Implementation Checklist

Updated November 14, 2022 15:20

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Implementation Project Plan

The implementation checklist is a customizable project plan for building out all essential operations in Slate. You can leverage the implementation checklist from the Implementation/Cycle Prep Status Page or download it to manage your work in excel.

Onboarding

🔲	Complete the Technical Details form.
🔲	Complete all items in the Getting Started Guide (DNS, SSL, SSO, DKIM).
🔲	Provision user accounts for Fundamentals course attendees.
🔲	Users self-register for and complete the Fundamentals course in Learning Lab.
🔲	Finalize agreement.

Your Team and Timeline

🔲	IMPLEMENTATION CALL: Attend the Getting Started with Slate Community Conversation
🔲	Assign Slate Captains.
🔲	Define project scope and catalog your processes, needs, expected integrations, and deadlines.
🔲	Develop a detailed project plan.
🔲	Develop project team and assign responsibilities.
🔲	Schedule regular team meetings.
🔲	Initiate conversations with IT about integration with SIS.
🔲	Initiate conversations with academic departments and other campus stakeholders.

Set Up for Success

🔲	Add PING code to institutional web pages.
🔲	Review Configuration Keys for high-level settings for your instance.
🔲	Consider how you will collect Payments through Slate: using Slate Payments or a third-party provider.
🔲	Create additional users as necessary.
🔲	When Fundamentals coursework is complete, provision the Slate Showcase environment within the Clean Slate space.
🔲	TIP: Build in Production! Then re-provision the test production to iterate on transactional work.
🔲	IMPLEMENTATION CALL: Attend Community Conversations weekly.
🔲	Explore available resources.
🔲	Customize default Slate University branding with your institutional branding.
🔲	Change "Message Group" name from Slate University to your institution name.

Fields and Prompts

🔲	Create a spreadsheet of Fields and Prompts, indicating which exist in Slate versus what must be custom-made for your institution.
🔲	Create (or import) custom fields.
🔲	Add (or import) custom prompts.
🔲	"Refresh the Quartet": refresh the cache on Fields, Prompts, Slate Template Library, and Configurable Joins Library each time you create new entries.

Inquiry Form

🔲	Create a Request for Information (RFI) Form.
🔲	Create RFI Form Communications.
🔲	Create an internal entry form with an interaction selector.
🔲	Have each user create a test record.
🔲	Have each user begin to explore the Query tool.

Records

Person Records

🔲	Create Custom Tab(s) to display custom fields.
🔲	Create a Custom Dashboard for the Person record.
🔲	Create custom Tags as necessary.
🔲	Add Test Types from the Slate Template Library.
🔲	Create Custom Interactions and/or Activities.
🔲	Create any necessary fields of other scopes, such as Relationship or School.
🔲	Begin to consider Origin Sources.
🔲	Adjust Person Status rules as desired.
🔲	Automate Staff Assignment via rules.

Organizations, Org Contacts &Other Datasets

🔲	Add a list of applicants to the Organization record.
🔲	Finalize configuration of Organization Contacts dataset.
🔲	Consider creating a custom dataset such as CBO, Volunteers, or Churches.

Communications & Outreach

🔲	Recommended Community Conversations or webinars related to Deliver overview
🔲	Design email template(s) with responsive design.
🔲	Purchase deliver credits and provision service accounts.
🔲	Develop a Communication Plan outside of Slate.
🔲	Create Drip Marketing communication in Slate.
🔲	Create additional mailings as necessary.
🔲	Utilize Liquid Markup and mailing Content Blocks as necessary.
🔲	Develop a process for getting incoming email messages into Slate.
🔲	Configure Mobile SMS Inbox.
🔲	Prepopulate form links using Query String Parameters

Additional Communication Options (Optional)

🔲	Consider enrolling in Slate Print.
🔲	Develop a calling campaign.
🔲	Configure Slate Voice.
🔲	Consider Projects/Tasks.
🔲	Consider implementing Inbox.

