Overview
PBS Knowledge is a full-stack web application that manages academic data for the Dartmouth PBS department. This section provides a high-level understanding of the system.
Purpose
The system was built to address several needs:
- Centralized Data - Unify information about people, courses, research, and requirements
- Automated Workflows - Streamline administrative processes like thesis approval
- Self-Service Tools - Enable students and faculty to manage their own data
- Integration - Connect with Dartmouth systems and external APIs
Core Concepts
People
The system tracks several types of people:
- Faculty - Professors, researchers, and instructors
- Undergraduate Students - Current undergrad majors and minors
- Graduate Students - PhD and Masters students
- Postdocs - Postdoctoral researchers
- Staff - Administrative and technical staff
Academic Programs
- Degrees - BS in Neuroscience, BA in Psychology, PhD, etc.
- Requirements - Grouped rules that define degree completion
- Courses - Offered courses with sections and enrollments
Research
- Labs - Research laboratories led by faculty
- Research Centers - Larger collaborative organizations
- Projects - Specific research endeavors
- Publications - Academic papers and their authors
Resources
- Tutorials - Educational content for students
- Software - Research tools and applications
- Datasets - Shared research data
System Boundaries
PBS Knowledge focuses on PBS department-specific data and workflows. It integrates with but does not replace:
- Banner/Registrar - Official enrollment and transcript data
- Canvas - Course content and assignment management
- PubMed/OpenAlex - Publication databases
- DartHub - University-wide directory
User Roles
| Role | Description | Primary Features |
|---|---|---|
| Student | Undergraduate or graduate student | Dashboard, planning, progress |
| Faculty | Teaching or research faculty | Profile, publications, advising |
| Staff | Department staff | Administrative tasks |
| Admin | System administrators | Full configuration access |
Next Steps
- Architecture - Technical system design
- Tech Stack - Technologies used
- Security & Privacy - How we protect your data