So long, Self-Service: What can we expect from the Highlander Hub?
As October comes to an end, Maryville College is witnessing the fall of Self-Service and the rise of a new platform called the Highlander Hub, launching Nov. 1. Though Self-Service has been a familiar system at Maryville College, it is time for a change. The Highlander Hub promises to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, but what exactly can students expect from the new platform?
Through the Highlander Hub, students will still be able to register for, add and drop classes, manage their tuition accounts and view and print unofficial transcripts—just as they did on Self-Service. However, the new platform brings several new additions students will have access to.
At launch, students will now be able to view and sign up for housing, update contact information, view their advising worksheet and degree audit and conduct an analysis for how their current credits apply to different majors. After the launch, Maryville College will be working towards converting all student forms to the Highlander Hub, making them easy to submit electronically.
Ben Howard, director of information technology, helped shed light on the reasons behind this systematic change.
“It probably won’t surprise anyone for me to say that Self-Service is old, particularly from a technology perspective. The lack of mobile support makes it not only inconvenient to use, but also less accessible,” Howard said. He emphasized that Self-Service hasn’t had any significant improvements to correct these issues.
Howard also said that Self-Service’s outdated functionality continues to slow down important processes behind the scenes and keeps faculty and staff from supporting students. Maryville College plans to not only replace Self-Service, but the entirety of the student information system, making it easier to add features that serve students’ needs and help them succeed.
So, what are the specific advantages and benefits for students through the Highlander Hub? According to Howard, “the biggest immediate advantage for students is accessibility. The Highlander Hub is built to be mobile friendly and meet web accessibility standards.”
The Highlander Hub will also be able to integrate other applications that Self-Service wasn’t able to—such as the housing application and the registrar’s office forms. In addition, post-launch, Maryville College plans to explore what the Highlander Hub can accommodate that may have been unattainable in Self-Service. For example, a directory dedicated to student clubs and organizations with sign-up forms and membership management.
Maryville College has been searching for a new system to replace Self-Service since 2021, and in the fall of that year, they had three systems to choose from. Presentations with Q&A’s and feedback from both faculty and students were used to help guide the decision.
Faculty and advisors have been heavily involved throughout the transition, ensuring the platform adheres to the needs of the college. As the launch of the Highlander Hub approaches, Maryville College has been receiving a lot of positive feedback and ideas for applications to add to the Hub.
Communication between faculty and students is another area where the Highlander Hub aims to improve.
“From the student side, we’ve made sure that it’s easy to find instructor and advisor contact info, with links to email them directly from wherever you are on the site,” Howard said.
On the faculty and staff side, he said that new features will allow them to add text messages and app notifications. It will also help with organization as it improves management and schedule communications, reducing overwhelm and ensuring that students are receiving the most important information efficiently.
Howard thinks that the Highlander Hub will improve the student experience and how students receive academic support at Maryville College. With The Highlander Hub being more accessible to students, it is bound to improve how students succeed at Maryville College. Students will also have more visibility into their academic progress.
“That visibility also extends to the faculty and staff—not just advisors—that directly support a student, ensuring that how a student is doing and what their support needs are is front and center for everyone on their team,” he said.
As we are getting closer to this exciting transition, it is apparent that the Highlander Hub will be more than just a replacement for Self-Service. With enhanced accessibility, improved communication, and new features, the Highlander Hub will significantly refine the student experience at Maryville College, helping students to thrive academically and be more involved with their campus community. So long Self-Service, and welcome Highlander Hub!