Why Use CommGen?
Communication Generation (CommGen) is a tool within M-Pathways Student Administration that expands the options administrative staff have to send communications to applicants and students:
- Offices can send students emails and letters, including attachments, while still supporting most traditional letter generation (LetterGen) functions.
- Administrative offices will have access to communication history and the communication content, making it easier to help students when they have questions about correspondence they have received.
CommGen Requirements
There are two roles related to CommGen, each with different training requirements:
- HE COMMGEN SETUP USER - Individuals with this role are given access to both set up and run CommGen. They must complete SAE203 - Configuring CommGen, SAE204 - Running CommGen and SAC205 - CommGen Lab.
- HE COMM GEN USER - Individuals with this role are only able to run CommGen using Letter Codes defined by someone with full CommGen access. They must complete SAE204 - Running CommGen.
In addition to the required training, users who will configure CommGen require the following before beginning the CommGen process:
- The most recent version of BI Publisher for Microsoft Word. If you do not have this software, contact the ITS Service Center.
- The standard 3C setup for the communication, including communication category, context, letter code and speed key. For any new communications, follow the standard 3C setup request process. It is helpful to have an understanding of the 3C setup and functionality which supports CommGen. See the 3C Resources - Wrapper for information on working with communications, comments and checklists.
Setting Up CommGen
Creating a CommGen Data Source in M-Pathways
Developing a Word Template
Creating a Report Definition
Updating the Letter Code Setup to Include CommGen Parameters
Running CommGen
It is recommended that CommGen jobs be added to the ITS batch schedule. For assistance with getting CommGen set up on the evening batch schedule, please submit a request to the ITS Service Center. If a job needs to be run manually during normal business hours, contact ITS one day in advance if you expect the volume of emails to exceed 2,000 or the volume of printed letters to exceed 15,000. Once the CommGen process is initiated, emails are generated continuously, not all at once at the end of the process.