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Commercial Portals:
2. What Do We Need To Do?

The attendees were also invited to add to their notes More Commentary on Commercial Portals, which is reported separately from the outline of this page. The lists below focus only on responses to the second half of the Danger in the Construction Zone instructions.

2. To achieve resolution or greater understanding of Commercial Portals,
   WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN THE SPACE OF ONE YEAR?

   Summary:

   • We need to create our own web portal(s), at the district and/or campus level, to provide (and advertise) only MCCD services and benefits for the students, applying any data gathered to those ends.
   • We need to investigate what the commercial services offer as well.
   • We need to survey student interest in such services.
   • We need to establish guidelines -- via legal consultation and/or a committee -- about the proper use of "data mining" and advertising, if any, in any web portal system the colleges allow.
   • We need to promote a program specifically for informing students about how information about them may be gathered on the Internet and used by organizations and businesses.

   Transcriptions of Conference Notes:

   • [Multiple] MCCCD purchase/create, maintain own portal which can advertise more about MCCCD to students.
   • [Multiple] Implement a survey of student interest.
   • Special task force.
   • Committees.
   • This one should be looked at from all sides and should only be instituted on a voluntary basis.
   • Need to educate students on abc. Communicate intent of MCCCD with data to students and institute ethical practices regarding use of data. this may include providing voluntary option to students to have MCCCD share their data (in the case of commercial portals).
   • Keep portal in-house for benefit of students. Administer loosely at District level. All schools can build out at 2nd tier. Include District search engine that indexes District and all college websites.
   • Establish list of characteristics for what "makes" a college/educational website, e.g., Journal = no ads; Education = no ads.
   • In-depth and cautious negotiation with companies.
   • Direction to enable consistency of use.
   • Make students aware of what to expect if using another company's portal.
   • Allow students to decide if their information/profile should be released.
   • Explain pros and cons of My GCC portal.
   • Our portal should banner tools and aids to help student achieve tutoring help, financial aid, etc. Have banner ads to assist students to articulate to universities, etc.
   • Take student profiles and use them for our own research purposes. This will help us develop quality programs that will fit demographic needs.
   • Colleges should have a "screening" process as to who they're "leasing" information to.
   • Guard student's information.
   • Do not provide service. Provide more information and instruction to our students about the current privacy issues on the internet.
   • Query Legal department on legality.
   • This service should be an NC500 class so students seek out this service and know the ramification of information being profiled.
   • Guidelines should be set by schools and the legal department.

Return to:
Introduction to Commercial Portals
Danger in the Construction Zone Contents
WebDev 2000 Contents