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The Knowledgebase

ISSS Integration Overview

SFTP

Terra Dotta will provide each client account with an SSH folder for the transmission of text-only SIS (Student Information System) data files. The client will provide a nightly SFTP of the SIS text file extract(s).

To learn more, see the following article: Transferring Data to Terra Dotta.

Estimated Effort: 2 hours to generate a public/private key pair and test the SFTP connection.

 

Custom URL

Both the public and post-login portions of the site will have a custom URL using the institutional domain. (e.g. goabroad.myuni.edu, international.myuni.edu, etc.)

To learn more, see the following article: Using a Custom URL 

Estimated Effort: 1-2 hours to generate an SSL cert and configure DNS 

 

SIS Integration

The SIS file is a tab-delimited text file, containing the full information for all potential users of the site. Some data in the file must also use the SEVIS-required codes. Additionally, the institution's IT department will need to create a routine to refresh the extract file regularly (e.g., nightly)

To learn more, refer to the SIS/HR Data (ISSS) article; it details the required SIS file format and includes the ISSS Mapping Template.

A draft of the student file must be submitted to Terra Dotta via SFTP by the end of the first intensive integration week. A finalized file with production data must be submitted to Terra Dotta by the end of the second intensive integration week. After that, additional edits may be requested as necessary.

Estimated Effort: 30-40 hours to program the data file extract. 8-10 hours to determine additional optional data to include in the file and obtain permissions from the campus data steward.

 

HR Integration

HR data may be transferred in a separate flat file, or it may be included in the same file as student/applicant/user data, with a flag indicating who should be considered HR. The file must contain the entire population of potential staff users.

To learn more, see the following article: SIS/HR Data (ISSS).

Estimated Effort: 2-4 hours to program the data file and set up the SFTP

 

Authentication

When a campus user attempts to log in to the Terra Dotta system, the system sends a request for user authentication and the user's "UUUID" (Unique, Universal, and Unchanging ID) to the institutional user authentication service. User access is then granted based on the response from the institutional system.

To learn more, see: Authentication. 

Estimated Effort: 2-4 hours of assistance to provide Terra Dotta integration engineers with documentation, network authorizations, testing, and troubleshooting.