If, like 35,000 others, you've used MyUCDavis, you know that it is a personalized Web site, also known as a portal that gives you access to campus  information and personalized services. What you may not know is that ten years ago, before computers were virtually on every desk and before email was a main form of communication, the campus did maintain a number of computerized systems and was already seeking a way to integrate them just as MyUCDavis has. Indeed in 1993, long before MyUCDavis, was  CWIS, the "Campus Wide Information System,"

While ten years apart, CWIS and MyUCDavis share the same objective: to integrate several resources and services, thereby creating a single entry point into UC Davis information and services. The differences between the two systems, however, are monumental, both in how the systems are accessed and the information and services they provide. The division between the two systems is founded on the technology available at each time. In 1993, the text-based, key-driven CWIS system was considered state-of-the art. Today, the Web-based MyUCDavis brings you "point-and-click" personalized information and services with graphics and interactive features in a secure login environment.

The CWIS interface looked much like a directory on your computer.  It contained a long list of folders with files you could download to your computer.  With CWIS, you could not use a mouse. You needed to scroll the page using your Up and Down arrow keys and open a folder or download a file by hitting the Return key on your keyboard. And, you could not skip around from page to page rapidly without getting lost because there was no navigation that followed you around as there is with most Web sites today.

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MyUCDavis, on the other hand, allows you to access information and services from a Web browser.  By simply pointing to tabs and links and clicking your mouse, a function we now take for granted, the system brings up information and services that pertain to you , your job functions, and various personal preferences. The availability of resources MyUCDavis provides each one of us is what makes it so convenient. For example, if you needed Internet software such as Eudora or Norton-Antivirus (assuming any versions of those products existed) ten years ago, CWIS would have given you  the contact information of the person who could supply you with that software and you would have had to contact that person to pick up the software media. Today, on the other hand, you can download—and even purchase—software directly from MyUCDavis while sitting by your computer at your own desk.

UC Davis Information Systems: A Brief Comparison of CWIS (1993) and MyUCDavis (2003)

	CWIS (1993)	MyUCDavis (2003)
Interface
Phone Directory information	The Blue Pages of the campus phone directory (listing departments only)	Individual and departmental listings can be accessed and searched via the portal.
Software information	How-to documents and UCD software license information	The ability to purchase and/or download site-licensed software
Campus maps	scanned images of UC Davis campus maps	Easy interface for searching the World Wide Web and UC Davis Web sites to retrieve maps, contact info, and directions to locations on campus.
Campus information and events	A calendar of events, seminars, and colloquia from campus newspapers and research projects	Access to several information "channels" maintained by campus departments and organizations, which include: Campus calendars and events Campus news and information, (including access to the Web-based edition of Dateline) Campus library services Contracts and grants administration for Principal Investigators Online dictionary and thesaurus Current weather conditions Several world news and entertainment channels Planner and task list Much, much more
In addition, MyUCDavis brings you: Web-based email 100 MB of file space you can use to share and store files Your retirement, benefits, direct deposit, etc. information Several options to personalize the pages of your portal for efficiency and aesthetics Course management tools for faculty that include Website builder Online GradeBook Quiz Builder Several communication tools including class mailing list and discussion board creation Much, much more Business tools for staff that include: DaFIS and PPS decision support The ability to place FedEx and central storehouse orders And again, much, much more.

Given the tremendous changes we've seen in online services in the past ten years, coupled with the speed at which advances in technology are made, one can only wonder what will be available to the campus ten years from now.  If you would like more information about MyUCDavis, including upcoming training sessions and how-tos, see the "Quick Resources" section on the MyUCDavis login page at http://my.ucdavis.edu. Best of all, the portal is always developing and changing to suit the campus' needs. The portal development team welcomes feedback and invites you to help mold the next ten years for MyUCDavis. Contact myucdavis@ucdavis.edu.

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