Page Comparison

Release Date

Description	Date
Release No.	5.5.0
Date	09.29.16
Time	6:00PM - 11:00PM PST
Type	Mid-Year Release Maintenance Window
Changes to Download Client	Yes
Changes to Residency Logic	Yes

Release Scope

Description	Scope
Applications	CCCApply Standard Application CCCApply International Application OpenCCC Student Account System Shibboleth V3 Upgrade
Changes to Download Client	Yes
Changes to Residency Logic	Yes

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Pre-Release Summary & Pilot Site Information

Per the new CCCApply Communication Policy, colleges will be notified of any planned changes to the OpenCCC and CCCApply student applications 60 days prior to the production release. In addition, a pre-release version of the changes will be rolled to the Pilot environment 30 days prior to the release date.

The Pre-Release Summary below outlines the planned changes that will be available for preview on the Pilot Site beginning August 26, 2016 at 6:00PM PST.

The production release is scheduled for September 29, 2016 at 6:00PM PST.

Pre-Release Summary

Below is a high-level summary of the enhancements that will be released to production on September 29, 2016. These changes will be available to preview in the Pilot environment for 30 days, beginning August 26, 2016 at 6:00PM PST. Pre-release specifications are hyperlinked in the tables below, and a technical guide will be available on August 26 for implementation support.

OpenCCC Account

The following enhancements are planned for the OpenCCC Account system. There are no actions required by colleges.

Change Specification / Technical Notes

Summary

New Download Data Fields or Change to the Download File

Change to Logic

OpenCCC Shibboleth IdP Upgrade to Version 3.0

When students sign-in to their OpenCCC Accounts to start or edit a CCCApply application, the identity provider software that secures the gateway to their account data, Shibboleth, is being upgraded from version 2.x to 3.0. This is a seamless upgrade and there will be no visible user interface change for users. Colleges do not have to take any action relative to this change.

Shibboleth is an open-source single sign-on (log-in) system for computer networks and the Internet. OpenCCC uses Shibboleth as its federated gateway to secure student account data (CCCID and personal identity information). Shibboleth v3.x will allow students and college staff to sign-in to multiple secure web applications run by CCC Technology Center using just one username and password.

Enhancement to OpenCCC Account Recovery:
Password Reset by Email Link

In an effort to reduce the number of incoming support requests from students to the OpenCCC Helpdesk for Account Recovery, we are implementing a new 24/7 self-serve option for students to reset their password through a secure URL sent to the user’s email address.

In an effort to reduce the number of incoming calls and emails to the CCC Helpdesk from students for account recovery support, a new option is being implemented to the Account Recovery process to allow students - who can verify their Username, but forgot their Password - to bypass their security questions and go directly to the Password Reset page with a secure URL link sent to their email account. The link will be valid for 24 hours from the time it is requested.

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Mini-Grants Available to Support College Shibboleth V3 Upgrades

The single sign-on IdP used to access the CCCApply Administrator and the CCC Report Center is also being upgraded to version 3.0. The upgraded version of Shibboleth (v3) is backwards compatible with version 2.x at this time; however the CCC Technology Center encourages colleges using Shibboleth as their SAML-compliant IdP software to consider upgrading to version 3.x in the near future.

NOTE: Colleges participating in any of the CCC Tech Center pilot programs and/or statewide technology initiatives, including but not limited to MyPath Portal, CCCAssess, Course Exchange, or Canvas Course Management System, will be required to upgrade to Shibboleth version 3.0 in order allow for student single sign-on across multiple web applicatoins. Mini-grant funds are available to help pilot colleges upgrade using an approved vendor.

For more information about upgrading your existing IdP with CCCTC mini-grant funds, contact Keith Franco, kfranco@ccctechcenter.org.

CCCApply Standard Application

The following enhancements are planned for the CCCApply applications.

Click on the Change Specification / Technical Notes hyperlinks in the table below to see the detailed changes planned for each item. A "Pilot" version of the CCCApply Standard Application Data Dictionary will accompany the release to Pilot on 8.26.16, and will be published in the Production version of the Data Dictionary on September 29, 2016.

