1. Using Online Faculty Directories:
Faculty Concerns Along With
Benefits
Kathryn Baker Parks
Director of Academic Information
Sam M. University of Arkansas of Business
University of Arkansas

2. University of Arkansas Directory
Visibility
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
Pageviews
Advising Directory GPA Calculator Business Major Details Current Student Page Career Services
Directory
Advising
Career
Student
Majors
GPACalc.
University of Arkansas Page Views (September 2013-2014). Excludes home page.

3. The Traditional Approach
Department of Music | J. William Fulbright
College of Arts and Sciences | University of
Arkansas

4. Update My
Profile Page!!!
Faculty Web Developer
Sure, once I get
to the rest of
the requests.
Where does the data come from?

5. Directory
Research
Interests
Teaching
Interests Bio
Photo
Education
Links
Social
Media
Articles
Honors
Modern Directories

6. Solution: Web Services
User Controlled Data

7. A Better Way
 Faculty (and staff) can update directory
information in real time by logging into
Activity Insight.
 Benefits: Instant Updates, Time Savings
For Administrative Staff, Up-To-Date
Information

8. Giving Users A Choice

9. Cons of User Controlled Data
 Typos!
 Consistency
 Unenthusiastic Users

10. Solutions
 Typos
 Periodic Review of Data
 Consistency
 Clear College Branding Document
 Plan Your Database Structure
 Add Formatting Consistency With Code

11. Solutions – Unenthusiastic Users
I don’t do
data entry!!!

12. “Don’t persuade, defend or interrupt.
Be curious, be conversational, be
real. And listen.” –Elizabeth Lesser

13. Solutions – Uncooperative Users
 Find energetic new users. Let them share
their excitement and knowledge with
colleagues.
 Listen to user concerns.
 Be flexible.
 Be conversational. Share your excitement.
 Provide one-on-one training.

14. What’s Next?
Future
Online
Directory
Updates
Single Data Source: Eliminate Deans Office
Database and incorporate into Activity
Insight
Add Staff to Activity Insight for online
directory purposes
Export Additional Data: current classes
taught, office hours, secondary contact,
additional social media links.

15. Kathryn Baker Parks
kbaker@walton.uark.edu
(479) 575-6090
kbakerparks (twitter)
Don’t persuade,
defend or
interrupt. Be
curious, be
conversational, be
real. And listen.”
-Elizabeth Lesser