues to be discussed, and
make entries into a journal in which the outcomes of the academic
intervention for that session is recorded.
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ADVANTAGES OVER TRADITIONAL
OPERATING SYSTEMS AND
APPLICATION PLATFORMS
VNet applications run on most popular operating systems
(Windows, OSX and Linux) without modifications.
It allows simpler network access
It has a higher level of scalability and security.
Productivity enhancement offered by VNet enables our
Institution to save time and money.
Users and developers can now focus less on technical
challenges and more on creative and business advancements.
It has a shorter learning curve with reduced overall cost for
data-intensive applications.
IMPACT OF VNET
College of NSM web presence has increased dramatically.
Total hits increased from approximately 2.3 million/year in
2002 to close to 14 million/year in 2003 (+600% increase).
Total unique users increased from around 25,000 in 2002 to
more than 110,000 in 2003(+440% increase).
One of our initial VNet applications, VClass, has
revolutionized the educational environment at UH. Since its
implementation, there has been an exponential increase in the number of faculty publishing course materials and some have gone as far as streaming classes on the Web on a daily basis.
Students have benefited enormously! Research studying the
effectiveness of VNet is currently being conducted at the
University of Houston. The preliminary results indicated
that streaming classes on a daily basis improved average test
scores in science classes by 5-10% percent.
Administrative applications such as VPurchase and VReport
are helping research by simplifying the processing of
preparing purchase orders for research supplies and
equipment. Faculty can now approve purchases from
anywhere in the world.
Collaboration between departments has increased and
duplication of technology efforts has decreased dramatically.
IT funding from external resources to the College has
increased substantially.
VTC is identified at the University as a leader in
technological development. Other colleges and academic
programs within the campus are benefiting from these
efforts.