Change Specification / Technical Notes

Summary

New Download Data Fields or Change to the Download File

Change to Residency Logic

New Data Fields to Support Multiple Measures for Assessment Placement

**OPTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION**

Changes or New Requirements mandated by the Steering Committee on 7/12/16:

This implementation MUST BE OPTIONAL. Colleges will have to "opt-in" to participate. Default set to NOT DISPLAY this section unless college opts- in. (Common Assessment Pilot colleges may opt-in as part of their pilot requirements; to be determined by the CCCAssess Program Manager).
Add condition to "Conditions for High School Transcript Information" section: to only display section/questions if the high school completion date is within 10 years of the RDD. (hs_comp_date < RDD minus 10 years).
Add disclaimer text to the new "High school transcript" section stating that the collection of this data will not be used to determine admission eligibility.
"College staff uses this information to provide guidance. Your responses will not affect your admission to college."
Ensure every question has an option for "None of the Above / Don't Know" so that student is not blocked from completing question. In the case of the GPA input field, add the following statement to the question text: "If unsure, please estimate." (see spec details below).
Use masking to eliminate error messages wherever possible.
Remove additional onscreen question text where specified (Questions 2, 4, and 6).
Ensure that these questions only appear on the Review Application page if the college opts-in for implementation.
Ensure these questions only appear on the Submitted Application PDF only if the college opts-in for implementation.

<grade_point_average>
<highest_english_course>
<highest_english_course_grade>
<highest_math_course_taken>
<highest_math_course_taken_grade>
<highest_math_course_passed>
<highest_math_course_passes_grade>

Add Missing Step to Area B Residency Logic for Classification of Non-Residents (B0)

A missing step is being added to the Area B residency logic to correct issues identified regarding California residents who report an out-of-state activity, such as paying taxes outside the state within the last two years. The fix will ensure that these students are correctly classified as “B2 - possible residents” in the final area calculation.

A new integrity flag data field is being added:
<integrity_fg_30>

Changes were made to the Area B residency logic. See Changes to Residency Logic in the Change Specification.

Revised High School/College Finder Widgets

The High School Finder (and College Finder) advanced search widgets which appear on the Education page of the Standard and International Applications were revised to comply with 508/WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility requirements for supported OS/Browser/Screen Readers. The technical changes implemented will allow students using screen readers and/or other assistive technologies to use the widget to look up high schools and colleges without difficulty.

Bug Fixes

OpenCCCApply PILOT Site

Pilot Applications

Remember to include your college's MIS code to the end of each application URL.

PILOT Application	NEW PILOT Application URL
PILOT CCCApply Standard Application URL	https://pilot.opencccapply.net/cccapply-welcome?cccMisCode=XXX *Replace the XXX with your college MIS code.
PILOT BOG Application URL	https://pilot.bog.opencccapply.net/gateway/bog?cccMisCode=XXX *Replace the XXX with your college MIS code.
PILOT International Application URL	https://pilot.intl.opencccapply.net/gateway/intl?cccMisCode=XXX *Replace the XXX with your college MIS code.

Pilot Download Servers URL Attributes

Include the following URL attributes in your PILOT Job XML files. For more information, refer to the Download Client User Guide.

Application	PILOT DOWNLOAD URL
PILOT CCCApply Standard Application	https://pilot.admin.openccc.net:8443/ccctransfer
PILOT BOG Application	https://pilot.admin.openccc.net:8443/ccctransferbog
PILOT International Application	https://pilot.admin.openccc.net:8443/ccctransferintl

Enhancements

OpenCCC Account Recovery: Password Reset by Email Link

In an effort to reduce the number of incoming support calls for OpenCCC account recovery to the OpenCCC Helpdesk, we are implementing a new 24/7 self-serve option for students to reset their password through a secure URL sent to the user’s email address.

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Problem: To access CCCApply, or any secure CCC application, students must first have an OpenCCC account. If the student is new to OpenCCC, they are prompted to create a new account. If the student already has an OpenCCC account (CCCID), they must either Sign-In, or go through the Recover Account process. Currently, to recover a forgotten password, the only option is to answer the security questions created during account creation.

