University of Kentucky Hosts Successful Knowledge Exchange with Air Force Institute of Technology and Air University
UK Information Technology Services (UK ITS) Enterprise Applications team recently hosted a full-day reference site visit, welcoming participants from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and Air University (AU). The event, held on May 23, 2023, in the Hardymon Windstream Conference Room, aimed to facilitate a knowledge exchange on SAP Student Lifecycle Management (SLCM), SAP-Canvas Data Integrations, and Data Analytics.
The University of Kentucky, with several years of experience having implemented and extended the SLCM product and extensively used Canvas, was eager to share their experiences and insights with AFIT and AU. Smitha Chopra, Product Development and Integration Director from the University of Kentucky and John Shepherd, Branch Chief, Enterprise Education Technologies from AU collaborated to organize the event, bringing together IT experts from UK and their counterparts from AFIT and AU.
Throughout the day, participants from the University of Kentucky's Enterprise Applications team provided a comprehensive overview of their SLCM implementation, showcasing bespoke applications like myUKGPS and Advising Hub, and highlighting real-time data integrations with Canvas. The Learning Management System (LMS) team fielded questions about Canvas and its integration with third-party tools. Director of Enterprise Data Warehouse with the Institutional Research, Analytics and Decision Support (IRADS) team, Mary Kathryn Starkey, offered guidance on best practices with Business Warehousing.
The event proved to be an excellent opportunity for the University of Kentucky team to reflect on their accomplishments in these areas and discuss their roadmap for the future. They also gained valuable insights into new applications of Canvas and discovered additional features delivered by SAP in newer implementations of SLCM.
"We received so much valuable information and hope to continue our partnership as we move forward with implementing SLCM." – John Shepherd, Branch Chief, Enterprise Education Technologies, Air University
One of the key interests of AFIT and AU participants was the University of Kentucky's approach to change management, UX strategies, and talent management. These topics were discussed in detail, providing the visiting institutions with valuable insights and ideas to guide their own implementations.
By hosting this successful knowledge exchange, the University of Kentucky demonstrated its commitment to collaboration and knowledge sharing within the academic community. The event not only showcased the University's expertise in SLCM and Canvas integration but also fostered relationships that will continue to benefit all involved parties in the future.
I found it to be a pleasant surprise that even though the two institutions, UK and AFIT/AU, are quite different, our stories resonated with each other. I am proud of all the complex and critical work the UK teams were able to showcase and to see that our journey could help someone else. – Smitha Chopra
As the University of Kentucky moves forward, they remain dedicated to advancing their SLCM implementation and leveraging the power of data analytics. With ongoing partnerships and collaborative efforts, institutions like AFIT and AU can benefit from their shared experiences and best practices, leading to enhanced student experiences and more efficient administrative processes.
The full-day reference site visit served as a testament to the University of Kentucky's commitment to excellence in technology integration and their willingness to support other institutions in their pursuit of similar achievements.
UK Attendees:
Enterprise Applications:
Smitha Chopra, Director, Product Development & Integrations (Event Organizer)
Roger Hensley, Associate Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Applications
Tony Prince, Director, Core Applications
Ezra Schroeder, Senior Functional Analyst, Student Life Cycle Management
Jerry Baker, Senior ABAP Developer, Product Development & Integrations
Scot Snyder. Integration Developer, Product Development & Integrations
Institutional Research, Analytics and Decision Support (IRADS) :
Mary Kathryn Starkey, Director of Analytics
Learning Management System and UK Online:
Kelley Cruse, Associate Director
Buddy Hall, Canvas Administrator