Transforming the Campus Portal: A Webinar with Bristol & Meridian Community Colleges
April, 10th 2025
02:00PM – 03:00PM EST
Welcome to the Webinar
Join us as we explore how Bristol Community College and Meridian Community College have revolutionized their campus portals using Unifyed Engage. Learn from our expert presenters as they share insights on designing student-centric experiences, streamlining operations, and driving engagement through their digital transformation journey.
Meet the Presenters
JoAnn Pelletier - Bristol Community College
Role: Chief Information and Data Officer, JoAnn played a pivotal role in transforming Bristol’s portal into an action-oriented, intuitive platform for students and staff. With a strong background in digital strategy and student engagement, JoAnn has led cross-functional collaboration to create a seamless user experience for diverse student populations, including first-generation and non-traditional learners.
Kelley Gonzales - Meridian Community College
Role: Associate Vice President for Technology, Kelley has been instrumental in optimizing Meridian’s portal for streamlined access and departmental efficiency. By leveraging role-based design and integrating essential tools, Kelley has helped simplify digital interactions for students, faculty, and staff, reducing support requests and improving user satisfaction.
Meet the Presenters
Jo-Ann Pelletier
Chief Information and Data Officer
Bristol Community College
Kelley Gonzales
Associate VP for Technology
Meridian Community College
How Bristol & Meridian Have Transformed Their Campus Portals
Bristol Community College (JoAnn) - Action-Oriented Design & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Initial Goals & Design Philosophy:
✔ Develop a Student-Centric Navigation system with organized tabs like Finances & Aid, Advising, and Registration to simplify critical processes for first-generation and non-traditional students.
✔ Ensure Accessible Language by avoiding higher ed jargon to enhance clarity and ease of use.
✔ Improve user engagement by making processes more intuitive and reducing friction in accessing critical resources.
✔ Transition from an outdated “link farm” to a structured, user-friendly portal.
Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Content Management:
✔ Worked with a cross-functional team (Marketing, HR, Curriculum Committees) to migrate and manage content.
✔ Empowered departments to update their own content while maintaining oversight through periodic team reviews.
✔ Ensured content consistency across multiple departments with varying levels of technical expertise.
Key Achievements:
✔ Implemented a Student-Centric Navigation system that simplified access to key services like financial aid and advising while improving engagement with clear, jargon-free communication.
✔ Successfully transitioned from an outdated “link farm” to a modern, structured portal design, improving usability and accessibility.
✔ Integrated dynamic content such as job postings and event calendars using plugins to enhance relevance and engagement.
✔ Used Doorbell for real-time user feedback, continuously refining navigation and content placement based on student needs.
✔ Achieved 1 million+ portal visits within six months, demonstrating strong adoption and usability.
Meridian Community College (Kelley Gonzales) - Streamlined Access & Departmental Efficiency
Initial Goals & Design Philosophy:
✔ Design a Clean, User-Friendly Interface that includes a My Apps section for one-click access to critical tools like Canvas, email, Teams, and Degree Works.
✔ Establish a Role-Based Portal to separate student and employee portals, reducing clutter and tailoring content (e.g., HR workflows for staff, academic tools for students).
✔ Reduce dependency on IT for routine updates and ensure easy access to essential resources.
✔ Create a visually engaging and highly functional portal that streamlines workflows.
Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Content Management:
✔ Centralized updates under Communications & Marketing due to limited IT bandwidth but retained departmental input.
✔ Moved HR and business office resources (payroll, facilities ticketing) into the portal for employee self-service.
✔ Integrated customized notifications and announcements to improve communication efficiency.
Key Achievements:
✔ Developed a clean, user-friendly interface with a My Apps section, streamlining access to essential tools and improving usability.
✔ Successfully implemented a structured Role-Based Portal that reduced clutter and ensured relevant content for both students and employees.
✔ Reduced IT workload by enabling self-service access to HR and business office resources while maintaining efficiency.
✔ Enhanced engagement with integrated social media feeds (Facebook, Instagram) and real-time updates to keep users informed.
✔ Received overwhelmingly positive feedback on portal usability and design, leading to increased adoption and satisfaction.
