Like others who have commented here, strongly suggest adding Project Titles to the cards on the dashboard (in addition to grant process already reflected) to reduce as much navigation confusion as possible. We haven't gone live with this just yet but based on the responses of those who have, I can see that coming if project titles aren't there! ;)

It would also be really helpful if at some point we have the ability to customize the cards (e.g. different color-coding and adding images).

Lastly, on new Apply page, is there a way to toggle off the "See More" link if a grant process summary description is too long so all of it can be viewed directly on that page? Makes sense why it would be more concise with the new format, but I'm concerned they won't click the link to read through all the key info (eligibility criteria, limitations, etc.) before moving forward with applying.

*Additional support for Grant Request/Project Names becoming more visible on the cards & ability to collapse cards or column in Request section*

Our team is making a few final touches before switching to the new applicant dashboard. In thinking about potential grantee questions, we were thinking specifically about our fiscal sponsors and higher education institutions. Having the Project Request Name more visible on the cards for those grantees would be extremely helpful. In certain circumstances, we allow grantees to reapply to the same process; in almost all cases, the process name is more important to our internal team. With the current view, it could be confusing. For example, one grantee had 10 requests in 2024, eight of which were from the same process.

Also, it would be great to have the ability to collapse the request cards, or columns, in the Request section. The same grantee used in my example above has been with us for a long time and currently has nearly 250 requests in various stages in our portal. Thanks!

To me, it seems like "Assigned To You" and "Action Needed" are basically the same thing. If you assign multiple follow-ups the one with a later due date/is further down in the follow-up list goes into the "Upcoming" section. However, it also shows under the "No Action" section. This seems confusing for no real reason. Applicants will have to do it eventually so why show them that no action is needed? It also shows these follow-ups as submitted, when they haven't even gone into draft yet. I also don't understand if you have visibility into current and future follow-ups, why you still can't submit more than 1 for each process at a given time.

What is up with language consistency? I have a process that applicants make a request for and have follow ups throughout the grant period. Where is forms coming from? Why is there a documents dropdown that shows the LOI, Application and Follow-ups? Are they forms, requests, follow-ups, or documents? Why have a files section but still refer to them as documents elsewhere?

If you click on a process, I'd expect to see the LOI, Application, and all my Follow-ups but you only see Contacts, Request, and Documents. Why would you not be able to see the follow-ups that have been assigned and completed?

I really like the look of the new dashboard, but I don't understand why some of the above decisions were made. If at all possible, in the no action needed section please remove the documents dropdown box and just have the box link to the process page that shows all relevant information. A Contacts tab, a Request tab (with LOI and App), a Follow-ups tab, and a Documents tab.

In the Action Needed section, link to the LOI, App, or follow up that is relevant and allow the user to still view the above tabs if desired.

After turning on the new UI this morning (yay!) we have learned that the UI on the public apply page is only visible after someone has logged into their account.
Our public apply page is where we direct folks for everything. We have set up a redirect so we give them a short and easy URL, and it takes them straight to our public apply page. Easy peasy.

It feels a little odd for them to go to the apply page seeing it as the legacy interface, to then log in/create an account, and re-load into the site having it the load with a different interface. Food for thought- it makes more sense for the new UI to appear across the board logged in or not.

Hello!

We're finding that the new Applicant Dashboard is difficult for organizations that fiscally sponsor many entities since the Grant Title doesn't show up for each request, except in the "Historical" column. Could that be added? Screenshot for one of our fiscal sponsors for an example.

We really loved the idea that the "see opportunities" dashboard could show and promote all of our grant cycle processes, instead of going to our website to see the full list. However, all of our grant processes are set to restricted view with an access code. We have grantees chat with us to help determine eligibility and then we provide them with the access code to get started. This helps keep our process organized and clean. I was disappointed to enable the new dashboard and realize that if you are using restricted visibility and access codes, the opportunities page is essentially blank.

Did we miss a setting? Essentially we would like to have public visibility AND the use of an access code. I know applicants can search via access code, but since we give this code after we've chatted with an organization, it's not quite the impact we are looking for.

I love the new update on the applicant dashboard that allows all grant users to see the form titles and the person each form is assigned to. This will be extremely beneficial for all the agency representatives who work on the grant together.

Is there a way for all users to automatically have viewing rights so they can see the actual form details that are due and submitted?

As, I noted in a previous posting in another section of the idea lab.

"I have several agencies with multiple representatives involved in the grant process. I'd love for a way to allow non-assigned applicants to view all forms (during all statuses) and have the option to submit forms, or create an "all-inclusive collaborate" option so the person who initially applies can allow others to submit any forms and not one specific follow-up."

