2009 OmniUpdate User Conference

Program Details

 

Sunday, March 29

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Regency Ballroom F)
Optional Beginning HTML Workshop
Shannon Kleiner, OmniUpdate
This workshop will provide you with all the tools needed to proficiently use OU Campus. You will be guided through a full presentation of the product, complete with explanations and examples of how to use all the features and functionalities. You will also be taught the basics of HTML, which is required for participation in the post-conference Intermediate Workshop that will cover how to adequately tag your site's pages and create new page template wizards. (Please bring your own laptop computer; wireless Internet access will be provided.)

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (Beacon Rotunda)
Welcome Reception and Conference Registration
Come help us kick off the 2009 User Conference and meet other conference attendees at our opening reception. And don't forget to pick up your conference badge and program booklet at the registration table.

 

Monday, March 30

8:00 am - 8:45 am
Breakfast in Beacon Ballroom B

MORNING SESSIONS - Beacon Ballroom A

8:45 am - 9:00 am
Opening
Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate

9:00 am - 10:15 am
**Technical Keynote Address**
Navigating to Success with the Ever-Changing Web
Mark Greenfield, Director of Web Services, University at Buffalo
It's a new dawn. The next generation of the web is approaching. A web that is accessed more and more by mobile devices—anytime, anywhere. A web where it is just as easy to create content as it is to consume it. A web connected through syndication rather than links, and where more and more, the user is in control. Mark Greenfield will focus on the future direction of the web and the implications for higher education web professionals. Topics will include the mobile web, converging technologies, the read/write web, rich media, and Web 2.0. Mark will challenge the audience to take a step back and think long term about the social and cultural changes from emerging technologies and the new opportunities for communicating and providing services to our constituents.

10:15 am - 10:30 am
Break in the Beacon Rotunda

10:30 am - 11:30 am
What's New and What's Coming
Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate
OmniUpdate continues to thrive in system development and 2008 was truly a flourishing year. The mid-year rollout of version 8.0 introduced a simplified user interface plus enhanced speed and functionality, including Multi-Browser Preview, versioning, rollback, link checking, and more. During this session, Lance will give you a thorough overview of all that's new at OmniUpdate, including version 8.0, 8.1, and 8.2 highlights, and will let you in on what lies ahead for 2009.

11:30 am - 11:45 am
Development Roadmap Survey

11:45 am - 12:45 pm
Lunch in Beacon Ballroom B

TECHNICAL TRACK SESSIONS - Beacon Ballroom A

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
New OU Campus Functionality
Yves Lempereur, Ted Rust, and Andrew Soderberg, OmniUpdate
Come get an in-depth look at some of the newest OU Campus features that have been rolled out over the past year. This is your chance to see and hear from the developers who designed them and learn how to put these new features to work!

1:50 pm - 2:35 pm
Using OU Campus to Create and Maintain Dynamic Web Experiences
Brian Tusi and Andrew Soderberg, OmniUpdate
In this session, Brian and Andrew will discuss how to create maintainable, accessible, and dynamic websites. A conceptual example will be introduced and dissected during the session, starting with the basics of using the JavaScript Prototype library for easy AJAX requests, along with Script.aculo.us effects to impress your visitors. RSS, XML, and XSL will be used to produce the content, including a demo of Transcode-It to embed video in these dynamic pages. Basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript experience are recommended, but not required.

2:35 pm - 2:50 pm
Break in the Beacon Rotunda

2:50 pm - 3:35 pm
The College Webmaster's Toy Box
Jasmine Witham, Director of Web Services, San Mateo CCD
As a college webmaster, you are constantly researching solutions and managing expectations for your faculty and staff. After 10 years of working in web development for community colleges with limited resources, Jasmine has collected a list of tools and sites (mostly free) that every webmaster should have in their repertoire. Jasmine will discuss these tools (including analytics, validation, search, mail forms, slideshows, college-wide calendars, and more) and how to embed some of these services on your web page from the OU Campus interface.

3:40 pm - 4:35 pm
Online Course Catalogs
Lynn Zawie and Michael Gasparino, University Communications, Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University is "going green" and reducing expenses related to their printed student course catalog—an item that is almost always out of date by the time of distribution. The university is in the process of implementing an online version of the catalog that will be maintained using OU Campus and can be updated within minutes. Although still in the implementation phase, Lynn Zawie and Michael Gasparino will uncover the university's best practices and lessons learned from the automation project. If your institution is considering the daunting information management task of creating an online course catalog, you won't want to miss this session.

