Gateway.slu.edu, Saint Louis University’s new Web portal, was
launched on Monday, Jan. 26. The portal is a tool that will allow
students, faculty and staff to become better connected to news,
events and people across campus.

The Gateway portal allows for instant information-sharing
throughout the University. The site allows each user to customize a
home page. Once logged into the system users can receive e-mails,
campus and personnel announcements, check individual or campus wide
calendars, access Webstar and much more.

To login to gateway.slu.edu, undergraduate students need to use
their SLU e-mail username and Webstar pin number.

Originally expected to launch in mid-September, the Gateway
portal experienced delays due to technology. “The delays were
technological mostly because the software was designed to work with
the Banner system,” said Michael Burks, director of academic IT
services.

The Banner system was to be the new information technology
system within the Gateway project linking areas of the University,
such as academic departments, financial aid and human resources,
together.

Since the portal was designed to work with the Banner system,
work was needed in order for Gateway to operate on the old system,
Burks said.

Gateway replaced the previous Web system, life.slu.edu. “In
terms of content and potential they are the same, but in terms of
how they are structured and operate, they are different,” Burks
said.

According to Burks, ITS has received several e-mails stating
that users really like the new portal, and are finding it useful.
Users have also made suggestions for new channels since the launch
last week.

Gateway allows for the University and its departments to
communicate specific information to groups of individuals and
individuals or organizations to form groups with the portal, thus
allowing people with similar interests to share information campus
wide. Several student organizations have already formed groups, and
ITS encourages all student organizations to form discussion groups
within the portal.

“We think that [the Gateway portal] is going to be a very useful
tool for people to use, and it will help students to find out what
is going on throughout campus and get involved,” Burks said.

Questions about Gateway or concerns with logging in should be
directed to Information Technology Services at 977-4000.