I would like to suggest the ability to limit the number of items that appear in the “No Actions Needed” bucket on the new applicant dashboard. Some of our grantees have decades of application history with us. I think people may be confused/overwhelmed if they see the full list.

For renewal applicants, the path to submitting a new application should be more clear. Currently, for a restricted process, they have to click Apply, enter the Access Code, click Applied, then Apply Again. It's not intuitive to apply via clicking Applied. Please consider adding Apply Again to the Applied button (Applied/Apply Again).

Another idea is to have the collaborative option more visible on the applicant dashboard. The only place I can find it is within the follow-up form.

All of our GLM applicants/grant awardees are using the new dashboard. We have applicants who have 2-10 programs under each grant cycle. It would be incredibly helpful if each task box on the applicant page would show the project name/program name under the grant cycle so applicants can easily see which program they are submitting documents to. The current style is visually appealing for applicants with one project but is messy for those who have multiple projects.

Since we have two grant cycles running simultaneously and have multiple agencies who have more than one program (who we fund under both grant cycles), I've had to go into each process follow-up form and re-name each form to include the grant cycle so the applicant has a idea of what task relates to each cycle.

Came here to add my +1 to all the folks commenting on the need for Grant Request Names more visible on the cards. We have several grantees with multiple active grants, and they're struggling to find the documents they need. Our grantees would probably prefer to see the Project Name (even if truncated) in the title bar and have the Process Name be visible upon hover. The Process Name means more to us than it does to them.

It might also be nice if the Documents menu on each card was titled "Completed Documents" to more clearly telegraph that no action is required on the form in the list.

When an application is "in process" and saved it shows up on the "to do" list on the left but does not include the program name and I don't believe you can see the same if you float over the application. For processes where an organization can submit multiple applications, this can be very confusing. Can the program name be made visible?

The left hand column: It's not really clear that the first "Assigned to you" tab lists items that need to be submitted in the next 2 weeks, and the "Upcoming" tab isn't as urgent. All the upcoming items have been "assigned to you" as well. The tab titles should be more clear. "The whole left hand section can be a titled "Quick Look - Items Assigned To You" and then name the tabs "Due Soon" tab and "Due Later". Or something along those lines.

It would be great to differentiate the left hand column from the rest of the page more. It's not really clear that this lists "to-dos" and duplicates what is already on the right hand column.

Where are applicants able to view requests they have been invited to collaborate on, after they've accepted the invitation?

Is there a way to display the program name on the dashboard cards? Not just the process name. We have a number of organization that apply for multiple grants within a process?

For an SLM applicant starting/logging in for the first time (new account), I think it would be helpful to be able to provide a little more direction for them, so they know to start with the Eligibility Quiz for a process, and also to make the "opportunities" or "apply" more prominent for a first timer. Right now when I look at it, via Sandbox, a larger "blank page" with just the Eligibility Quiz tile pops up and not much else. I do provide counselors and applicants with additional directions ahead of the process, but should they not have that with them or have access to people or help during "off hours", it would be good to provide a little more way-finding for them in the portal. I am very excited for the layout change - I think that will be very helpful for applicants to have more of a work-flow style view and it will help them keep on task better once in the process, but I'd like to be sure they have a healthy start which will increase the likelihood of them completing their applications if they have a good first experience. (We will hopefully be able to utilize the Universe feature in the future, but right now I am working with an eligibility quiz and 35+ individual scholarship processes, and I know if they have a good initial experience and feel comfortable in the process, it will help ensure more completions among the upcoming class.) If I missed how to set up these kind of instructions somewhere, please let me know - I'd love to add it before our next cycle begins.

Would it be possible for the preview button to generate a PDF that is the Question List for the process, but in Applicant View? (This is something we've long wished for across all of our processes, as internet access and stability is a barrier in our communities). This is a previous comment/question that I would like to have. The PDF version right now for my SLM universal application is quite long. I think this could easily scare applicants away. A shorter version, the applicant view, would be helpful.

For the applicant dashboard: it would be great to be able to collapse the cards in each column (or the column as a whole) for applicants who have many requests open simultaneously, or who simply want to see less on their screen. It starts to look very busy!

I agree with the comment below that a header in the "to-do" column that simply says that or "quick look" or something similar would help to identify the differences between the two panels.

A question I had from the webinar: does a request need to be marked as "closed" before it moves to the historical column after all of the follow-ups have been completed?

It would also be great to have the request name more accessible - the hover over feature doesn't feel super intuitive, and I wonder if it would be possible to add that piece to the card. We do occasionally have multiple requests from an organization for a single process and can imagine it getting confusing quickly!

Apply Again availability being the default on a process seems odd. I work exclusively in SLM, and offering students the ability to submit multiple applications for every process is something I don't want to do. If it remains the default, I need the ability to toggle it off and have that button not display.