Constructing and Deploying Campus Portals in Higher Education

A portal is a doorway, a gate, or a means of entrance. For example, the local library is a portal for knowledge. In this age of the Internet, portal refers to a Web site that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, search engines, and online shopping malls (Webopedia, 2005). Like any project, portal development should observe the system development life cycle guidelines with activities including planning, analysis, design, implementation, and support. Launching a portal requires careful planning and strategizing. Analysis defines a portal’s requirements, determining its content and functionality. Design selects the appropriate software, platform, and architecture. Implementation makes the “build or buy” decision. Support is to maintain the portal, provide support, and perform upgrades.