MARKETING/OPERATIONS TRACK SESSIONS - Regency Ballroom F

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Writing for the Web
Stephanie Geyer, Associate Vice President, E-Communications and Web Strategy, Noel-Levitz
Picture this... Your institution's website has just undergone a redesign from one of the top firms in the industry. You have purchased the latest and greatest web content management software to keep your website primed and up to date. You've added social networking features that website visitors have come to expect. Your IT and Marketing staff are trained and ready with the right resources to manage the site. Your website is now a powerful communications tool on the cutting edge of technology. But wait... what about the content? An institutional website is ineffective without well-written copy that captures your target audience. Stephanie will walk you through key tips on writing for the web that will help set your website above the rest.

1:50 pm - 2:35 pm
Using OU Campus in a Luminis Portal
Rachel Reuben, Director of Web Communication and Strategic Projects, State University of New York at New Paltz
In an effort to improve communication to first year students at the State University of New York at New Paltz, the Division of Student Affairs created a My First Year hub within their Luminis portal called "my.newpaltz.edu". The hub provides exclusive information to first year students that they can't get elsewhere. And its success has resulted in a spin-off for newly accepted students. Come listen as Rachel shares the university's success story, including how they made the management of their Luminis portal easier using OU Campus.

2:35 pm - 2:50 pm
Break in the Beacon Rotunda

2:50 pm - 3:35 pm
Using Online Video Effectively in Admissions Marketing
Darren Wacker, Higher Education Consultant, James Tower
As online video use continues to grow aggressively, the use of video on college and university websites has become strategically important. Video is an invaluable tool for promoting the institution and providing timely, entertaining, and important information to all website users—from prospective and current students, to parents, staff, faculty, and even alumni. Come listen as Darren Wacker shares how higher education institutions are currently using online video and provides tips for using video on your own institution's website.

3:40 pm - 4:35 pm
CRM Solutions: Social Networking and Chat—Real Cases and Success Stories
Sasha Peterson, Managing Director, Hobsons EMT
In the past five years, institutions have begun to recognize the process improvements and potential rewards of implementing a CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) solution on campus, particularly in the areas of enrollment, admissions, and retention. Social Networking on your higher education website is one of the ways to provide prospective students and parents with a unique forum for gathering information and building relationships. And, Instant Chat allows them to converse one-on-one with an admissions counselor in real-time with no waiting. Both tools are an effective way to build brand and encourage enrollment. Join Sasha as he shares real case studies and success stories of institutions that have implemented these powerful social media tools that easily integrate with OU Campus. Come see how your institution can benefit, too.

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5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Reception and Tour aboard the Queen Mary
Come aboard the historic Queen Mary for an evening reception and join us at 6:00 pm for the "Behind the Scenes" tour of the ocean liner. During the guided tour, you will explore many of the first-class areas of the ship, including the first-class lounge, smoking room, dining room, and an actual suite. Those not participating in the tour may stay and relax at the reception. Pre-registration for the tour is required. We will be meeting promptly at 5:00 pm in the hotel lobby for departure to the Queen Mary. For those that wish to depart for the Queen Mary at a later time, see the Long Beach Transit bus schedule for departure times.

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Dinner aboard the Queen Mary
Once the night club for the ship's elite, with beautiful hand-painted murals, a sunken dance floor and doors opening onto the sun deck, the newly-restored Verandah Grill is the perfect location for our dinner aboard the Queen Mary.

 

Tuesday, March 31

 

8:00 am - 8:45 am
Breakfast in Beacon Ballroom B

MORNING SESSION - Beacon Ballroom A

8:45 am - 10:00 am
**Operations/Marketing Keynote Address**
E-Expectations: New Research and Exciting Results
Stephanie Geyer, Associate Vice President, E-Communications and Web Strategy, Noel-Levitz
It's an exciting time in the area of e-Expectations research. With its e-Expectations research series, Noel-Levitz has been uncovering the online expectations and behaviors of prospective students. But what about current students? OmniUpdate and Noel-Levitz are undertaking a joint study to find out to what degree current students are engaged in online activities and what they expect from their institution's website. Although in the preliminary stage and not yet published, Stephanie Geyer will share these findings for the first time with OmniUpdate User Conference attendees. Conference attendees will be "in the know" long before the research and results are publicly shared with others in the education industry.

