Maxient & Advocate
During my two years in Student Conduct and Community Standards I learned how to navigate the conduct management system, Advocate. It was determined that due to a variety of reasons, Student Conduct was going to start using a new software system, Maxient. This transition was really the highlight of my winter term in my second year. The transition of all open cases into a new software was a daunting task. Maxient hosted a training for all people who would use the system in January. The actual transition of things into the new software did not happen until Spring Break. This was a large gap between training and then actually getting to work in the new system. Luckily, another Oregon State University employee hosted a ‘work party/training’ in housing that allowed all of the hearing officers to be in one room for a few hours being walked through how to input a case, make a decision, send letters, and close a case. There have been lots of hiccups in the learning curve. Our Conduct Whiz, Karen Sloan, has helped troubleshoot and tweak the system as we ask questions about functions. Maxient hasn’t quite made our lives easier as far as technology goes. I believe that this time next year, however, everyone will love the system and find it to be extremely helpful for filling report data about how many students we serve, the length of the process, and the prevalent type of charges. If i were implementing technology change in a future role, I am not sure how I would do it better than the current transition. I think maintaining a good attitude, digging in, being okay with making mistakes, and supporting those people who are being inundated with questions and requests is crucial.