Real-time College and University Transcripts Coming
Published by Jim Farmer May 2nd, 2008 in Higher Education and Open Source, Open Content, Open Access. Tags: EDI, HR XML, PESC, SIFA.
This is a guest post by Jim Farmer.
“Today the four firms providing electronic transcript services [to U.S. colleges and universities and school districts] have agreed to form a network so transcripts will be delivered to any user of their service regardless of where the transcript originated.” Speaking from hastily-written text, Larry Furth, Executive Director of the School Interoperability Framework Association (SAIFA) announced the agreement at the 5th Annual Conference on Technology & Standards in Washington, DC. The panel discussion on Emerging Standardization was delayed fifteen minutes as the four panelists reached agreement. The agreement is expected to be announced formally later this week. Mark Johnson, President of the National Transcript Center, John O’Connell, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Docufide, Craig Powell, President of ConnectEdu Inc., and J. Michael Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of XAP Corporation were speaking on Emerging Standardization Efforts and Trends.
J. Michael Thompson described the proposed network as “like ATM network with each of us a bank.” Mark Johnson said the network would use the SIFA [K-12] student record, PESC high school and postsecondary transcript specifications though most of the servicers would also support other specifications such as the earlier EDI specification. Craig Powell said students would benefit as the proposed network would speed transcripts to the final destination. When asked about the forthcoming European Higher Education Area transcript specification, Thompson said the network was open to additional data exchanges and formats. Similarly he said the HR-XML [education portion of the resume specification] could be supported if employers wanted to use the network.
Responding to questions by moderator Bill Hollowsky, SunGard Higher Education, the panel agreed Software As A Service (SAAS) was an emerging trend as colleges and universities outsourced administrative processing. Johnson said SaaS reduces implementation from “years to months.” Thompson said the simplicity of using a service was also driving adoption. Powell said service-oriented architecture was another trend and could influence the network.
Thompson also said the PESC electronic transcript had reached the “tipping point” where he expects the use to increase quickly.
Two of the firms—the National Transcript Center and XAP—reported processing 1.5 million transcripts per year in their comments.
PESC Board Member Andy Wood, Oracle Corporation, said such collaborative efforts bring improved service to colleges and universities at the same time costs may be reduced. He encouraged broad collaboration to leverage the value of the network.
PESC is sponsoring a briefing and discussion of the forthcoming European data standards late May in Washington, DC. When approved, the specification will be used in the 46-country European Higher Education Area. This includes 26 of the 27 EU countries and 20 non-EU countries. PESC Board member David Moldoff is participating in the Rome Student Systems and Standards Group drafting the XML-based de-facto specification for program and course description, transcript, academic history, and diploma supplement. The next workshop will be held in Stuttgart, Germany in October.
4 Responses to “Real-time College and University Transcripts Coming”
Chuck Allen
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Thanks for coverage of this event, which I was not able to attend. Can you provide links to more information about the May event in Washington and October event in Stuttgart?
James Farmer
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
In the concluding session of the Technology and Standards Conference, Doug Falk, Chief Information Officer of the National Student Clearinghouse, said the Clearinghouse would join the transcript network effort.
Brett Lief, President of the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP) suggested broader collaboration including additional services for students. He said consolidation of the networks would enhance services and save cost for both servicers and the colleges and universities. This is a topic to be explored by the U.S. lenders and guaranty agencies on June 2, 2008 in a meeting preceding the NCHELP Spring Convention in Tucson, Arizona.
Craig Powell - CEO of ConnectEdu
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
It would be great to have the Clearinghouse involved in this as well. We’d love to work with them and the others on this initiative.
James Farmer
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Chuck Allen is Director of the HR-XML Consortium [www.hr-xml.org]. At the R3SG Dublin Workshop, the group stated, as a principle, their work would be consistent with the HR-XML specifications. Unisolution executives Manual Deitz and Stephane Valey are requesting a meeting with Chuck during their trip to Washington, DC. HR-XML is important because many campus ERP and human resources systems are now HR-XML compliant.
The slides from the 5th Annual Conference on Technology and Standards can be found on the Web site of the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP), one of the sponsors, at www.nchelp.org/elibrary/index.cfm?parent=1986. The Conference Program is available on the Web site of the Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC) at www.pesc.org/interior.php?page_id=159. A single 33mb pdf file that also includes a list of conference participants can be found at www.immagic.com/eLibrary/ARCHIVES/GENERAL/PESC/P080430C.pdf
Information about the 9 November 2007 meeting in Rome of the R3SG can be found at www.unisolution.eu/news/2007_workshoprome. A single 11mb PDF is available at www.immagic.com/eLibrary/ARCHIVES/GENERAL/UNISOLDE/U071109W.pdf. An assessment is also available at www.immagic.com/eLibrary/ARCHIVES/GENERAL/IMM/I071111F.pdf.
Slides from the 28 April 2008 meeting in Dublin are not yet posted.
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From mfeldstein.com/real-time-college-and-university-transcripts-coming/ 2 May 2008