Bulldog Connect will make the switch over to Ferris360 in January.
Bulldog Connect has been a landing page for registered student organizations to post any information, allowing them to register, make events and post their meeting spots and times.
If you have questions about a particular RSO, they will likely be answered on Bulldog Connect. If unanswered, a provided contact will answer for you. However, in January, Ferris360 will host all the features of Bulldog Connect.
Ferris students can look on Bulldog Connect for any events happening on campus. On the event page, it shows events held by the university and any RSOs.
The transition has been discussed for a year and a half after a survey was sent out to get students’ thoughts on Bulldog Connect.
RSO and Greek Life Coordinator Josh Olszewski said the discussion of a change happened after a survey was sent out.
“After surveying students, we found they thought Bulldog Connect was okay, but not the best platform,” Olszewski said. “Ferris360 already hosts tools students regularly use, like Canvas, tuition payments and grades.”
Ferris360’s “groups” will be used in place of Bulldog Connect. This way, everything will be on one platform for students.
Information security and intelligence major Seth Brott is on the executive board for two RSOs. He has utilized Bulldog Connect, mainly for a roster for the RSOs.
Brott has also used Bulldog Connect to hold an event, yet he noted no increase in attendance. All of the information on his RSOs is located on Bulldog Connect, including meeting locations, mission plans and what the RSO does.
He also directed people who had any questions to Bulldog Connect. He is unsure how the transition will go, mostly because he believes students are unfamiliar with what they can do on Ferris360.
“I think the transition to Bulldog Connect to Ferris360 will start giving people more of a reason to be there,” Brott said. “From looking around on Ferris360, I think it’s been supported well, and it’s just a matter of seeing what people will do with it.”
Ferris360 is a newer platform introduced in the past year, so some students may still be unfamiliar with it. It has Canvas, Ebill and any other required resource via the search bar.
Associate Dean of Student Life and Director of Student Community Standards Nicholas Campau is excited about the change.
“The experiments we’ve done with 360 [Ferris360] have been promising, and we’re excited to consolidate platforms,” Campau said. “Plus, it’s efficient—we’ll no longer pay for a separate system.”
There will mostly be the same features offered on Ferris360, but the addition of a discussion wall on profiles. This addition will make Ferris360 more of a social media platform, rather than a student lookup tool.
“Ferris360 will offer a more dynamic experience,” Olszewski said. “Profiles will now have a discussion wall, making it easier to join clubs and interact—almost like a social media platform. Bulldog Connect was more static in comparison.”
Organizations do not need to do anything particular to prepare for the transition. All of their information will transfer over by the time students return from winter break.
“Over winter break, we’ll give student leaders access to their new profiles,” Olszewski said. “By January 13th, everything will be ready for RSOs to post and register events.”
The Center for Student Involvement is the hub for all RSOs and Greek life, connecting students with organizations and events.
“Ferris 360 also has a mobile app, which Bulldog Connect didn’t have, so that’s a nice feature to explore,” Campau said.
There will be transition workshops for students and student leaders to prepare for the change to Ferris360. These workshops will be hosted by the Center for Student Involvement, with dates coming later.