Events

🔲	Create Event and Scheduler Templates.
🔲	Create Event and Scheduler Communications.
🔲	Add individual events and slots.
🔲	Configure Event Landing Pages/Portals.
🔲	Consider additional event options.
🔲	Create Trips.

Importing & Exporting Data

Upload Dataset

🔲	Add standard source formats from Slate Template Library.
🔲	Create service accounts for integrations access.
🔲	Create custom source formats as necessary.
🔲	Import Current Prospects.
🔲	Import Applicants.
🔲	Import documents.
🔲	Develop Process for Consolidate Records.
🔲	Develop Process for Batch Acquire.

Integration with SIS

🔲	Configure bi-directional integration with SIS.

Payments

🔲	Configure Slate Payments.
🔲	Configure a third-party payment processor.

Applications

Application Preparation- ALL Application Types

🔲	Recommended Community Conversations or Webinars: Periods & Rounds, Application Building, general Implementation Q&A call.
🔲	Create Application Period(s).
🔲	Create Application Round(s).
🔲	Create Application-scoped fields and prompts.

Imported Applications

🔲	Map fields and values for imported applications.
🔲	Configure additional related source formats.
🔲	Verify source format mappings with live test records in Test.
🔲	Create new source format(s) as necessary.

Application- Slate-Hosted Application

🔲	Add Application Base File from Slate Template Library and follow Application Building Checklist.
🔲	Customize standard application pages.
🔲	Create custom application pages.
🔲	Create page keys to show/hide application pages.
🔲	Configure hard/soft fails in application logic.
🔲	Create a custom recommendation form.
🔲	Automate application fee requirements via rules.
🔲	Consider application creation forms and/or direct round URLs.
🔲	Test the entire application.

Additional Application Configurations - ALL Application Types

🔲	Automate the application status via rules.
🔲	Configure additional application automation.
🔲	Create a custom application dashboard.
🔲	Add application status portal from Showcase.
🔲	Create System Emails.
🔲	Configure application sharing via Slate.org

Materials and Checklists

🔲	Create materials collected as part of the application.
🔲	Create checklist items.
🔲	Automate checklist assignment via rules.
🔲	Consider missing checklist item recurring email.
🔲	Consider importing Financial Aid Checklist items.

Reader

🔲	Recommended Community Conversations or Webinars: Reader Overview or general Implementation Q&A call.
🔲	Configure Reader Bins.
🔲	Automate bin movement via rules.
🔲	Configure Reader Tab Groups and Materials.
🔲	Create Reader Review Forms.
🔲	Configure Reader Dashboard.
🔲	Customize the Reader.
🔲	Configure Reader permissions.
🔲	Additional workflows?

Decisions

🔲	Recommended Community Conversation or Webinars: Decisions Overview or general Implementation Q&A call.
🔲	Create Decision Codes.
🔲	Create Decision Reasons.
🔲	Design Letter Templates.
🔲	Create Decision Reply Form.
🔲	Decision System Email.
🔲	Configure Decision Release Automation.
🔲	Develop a process for printing decisions, if applicable.
🔲	Configure payment account for Enrollment Deposit.
🔲	Consider importing Financial Aid Decision Letters.
🔲	Test Decision Release Process.

Users and Permissions

🔲	Recommended Community Conversation or Webinars: Permissions & Roles or general Implementation Q&A call.
🔲	Create roles, permissions, and exclusive permissions.
🔲	Population-based permissions.
🔲	Realms.
🔲	Import users.
🔲	Multi-Factor Authentication.

Training

🔲	Conduct Training for end-users.
🔲	Document your process.

Implementation Wrap-Up

🔲	Prep for "go-live."
🔲	Finalize Origin Sources.
🔲	Create homepage widgets.
🔲	Create reports.
🔲	Think about Cycle Prep. Attend Community Conversation: Transitioning to Cycle Prep.

Implementation Checklist.xlsx
(10 KB)