Contents

Release Scope  

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Release Summary & Strategy

The CCCApply Release 6.2.0 combines the efforts of three project teams, closely coordinated to support the CCCApply 2018 annual update traditional fall release, which primarily consists of the development and integration of the new version of the CCCApply Administrator 2.0 and the launch of a new shared SSO-based staff and faculty "user and access management" system called the CCC Administrator. 

Overall, Minimal Changes to CCCApply Applications - No New Required Data Fields

The good news is there are very few changes to the CCCApply applications themselves in this release. There are no new required questions or data fields that need to be added to data downloads. We took advantage of this release to fix a long list of bugs and technical debt issues across Apply, Promise Grant, and International which are listed below (by Application).   

New Spam Filter Web Service 

However, one new service being added to the CCCApply Standard application - the Spam Filter Web Service - is being implemented to combat the large number of fraudulent applications coming in through the Standard application. This service does have a required user component that colleges will need to monitor regularly in order to ensure the machine-learning prediction model behind the service continues to grow, learn and identify fraud as the spammers change their tactics to avoid being detected. This service sits in the post-submission application pipeline and will not affect the user experience; however colleges will be given training on how to monitor and process spam applications through the new CCCApply Administrator 2.0 as part of their implementation & UAT session.

Release Strategy

Pilot Release & Recurring Updates

Due to the tight timeline for this release, the Pilot Preview period has been reduced to two weeks from the Production release on December 7.

• November 19 (Pilot 1.0):  Initial Pilot environment deployment

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Pilot User Acceptance Testing Plan

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Data Dictionaries & Release Documentation

The following links point to the most current versions of the CCCApply Data Dictionaries and User Guides.

Changes to the OpenCCC Account

The following changes were implemented in the 6.2.0 release. 

Update logic and text in the Birthdate <birthdate> field to allow users under the age of 13 to create an OpenCCC Account

Per clarification of the COPPA laws, students under the age of 13 are eligible to create an OpenCCC account as the purpose of the account is related to educational institutions, and the educational journey of the student, and required to apply to a California Community College. 

Removed logic that prevents users under the age of 13 to create an OpenCCC Account based on their date of birth.

Changes to the CCCApply Standard & International Applications

purpose of this release is to deploy the highly anticipated Ethnicity-Ancestry Expansion Project implementation - approved and sponsored by the Chancellor's Office in support of the Student Equity Planning workgroup's research to close the gap in student equity. This feature enhancement was scheduled to be included in the September 2018 release (6.2.0) as part of the initial CCCApply Redesign deployments; however it was postponed in order to honor our commitment to implement this change free from any impact to the colleges IT staff.  The new Race & Ethnicity Implementation 2018 includes: one new, optional data field to collect all the new response options included in the expansion (Race Ethnicity Full); a new streamline layout to the Race & Ethnicity section in the Standard & International applications; and 194 new race and ethnicity-ancestry checkbox options in an accordion-style format.

• To read the approved change request: 2018-18R: New Race & Ethnicity Implementation 2018
• To reach the research background information: Ethnicity/Ancestry Expansion Project
• For step by step UAT guide: UAT: Race & Ethnicity Implementation 2018

Also in this release:

• User-interface styling upgrade across OpenCCC and all CCCApply applications for the purpose of aligning our look and feel to the CCCMyPath student portal.
• The annual CC Promise Grant Application for 2019-2020 is also being deployed, which will be active for colleges on January 1, 2019.
  
  

Pilot Preview

Due to the short timeline for this release, the Pilot preview period - the period in which our two external-facing CCCApply environments are not aligned, providing colleges user preview and implementation support prior to an upcoming production release - will begin Monday, November 19 through December 7, 2018. The CCCApply Support Services team will be monitoring feedback on the CCCTechnology.info support site and additional online support documentation and training will be available.

Release Schedule & Timeline

• November 20 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM (Note the Pilot Site will be down during this release).
• December 14 - 6:00PM - 11:00PM - Production Maintenance Window

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Changes to the CCCApply Standard Application

The following changes and enhancements were approved for development and implemented in the 6.3.0 release code.

Changes to the International Application (BOG)

The following changes were approved and implemented in the 6.3.0 release code.

Changes to "Glue for Apply" and the SuperGlue College Adapter

Changes to the Promise Grant Application (BOG)

The following changes were implemented in the 6.2.0 release code.2019-2020 CC Promise Grant Application was updated and deployed to the BOG database in this release. It will be enabled automatically on January 1, 2019 for those colleges who've adopted the online Promise Grant Application. 

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Changes to the Download Client

Changes to the CCCApply Download Client

 The following data field has been added to the CCCApply Standard & International submitted_applications databases. Please see specific implementation steps to update your Format XML files and download client below.

CCCApply Data Field Information  

The table below provides an overview of all the Race & Ethnicity section data fields in CCCApply Standard, International, and "Glue for Apply".

User Acceptance Testing (Pilot)

User acceptance testing and implementation support for this release is focused on the Race & Ethnicity Implementation 2018. Colleges are encouraged to preview the new implementation in the Pilot Environment on November 20 upon completion of the Pilot deployment activities.  For all release announcements and system alerts, please follow "CCCApply System Alerts" on CCCTechnology.info.

• UAT GOALS & OBJECTIVES 
• UAT SUCCESS CRITERIA
• UAT STEPS
  • Testing in the Pilot Environment
  • Data Field Specifications & Mapping
    

Feedback & Resolution Process 

• Feedback should be categorized as bugs and enhancements. Only Severity 1 issues (issues that prevent critical business functions from being accomplished) will be considered as release blockers.
• Reporting: User feedback should be noted in the result section. The following criteria should be followed and documented:
  • Any identified bugs with severity and priority 
  • Enhancement requests with priority identified

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Data Dictionaries & Release Documentation

The following links point to the most current versions of the CCCApply Data Dictionaries and User Guides.