Navigating WaveNet: Features, Challenges, and the Future of Pepperdine's Web Portal

Pepperdine University's WaveNet portal is designed to be a starting point and gateway for the community to access commonly used information and services. The transition to WaveNet, driven by a school-wide upgrade to the PeopleSoft Enterprise suite, aimed to modernize the university's online infrastructure. While some welcome the change, others express frustration and confusion, highlighting the need for improvements and better user support.

The Rationale Behind WaveNet

The decision to move to WaveNet was made approximately two years ago by Pepperdine University management teams, including the Board of Regents, University Management Committee, Executive Vice Presidents, as well as President Andrew K. Benton. According to Jones, the move to WaveNet was not necessarily a result of problems with PepXpress, but rather that Pepperdine had outgrown the PepXpress technology.

Hung Le, associate vice president and university registrar, agrees that WaveNet allows for more access in a single sign-on. This consolidation of resources is intended to streamline the user experience and provide a more efficient way to access important information.

Student Perspectives: Confusion and Frustration

Despite the intended improvements, many students have experienced confusion with WaveNet. Some students who were familiar with PepXpress have found it difficult to navigate the new portal and locate specific functions and information. Sophomore Adam Cargioli admitted, "I still haven’t quite figured it out yet."

One common complaint is the difficulty in finding specific information. Students report that searching the channels often leads them through a maze of pages. This navigational challenge can be time-consuming and frustrating, hindering students' ability to quickly access the resources they need.

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Lingering Affection for PepXpress

The difficulties with WaveNet have led many students to continue using the older PepXpress system, even though it is officially defunct. One student expressed a preference for PepXpress, stating, "I just prefer PepXpress." The continued reliance on PepXpress underscores the need for WaveNet to address the usability issues that are driving students back to the old system.

Key Issues and Proposed Solutions

Several specific issues have been identified as contributing to student frustration with WaveNet:

Navigation: The overall symptom associated with the change to WaveNet has been confusion, as students who once knew their ways around PepXpress have had a hard time figuring out where certain functions and information is located. It is important to make navigation more intuitive and user-friendly.
Lack of a "Select All" Tool: The absence of a "Select All" tool is an exasperating problem.

To address these issues, the following solutions have been proposed:

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Online Tutorial: To better acquaint students with the portal, an online tutorial should be offered.
Prioritize Navigation Improvements: Making simple improvements in navigation as soon as possible would be a wise investment.

Faculty Perspectives and Functionality

WaveNet also serves as a crucial tool for faculty, providing access to important resources such as class rosters and grading systems. Here's an overview of some key faculty-related functionalities within WaveNet:

Accessing and Managing Class Rosters

Accessing the Roster: In WaveNet, select the Faculty Tab. Verify that the correct academic term is selected.
Photo Roster: Scroll to the bottom of the Photo Roster. Do not skip this step!
Downloading the Roster: When the selected roster pops up, click the download icon in the table heading. Your browser's download process should start, based on the download preferences you have set.
Printing the Roster:
- In Google Chrome, select the three-dots icon at the top right. Select Print. Verify that the correct printer has been selected. If necessary, select More Options and adjust the checkboxes as needed (i.e. "Selection only").
- In Mozilla Firefox, select the three-lines icon at the top right. Select Print. Verify that the correct printer has been selected. If necessary, select More Settings. Under the "Format" heading, choose Selection.
Class Roster Audit: Faculty are required to submit a Class Roster Audit to the Registrar's Office for processing. You will receive a confirmation message upon successful submission.

Grading and Grade Submission

Accessing Grade Rosters: The Grade Roster icon will not appear if the grading period is not open. Verify that the correct academic term is selected.
Assigning Grades: For each student, select the appropriate grade from the Roster Grade drop-down menu to the right of their name.
Saving Grades: After all the grades have been entered, click the Save button at the bottom of the roster. Note that saving grades does not mean they are immediately posted; grades are not official until the Registrar's Office has posted them.
Verifying Grades: After saving, carefully verify that all assigned grades are accurate.
Addressing Errors: If there is an error, contact the Registrar's Office immediately.

Important Reminders for Faculty

Logging Out: If you are done using WaveNet, select the Log Out link at the top right to end your session.
Grade Submission Timing: Remember that grades are not officially submitted until the Registrar's Office posts them. Ensure timely submission to avoid delays.

Navigate: A Complementary Planning Tool

Pepperdine also offers Navigate, a planning tool designed to help students prepare for registration and academic success. Navigate is accessible via WaveNet and offers several features for both students and faculty:

Key Features of Navigate

Academic Planning: Navigate includes the Academic Planner, which helps students create a roadmap to completing their degree on time. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to create an academic plan that works best for them.
Accessing the DAR: Students can use WaveNet to access their Degree Audit Report (DAR).
Faculty Access: Faculty can access Navigate Staff via WaveNet.

Important Considerations for Navigate

Four-Year Plans: The app cannot be used to create a four-year plan automatically.
Suggestions: Navigate may provide suggestions, but these should be discussed with an advisor.

The Future of WaveNet

WaveNet is a work in progress, and further changes are on the horizon. The university is expected to continue investing in the portal to improve its functionality and user-friendliness. By addressing the current challenges and incorporating user feedback, WaveNet can become a valuable tool for the entire Pepperdine community.

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