Seeking an end to “siloed data,” Utah State University (USU) last week unified its systems into a single platform, , in partnership with Salesforce Education. The project is designed to centralize data, improve how the university supports students throughout their journey, and lay the groundwork for other improvements like artificial intelligence-powered decision-making. It follows two years during which the university analyzed recruitment, admissions, student success, alumni engagement and marketing ecosystems. Officials found the programs relied on a variety of separate systems to manage student interactions, creating inefficiencies and communication challenges — and constraining data. Rene Eborn, USU associate vice president of digital transformation, who led the integration, said the new system will replace nine separate tools with five integrated ones. This will save time with administrative tasks and simplify the user experience. “People had to run manual reports and send them to each other off manual lists,” she said. “Our hope is to streamline not just the student experience but our staff and administration workloads, so that we can take that time that we used to spend doing all those manual processes and use those times to do more effective advising or more effective teaching and learning and really focus on what we're there to do.” The Salesforce Education Cloud draws data from sources across USU’s ecosystem, including learning management systems and advising records, using tools like MuleSoft to centralize all the information. From the student perspective, the integration allows students to turn to one platform that updates as they progress in their journey. Information they supply in the application process will follow them, preventing redundant work on their end. For staff, it provides a simple platform across departments to view student data and previous interactions, allowing them to coordinate messaging and avoid overlapping or irrelevant outreach. It also helps target outreach to a student’s specific needs, like providing information on academic support resources based on a student’s grades. Years of information about a student will remain visible even after they graduate and can shape alumni outreach strategies. The new system, Eborn noted, lays the groundwork for incorporating predictive analytics and AI features in the future, part of a trend toward data-informed decision-making at USU. In June, the school appointed its first chief data analytics officer. The full rollout of the OneUSU platform is expected to take 18 months, to ensure time to train staff and gather feedback from stakeholders. The school is starting with recruitment and admissions processes and expects the change to continue even beyond the next year and a half. “It does look like we're taking it slow, but when you actually look at the work that's got to be done, how we've got to change our processes and redesign the way we do our business models, 18 months is probably not long enough,” Eborn said. However, the platform is expected to be in its pilot stage by fall 2025. In addition to gathering feedback from students, parents and staff, USU will use the interface to monitor student success markers. “The metrics that institutions care about are retention, enrollment and the time of their staff,” Margo Martinez, vice president of education at Salesforce, said. For schools considering a similar integration, Eborn suggests reflecting on which user interfaces are effective in your personal life. For example, she took inspiration from Netflix, which also uses Salesforce to personalize suggested viewing. “The ones that you like the most are the ones that are the easiest,” she said. “And that's what we’re trying to do, is we're trying to make higher ed a better experience.”FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Rashad King led Northeastern with 19 points, including the game-winning layup with three seconds remaining, and the Huskies beat Florida International 60-58 on Friday. King added eight rebounds for the Huskies (4-1). Harold Woods added 12 points while shooting 5 of 11 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line while he also had five rebounds. Vianney Salatchoum led the way for the Panthers (1-4) with 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Woods put up eight points in the first half for Northeastern, who led 30-27 at the break. King led Northeastern with 12 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .After institutions for people with disabilities close, graves are at risk of being forgotten
NoneIn the cryptocurrency arena, two presales, Pepe Unchained and BlockDAG, are currently the center of attention. Pepe Unchained has successfully gathered over $52 million, spotlighting its Ethereum-based Layer 2 solution that offers quicker, more affordable transactions. On the other hand, BlockDAG (BDAG) , operating on a Layer 1 blockchain, has amassed more than $158 million, showcasing its practical applications and emphasis on functionality. Both initiatives present distinct advantages, but which one truly capitalizes on its promises? Let's delve into an analysis of their advantages and challenges. Pepe Unchained Presale Reached $52M Pepe Unchained has captured significant interest by securing over $52 million in its presale, reflecting robust community engagement. Yet, as a Layer 2 platform built atop Ethereum, it does not enjoy the autonomy of Layer 1 networks and depends on Ethereum’s framework. It vows to deliver transactions up to 100 times faster than Ethereum’s mainnet. However, these enhancements are directly affected by Ethereum's performance, potentially limiting their effectiveness during high traffic periods. The initiative intends to introduce Pepe Chain, incorporating a decentralized exchange (DEX), a bridge, a block explorer, and staking rewards. Despite its impressive fundraising, Pepe Unchained has not yet reached any major milestones or results. Moreover, the project boasts a fast-growing community with over 52,800 followers and 12,000 Telegram participants. Nonetheless, the anonymity of its team members creates transparency issues, leaving the community uncertain about the leadership driving the project. BlockDAG's Impressive $158M Presale: Vision, Utility, and Real Achievements BlockDAG is currently experiencing significant success with its presale, having raised over $158 million and sold more than 16.9 billion BDAG coins. Now in its 26th batch at $0.0234 per coin—up from just $0.001 in the first batch—the price has surged by 2240%. With a target of $600 million in sight for the best crypto presale , the window for early participation is closing fast, highlighting the urgent opportunity for involvement. Unlike other presales, BlockDAG is built as a Layer 1 blockchain, ensuring complete independence and broad potential for developing new crypto applications. BDAG is designed as a utility coin, focusing on long-term practical use and sustainability, distinguishing itself from transient meme coins. This strategic approach supports ongoing relevance and aligns with the platform’s goal to implement impactful solutions. BlockDAG’s progress is concrete and significant. The mainnet is fully developed and currently under audit. Strategic partnerships, like one with major European soccer club Inter Milan, bolster its standing. The leadership team remains active in the community, frequently conducting AMAs to discuss updates, future plans, and current achievements. With solid milestones and a defined direction, BlockDAG’s presale is a promising gateway to a project poised to influence the future of blockchain technology. Which Leads the Presale Race in 2024? Both Pepe Unchained and BlockDAG are capturing the crypto community’s attention, yet they follow distinctly different trajectories.Pepe Unchained capitalizes on the excitement with its Ethereum-based Layer 2 solutions but depends on Ethereum’s fluctuating performance and has not yet realized significant achievements. Conversely, BlockDAG’s Layer 1 foundation promotes true autonomy and unlimited potential for innovation. Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network Website: https://blockdag.network Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.