SlideRoom has just released a new form builder so that Administrators can build application forms. This interface features drag and drop and functionality to add questions, which also makes it easy to reorder questions later. Answer types include short text, long text, drop-downs, multiple choice and checkbox lists. The SlideRoom dev team has worked hard to display this powerful feature within a clean interface that is simple to use.
We are very excited to have just released the new Applicant Manager.
The SlideRoom team has been working all year to incorporate your feedback and implement new features that provide more power and flexibility. In addition to all the individual improvements, this release also represents a new foundation for future development.
The website has been updated with images and explanations of the new system, as well as added a YouTube Channel with a variety of video tutorials. While these videos are built into the system for your convenience, we also wanted to provide external access.
We launched the new system Tuesday night without 2 of the new features: The Form-builder and Letters of Reference. These will be added in the coming days. We just wanted to make sure that all of the pre-existing features translated perfectly before adding these very significant features on top.
We would love to hear your impressions. While we always love compliments, please let us know if you find any problems or if you have any suggestions for future enhancements. We look forward to hearing from you!
SlideRoom pricing is now more flexible. Please visit the new pricing page here to learn more about the details. As we have added features over the last 3 years, the system has grown from a simple portfolio manager to a complete applicant management system. Given all of these developments, our philosophy is that clients should be able to configure the system to meet their unique needs. While most organizations will choose to build their own plan, the “Portfolio Basic” and “Admissions Plus” are available as short-cuts to common configurations.
For some existing clients, the yearly renewal may reflect a price decrease; while other institutions using the new features may be see a small price increase. Please contact us if you would like to discuss any details related to pricing.
We are very proud to announce the NEW applicant manager is going to launch this Summer 2010. This release is a response to requests for every part of the application process to be online: Application Forms, Media, References and the Review/Administration of applicants. The new features and interface streamline various parts of the admissions process in one place. Some of the new features include: Email, References, a Form-Builder and a Search area that allows lists of applicants to be found/displayed according to your specific preferences.
(Note: the area where applicants apply is not changing during this release, only the administrative side is getting the update. Applicant portals are already fully equipped).
While SlideRoom is mostly known for how it handles multi-media, application forms are also a large part of the application process. So I wanted to offer some tips on gathering data (that most data managers may already know).
Keep form sections separate: Breaking up long forms into easy sections will prevent applicants from “melting” away during the process. Further, each section is actually a separate form, meaning it can be reused for other programs. If you have a set of questions that are common to multiple programs, keep these separate from questions that are unique to a particular program. This has two management benefits.
On the front end, it becomes easier to reuse preexisting forms, rather than making a new form for each program.
On the back end, the spreadsheets of data will be more organized across programs. Different programs with the same questions can now share columns of data. If you create a new form for each program, columns cannot be shared.
Make the title of each for semi-descriptive: If all your forms are named “Questions,” but they contain different questions, it becomes hard to stay organized over time. Which brings me to my third point, do you really need slightly different sets of questions?
Consolidate data needs across programs: This is the single biggest thing you can do to make administration easier. Often two different programs ask slightly different questions. See if you can get these to be the same. Not only will you generate benefits as mentioned above, but another huge benefit opens: moving applicants. We all know that applicants often apply to the wrong program, and so you need to move them into the correct program. This is no problem if they have the same form. But if the two programs have different requirements, problem.
Offer preselected answer options: When you give applicants a drop down, check box, etc … it not only makes it easier for them, but it gives your admins consistent data to work with. This data ends up in spreadsheets anyway, so why not have consistent data for sortable columns.
Don’t ask for data you don’t really need: This sounds obvious, but keeping things short can become difficult when there are many separate demands. For example, don’t ask for letters of reference from everyone, when only finalists need them. Perhaps you only need contact information? Another example, don’t ask applicants to answer questions that another system has already gathered for you. This is the wrong solution for your lack of database integration.
Hopefully these tips are helpful. As we give clients more control over form creation/management this year, we hope to promote good data practices.
Because applicants apply periodically, we thought it would be nice for administrators to get an email notification of new activity. Now administrators can opt in to receive a daily (or weekly) email containing a notification of newly completed submissions. The email displays applicants by program and lists their name/confirmation ID. This helps admins to know when to login and review portfolios!
The field of applicant tracking systems has a wide array of online options. I would like to define the spectrum of options to better illustrate where SlideRoom fits. The primary difference among these options is whether they are a common system or custom system.
There are many Common systems, like “CAFE” for public art or “Krop” for hiring graphic designers. These are application systems where applicants can post their portfolio and other text info (like a resume) to a common area to be reused over and over. This can be very efficient for the applicant apply for many events and helps the institutions advertise their opportunities.
On the other hand, you have Custom systems, where institutions get their own private system. These are fully customized with the institution’s branding and unique submission requirements (which may be highly customized). Typically, applicants go through this process once, and everything is discreet for that particular opportunity.
SlideRoom was born as custom system, but has elements of a common system. Primarily, we provide institutions with their own branded account which can be fully customized with unique requirements (application forms, media, supplementary items). However, any applicant that has gone through SlideRoom in the past, can use their same account for other institutions using a SlideRoom system. The system remembers the personal account information and portfolio. They can even build a new portfolio based on a library of their previous uploads to the unique requirements of each opportunity. This saves them time from uploading and labeling their portfolio again and again.
SlideRoom does not currently have a common directory where opportunities can be listed/advertised. However, we have heard many requests for this from the Public Art sector and from applicants in general. We do eventually plan to build this “open-mode” next year, and allow institutions to opt in/out of being listed.
SlideRoom provides a web-based applicant management system to gather & review application forms, media and more.
This blog is a discussion of our news and the growing role of technology in art, admissions, contests and more. If you have questions about our service or would like to contribute an opinion, contact us
