4.9.1.0 Product Brief

Product Release Addendum Summary

This Product Brief Addendum includes a summary of 4.9.1.0 features and direction to additional documentation and information.  The last major release was 4.9.0.0. 

Product Release Description

This release update introduces Regent's new Student Experience: 

• Mobile friendly
• Highlights needed student actions
• Client controlled student-facing text
• Introductory components:
  • Financial Aid
  • Documents
  • Message Center
  • Useful Links (client controlled)

Other Documentation

In addition to the Product Brief, the following documentation is also available:

System Requirements

Any client currently using Regent Award may take the 4.9.1.0 version of Student Experience for UAT and ultimately production upgrade.

Any client currently using Regent Review may take the 4.9.1.0 version of Student Experience for UAT and ultimately production upgrade.

New Features Overview for the 4.9.1.0

The New Student Experience provides the opportunity for Regent to introduce a new look and feel for students built on a new highly scalable technology stack.  Responsive design supports student access via a desktop, tablet, or mobile device, and the mobile design is device agnostic with regard to Android vs iPhone. This initial release rolls out features for Regent Award and Regent Review.  This is our baseline for continued progress and enhancement of student-facing products and features. Additional features for Regent Plan and Regent Access will follow.

The Student Dashboard alerts students to needed actions and recent messages, and provides easy access to follow up on those actions and messages.

The Financial Aid component proactively identifies which awards require student attention, and provides quick 'click-through' access for students to accept full eligibility, direct cost amounts only, or a custom amount, or to decline an offered award. Remaining amounts available for partially accepted awards are called out for the student. Awards are divided into four categories: Gift Aid, Loans, Work, and Other, based on the client's funds configuration. Full estimated Cost of Attendance details are available to the student; and as students work through each award they will see a declining amount of Direct Costs remaining to be met.  Students can also drill down in each award to see Scheduled/Actual disbursement amounts and dates.

The Documents component highlights student document requirements with easy "click-through" access to those needing student attention. The e-sign process has been streamlined with fewer separate screens, and the e-sign option is promoted over the paper sign process which is also available.

The Message Center component highlights unread messages and provides the opportunity for students to reply to institution-initiated messages, to initiate their own messages about their financial aid, and to sort and filter their messages.

The Useful Links component provides clients full control over which links are displayed to students and over what information is provided to students about those links.

The Advisor Assist feature allows institution staff to view what the student is seeing and doing in Student Experience.

Clients control the introductory welcome panel language for each component.

Phased Beta Testing

Beta versions of the New Student Experience were planned for delivery in phased releases over the October/November time frame.  This approach was to provide earlier access to the main student-facing features and will allow for full testing of each of the many features.

Beta 1 Release Includes:

• Configuration including Portal Configurations/Theming
• Student Dashboard
• Useful Links component
• Financial Aid component
• Documents component
• User Account Management (Non-SSO)
• Message Center component

Beta 2 Release Includes the Beta 1 Release Items and:

• Portal Configurations/Theming
  
• Signature Process (Student Only)
• User Account Management (SSO)
• Verification Worksheet

Certified Release 4.9.1 Includes the Beta Release Items and:

• Parent Access/Signature
  
• Advisor Assist
• Communications (Account Creation/Parent Invitation/Password Reset Emails)  

Implementation of the New Student Experience

There is no licensing fee to move to the student-facing features of the new Student Experience for Regent Award and Regent Review.  Advisor Assist is covered under Regent Plan licensing.  There is a flat fee for implementation of the new Student Experience to cover costs associated with configuration, theming, and setup.  Contact your Account Manager for more information.

Students at institutions using single sign-on (SSO) will not be required to re-register in the new Student Experience.  Students at institutions not using SSO will be required to re-register, but will then be able to access any “in flight” verification worksheets as well as they current documents, awards, etc.  Set up of SSO is included in the implementation fee.

Regent will continue to host and monitor the current student portal through 2020.  Bugs reported in the current portal will be evaluated within the new Student Experience to ensure proper functioning in that environment.  Decisions about addressing bugs in the current student portal will be made on a case by case basis.  New development will be focused solely on the new Student Experience.