1. GRADS Advisory Committee
Meeting 5
October 5, 2016
Lori Cottrill

2. Agenda Acceptance Environment Changes LionPATH Update
To Production Since We Last Met
Currently in Development
Planned for the Future
Feedback for the Future
LionPATH Update

3. Acceptance Environment
Available for testing GRADS changes in the application
The application (
GRADS (
Used for projects by The Graduate School
Interfaces with LionPATH QNA (a testing environment)
Does not upload to LionPATH QNA every day
If you are testing something and do not see your application uploaded by the next day, please notify
Is down/refreshed along with LionPATH schedule
Next scheduled refresh is October 24-25, 2016

4. To Production Since May: Search / Navigation Updates
Search for applicant by name
Applicant list page controls and download button at top and bottom
Add next page link to top of queue list

5. To Production Since May: List Modifications
Saving sort order as default
Viewed applications icon on list appears in different color
Enable multiple label assignment per application
Enable label modification from list view

6. To Production Since May: Data and Download Update
Incorporate deadlines into applications
Add finalization date of references
Ratings can be downloaded from View All Ratings for All Applicants
Include offer decline reasons in download
Wording updated in offer letters to help reduce applicant confusion

7. Currently in Development
Assign Reviewers from list
A drop down list, including all users who have been granted access to this plan, will allow assigning reviewer(s), as you wish. This can be faculty or staff. There will then be an option, allowing users to have only the applicants which are assigned to them to appear in the list.
Custom application list
Graduate Ranking Index system
Two new fields will appear in GRADS, the Graduate Ranking Index (GRI) and the Acceptance Probability. These are based on formulas provided by Physics which take into account an applicant’s GRE and TOEFL scores, as well as weighting on various other metrics. Each program can decide its own categories for applicants; Physics divides applicants into coming from USA, China, or the Rest of the World, but programs can use any category, as this value is manually assigned on each application. Weightings are also program specific. GRI can serve as a way to help make an initial evaluation/ranking of applicants, particularly in programs that receive a large number of applications; it is not intended to be a comprehensive evaluation indicator.

8. Planned for Future GRADS settings at plan level (major and degree)
Options, as well? Or just questions different for options?
Asking different questions was indicated as the main goal for options.
“Official use only” fields

9. Feedback for Future View all applicants in one view
This would be helpful and can be limited to one semester if this is chosen in the search screen.
Faculty updating own comments – until what point?
The group agreed that this update can be limited by SAR, so a comment could not be corrected after evaluation – offer or decline of admission. Comments can be added, regardless of SAR.
System for scheduling interviews/visits and gathering evaluation feedback
Several college representatives indicated that they would find value in this, as they currently do this work manually. Lori asked the group for volunteers to be part of a focus group that will help define requirements for this system.
Test scores – convert historical?
The request was made that this be a small window, indicating how the score shown would translate forward/backward, making it easier for those familiar with the opposite scale.
Enhanced completeness functionality for program-specific questions/documents
There was mixed feedback about what would be most beneficial with this. Some users would like a complete flag set as soon as all materials are accepted, while others prefer to review the materials before setting this, to be sure the materials are accurate.
Waitlist functionality
Several users indicated that they use labels for the equivalent of waitlist functionality. The group felt that other requested functionality is more important for development, since there are methods to do this now.

10. Other Functionality Added
Resume Study Online Application
Change Major or Degree Online Application
Current Semester + 4

11. Additional Wish List Items?to

12. Wish List Questions?

13. LionPATH Update Registration Advising Transcript Doctoral Data
Priority registration opens today, 10/5/16
Contact OUR for registration issues
Advising Transcript
Available 10/7/16
Doctoral Data
All data in LionPATH by 11/1/16
Graduation
Queries and security in progress
One page tracking in LionPATH
Available 11/1/16

14. Questions?