10:00 am - 10:15 am
Break in the Beacon Rotunda

TECHNICAL TRACK SESSIONS - Beacon Ballroom A

10:15 am - 11:00 am
Add-Ons and APIs
Yves Lempereur and Lance Merker, OmniUpdate
One of the more powerful features of OU Campus is extensibility. Come learn how you can extend the OU Campus features using your own programming skills. From basic add-ons to using APIs to control OU Campus from other web applications, this session will help you learn to do things you've always dreamed of, and perhaps a few things you never even considered.

11:05 am - 11:50 am
In-Context Editing and CSS with Mobile Devices
Justin Gatewood, Webmaster, Victor Valley College
Take the next step with your OU Campus implementation and provide your users with an editing environment that looks and feels like your website, rather than the plain white background of the standard editor. Justin will cover how easy it is to setup a stylesheet that works not only for the standard web browsers, but will dynamically respond to and scale your website for viewing in a mobile device's web browser. Best practices will be discussed, and some popular and powerful free tools for testing your website will be presented.

MARKETING/OPERATIONS TRACK SESSIONS - Regency Ballroom F

10:15 am - 11:00 am
Multimedia and Interactivity at Minimal Cost
Ellen Kanner, Web Producer/Designer, Dartmouth College
Are you looking for simple ways to add a rotating image gallery, video presentations, or calendar to your web page? How about a form that tracks users' response? Join Ellen Kanner as she discusses these additions that are simple and easy to set up with a basic understanding of HTML. They can add a bit of bang to your website for (mostly) free!

11:05 am - 11:50 am
Effective Training Techniques
Nathan Gerber and Phil Taylor, Web Development Services, Utah Valley University
When Utah Valley State College became Utah Valley University, the institution had to undergo an entire website overhaul and redesign. In light of this change, Utah Valley University went through extensive training for all users, which led to an ongoing training program for new and existing users. Through their first-hand experience, Nathan Gerber and Phil Taylor will uncover real best practice examples and techniques on how to effectively train users in OU Campus. While OU Campus is simple and easy to use, training is essential to gain user buy-in. This session is designed not only for those undergoing site redesigns, but for all administrators and users of the software.

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11:50 am - 12:50 pm
Lunch in Beacon Ballroom B

AFTERNOON SESSION - Beacon Ballroom A

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Development Roadmap Feedback and Closing
Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate
So how does OmniUpdate rate on the product and system development roadmap? Join Lance as he reveals the results of the Development Roadmap Survey taken by all attendees at the beginning of the conference. Whatever your role may be, this is a session you don't want to miss, as it will help create the roadmap for 2009 and beyond.

**OPTIONAL POST-CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES**

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Regency Ballroom F)
Intermediate Training Workshop: In-Depth Training on Templates and Page Tagging
Shannon Kleiner and Brian Tusi, OmniUpdate
This hands-on workshop takes an in-depth look at page Tagging and template building. It is designed to help you better take advantage of OU Campus capabilities. You will walk away with new ideas on how to design, deploy, and manage content. With these advanced skills, you'll be able to simplify automation for your users as they build new pages and gain greater control over your existing web pages. If you are in web design or development and fairly new to OmniUpdate, this workshop is designed for you. (Please bring your own laptop computer; wireless Internet access will be provided.)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Beacon Ballroom A)
Advanced Training Workshop: The Basics for Using XML/XSL in OU Campus
Andrew Soderberg and Yves Lempereur, OmniUpdate
Come get an important hands-on overview from an OmniUpdate expert on how to use XML/XSL in conjunction with OU Campus. You will walk away from this workshop with real XML/XSL experience and techniques you can apply to your own web strategy. This workshop will introduce the principles behind how to build a complex, flexible website that fully utilizes XML/XSL within OU Campus while introducing XML, XPath, and XSL. Attendees to this session should have a solid understanding of XHTML with CSS and OU Campus Tagging and Templates. (Please bring your own laptop computer; wireless Internet access will be provided.)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Aquarium of the Pacific Group Tour
Join us on a behind the scenes tour and get a sneak peek into the daily operations of the aquarium. We will enter the "wet side" of the aquarium, a section not normally open to the public, and will see what it takes to maintain a world-class aquarium, from water filtration to animal care and feeding. We will have the opportunity to view the largest exhibit, the Tropical Reef habitat, from above and even feed some of the fish. Come join us on a fun-filled tour! To receive the group discount rate, registration for the tour is required.

 

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NOTE: Program and schedule subject to change