While most Web services are still at Generation II, UC Gateways is clearly a model for Generation IV combining high-touch with high-tech. Generation IV moves beyond information and transactions and helps create a positive experience, UC Gateways provides decision-making guides, personalized recommendations, proactive communications and helps build a relationship with the university.
--Darlene Burnett, Director of IBM Best Practices in Student Services Awards 

Challenge

As a public university, the University of California's core mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. One way that the University achieves this mission is by making a college education accessible. To this end, the University had established multiple outreach programs at each of its nine undergraduate campuses.

Solution

UC envisioned the Gateways system as a way to support the efforts of its outreach counselors. UC Gateways provided an online destination where students who were enrolled in outreach programs could learn about college preparation, discover their academic and career interests, research colleges, and keep track of their grades, test scores, and program activities. In addition to serving students, the Gateways system served to unify the record keeping of the individual outreach programs. Instead of waiting to receive reports converted to a requested format, UC outreach administrators in the office of the president can log in to the site and print their own reports from any and all programs.

Results

The UC Gateways system stored over 110,000 student records which included personal, high school, and program information. In 2001, the UC Gateways portal won an IBM Best Practices in Student Services award.