Overview
Element451's Network feature enables powerful student support by connecting students to their personalized Network.
A student's Network is a group of internal users like your staff and faculty who support their academic journey. Through StudentHub, students can access comprehensive contact details, engage in direct communication, and manage appointments with their support team, all in one unified interface.
Key Features
Each Connection within the Network is defined by a Role, detailing the internal user's specific support function for the student. This structured approach ensures students know who to contact for academics, housing, financial aid, and other support needs. We explain connections and roles in subsequent sections.
🏫 Connection Details + Contact Info
🏫 Connection Details + Contact Info
Students can access detailed information about each connection in their Network, including:
Name and assigned role
Email address
Office location: building*
Office location: room number*
Phone number*
This information appears on the first card of the connection's details page. Email addresses and phone numbers are tappable, launching the student's native mobile apps for quick communication.
*These fields pull data from the internal user's profile. They can be edited in Manage Account (individuals) and Manage Users (administrators). Additionally, these fields appear on network details when data is provided.
💬 Conversations Integration
💬 Conversations Integration
Students can communicate directly with their connections through Element451's Conversations module:
View their complete conversation history where the connection was the conversation assignee
Start new conversations via messenger (live chat)*
When students initiate conversations through Network, the system automatically:
Assigns the conversation to the internal user (connection)
Marks the conversation as private
The Conversations card appears second on the details page, displaying the conversation history. When direct messaging is enabled, a chat button appears at the bottom of the page in your institution's primary color.
*Students can start new direct messenger conversations only if the connection has enabled “Allow Direct Messages from Network Connections?” This setting can be managed in Manage Account (for individuals) or Manage Users (for administrators). While internal users can reply to these messages, they cannot initiate new direct messenger conversations with students.
🗓️ Appointments Integration
🗓️ Appointments Integration
Students can view upcoming appointments with their connections and schedule new ones directly from the Network page.
The appointment information is displayed through two dedicated cards:
Upcoming Appointments
Lists all scheduled appointments with the connection
Displays "No appointments" when none are scheduled
Book an Appointment
Shows current availabilities for the connection
Students can select an available time to schedule directly from this list
Accessing + Viewing a Network
Students via StudentHub
Network is exclusively available through StudentHub under the Resources section. Here, students can view all their connections and select any connection to access their details page. The details page provides comprehensive access to their connection's profile information, conversation history, and appointment management all in one place.
Internal Users via Person Profile
You and your team members can access a student’s connections through their Contact Profile. The Network profile card displays all assigned roles and connections.
Roles
The Network Role is a specific title or function assigned to internal users, indicating how they are connected to or support a student (e.g., Academic Coach, Program Advisor).
Before assigning connections, you must establish roles. You can add as many roles as you need, aligning with your institution's structure.
How to Create a Role
How to Create a Role
Navigate to the Contacts > Categories > Network Roles.
In the top right corner, click the + Add Network Role button in the top right corner.
Add a name for your new network role and click Save.
How to Edit + Delete a Role
How to Edit + Delete a Role
Edit: To edit a network role name, simply click on the name within the list to activate the text box, allowing you to make changes directly.
Delete: To delete a network role, click the more icon (three vertical dots) and select delete.
Connections
The relationship that links a student to an internal user, defined by a designated role within the Network, is called a Connection.
You can create network connections between students and internal users manually or automatically using the Workflows + Rules module.
How to Create a Connection - Manually
How to Create a Connection - Manually
To manually create a connection:
Open the student's Contact Profile.
Locate and open the Network profile card.
You may need to add it to your profile template if you don't see it.
Click the + Add Network button.
Select the appropriate Internal User and the Role they will serve for that student, followed by Save.
Adding Connections - via Workflows + Rules
Adding Connections - via Workflows + Rules
Please note that you should have a working knowledge of creating workflows and rules before automating network connection creation.
Step 1: Create the Workflow or Rule
If you're unfamiliar with this process, please refer to our help article, Getting Started with Workflows + Rules, for assistance.
Step 2: Add Step with "Add Network Connection" Action
Add the action type, Add Network Connection, within your new workflow or rule. This action automates the creation of the connection.
Step 3: Configure Task Details
Once the action has been added, you will be prompted to configure the user and role of the connection:
Step 4: Activate Your Workflow or Rule
Once you’ve configured all the necessary steps, actions, and triggers, your workflow or rule will handle the process for you. As students meet the criteria to enter the workflow or rule, they’ll automatically be assigned a network connection based on the settings established in Step 3. Sit back and let automation do the work!
Editing + Deleting
Editing + Deleting
Open the student's Contact Profile.
Locate and open the Network profile card.
- You may need to add it to your profile template if you don't see it.
Click the more icon (three vertical dots).
Select Delete.
Workflow/Rule Example
Below is an example of a rule that automates the connection creation process. In this example:
The Joined Segment trigger determines which students are processed by the rule when they join the calculated segment (nursing students with last names A-L).
The Add Network Connection action is then executed, creating a connection for the student and assigning the designated internal user to the Academic Advisor role.