Solution: With this new option, students can click on a secure URL link in an email which will take them directly to the Reset Password page, bypassing the security questions. The URL must be used within 24 hours of the request.

New Data Fields to Support Multiple Measures (SB1456)

In support of state legislation AB743, which calls for an systemwide assessment system be developed to include multiple measures for placement, and SB1456, which calls for the gathering of multiple measures data, the Common Assessment Initiative (CAI) has requested a series of data field questions be added to the CCCApply Standard Application in order to collect self-reported, high school transcript information for assessment placement purposes for the CCCAssess program. Seven (7) new questions and downloadable data fields will be added to the Education page of the Standard Application only.

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Collecting transcript data at the time of application for admission facilitates a solution to a very difficult task of obtaining good data otherwise. We believe we can streamline and limit the questions to just those students who need placement. The CCCAssess pilot program includes 59 California Community Colleges who will begin testing the new common assessment platform on September 20, 2016.

Adoption and implementation of these questions is 100% OPTIONAL. If your college would like to "Opt-In" to participate, please contact John Hadad, Product Manager, CCCAssess, jhadad@ccctechcenter.org.

Testing in Pilot Environment: Colleges that choose to implement these questions can preview the UI (user interface) and test the download client changes in the Pilot environment for 30 days prior to the September 20, 2016 release. Colleges must "opt-in" in order to participate. Please contact Patty Donohue, Product Manager, pdonohue@ccctechcenter.org, or John Hadad, CAI Product Manager, jhadad@ccctechcenter.org.

Changes to the Download Client

The following fields have been added to the Download Client. To add them to your download file, update your Download Format XML files, as indicated.

The data fields included in the Multiple Measures for Assessment Placement - the “opt-in implementation” - are being added to the Download Client, as well as and the Report Center. All new fields are optional and do not have to be added to your download file; however, if you want to collect this dataAll fields will also be available in the Report Center. Data Fields for Assessment Placement

Description	Data Field	Format	Notes
Grade Point Average	grade_point_average	(varchar 5)	Optional Education page implementation
HIghest English Course Taken	highest_english_course	(integer)	Optional Education page implementation
Highest English Course Grade	highest_english_grade	(varchar 2)	Optional Education page implementation
Highest Math Course Taken	highest_math_course_taken	(integer)	Optional Education page implementation
Highest Math Course Grade	highest_math_taken_grade	(varchar 2)	Optional Education page implementation
Highest Math Course Passed	highest_math_course_passed	(integer)	Optional Education page implementation
Highest Math Passed Grade	highest_math_passed_grade	(varchar 2)	Optional Education page implementation
Integrity Flag 30	integrity_fg_30	varchar2	Residency: Integrity Flags
Enrollment Term Description	enroll_term_description	100	International Application Enrollment Page
Major Description	major_description	100	International Application Enrollment Page
Term Start Date	term_startdate		Standard Application
Term End Date	term_enddate
No First Name	no_firstname	integer	Account
No Middle Name	no-middlename	integer	Account
No SSN	ssn_no	integer	Account

Changes to Residency Logic

Update Area B Residency Logic for “Possible” Residents (B2)

The Area B residency logic is being updated to fix a problem with non-resident and “possible” residents being incorrectly classified as “residents” in certain use cases, including the California resident who has also answered “yes” to one of the four “out-of-state” indicators on the residency page in the standard application. The correction will change the “IF NO” column of Step 1 from “B0 and go to step 2” to “Set B2 and go to step 2”. We will also add a new integrity flag (30) to alert Admissions that the user has an “out-of-state” indicator (such as they paid taxes outside of California within the past two years). This change will ensure that these applicants end up as “B2 = Possible Resident. Proof required” or “B0 = Nonresident. Does not meet residency criteria” when they reach the final classification (Step 13).

What action does the college need to take?

There is no required action on the part of the college. However, you may want to review any rules created to ensure this change will not adversely affect any processes previously set up by your college. This change does not affect any data field calculations.

Versions Compared

Old Version 22

New Version 23

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