about


 * WELCOME TO MCIS **

Welcome to MCIS, the Mathematics Conference Information System, developed for the OAME and its chapters – hope you enjoy the features that are available. Any questions or comments, please email the MCIS Coordinator, MCIS@oame.on.ca, or the OAME webmaster and MCIS creator, Greg Clarke, web@oame.on.ca

The purpose of MCIS is to allow mathematics conferences and mini-conferences under the jurisdiction of the OAME to have one place to go on the web for information and registration. There are a number of facets of MCIS that can be utilized including conference administration, session proposals (speaker registration), attendee registration, online conference evaluation, exhibitors and publishers (supporters), and eventually a post-conference file sharing / website sharing forum.
 * PURPOSE **

MCIS is run by an MS Access database hosted on the OAME website and controlled by various web pages to add, modify, delete information contained within it. Access to the database, and various web page functions, is controlled by login and password, with different users having different levels of permissions.
 * GENERAL GUIDELINES **

Once a conference has been defined in the database, an administrator for that conference is established. That admin login can be used to determine all the parameters that define the conference – name, dates, conference structure – and who else should have access to other admin functions. It is possible (and in fact advisable) to share some of the admin functions with other members of the conference organizing committee – for example the session proposals by the program committee chair, the record payments function by the treasurer, etc..

The session proposals feature (used for the first time with the OAME2006 conference) allows potential presenters to make a pitch for the session(s) they wish to present at the upcoming conference. Organizers can view their session descriptions and other details online and organize the sessions into categories, and eventually transfer the information of those sessions that are accepted directly into their own conference setup.

New in June 2006 is a system to organize conference supporters – publishers and exhibitors and other sponsors. This system can be used by the organizing committee to keep a central list of all company contacts and their contributions – monetary and otherwise. The exhibitor function will allow companies to select their tables directly from an online system which will display a map of the entire exhibit hall, and show the locations of other exhibitors that have already signed up.

When all systems are set in place for a conference, the registration can be opened for all attendees to see. At this point in time, the conference will now have a button on the opening screen of MCIS - located at []

Throughout the registration process, admin access is available to the conference administrator, and all those to whom the administrator gives access. One of the most useful features is the QuickStats feature which allows monitoring of registrations on a daily basis.

Once the conference is full, or the registration deadline has passed, the online registration can be turned off. All admin access to the data still exists – with a valid admin login and password. It is possible to put the registration system in Viewing Mode which will allow attendees to view their registration information, but not change any of the sessions or extra events they picked. It will also allow access to sign-up lists for the presenters.

After the conference, online evaluation can be enabled in order to gain valuable feedback on the conference and its sessions. This feedback is available (anonymously – no attendee’s name is ever attached) to the individual presenter and to the organizing committee.

NOTE: THIS FEATURE NOT IMPLEMENTED YET !!! Eventually, the MCIS system will also allow presenters to share files and website links from their presentations with those who attended their sessions (or, depending on the presenter’s largesse, with all those who attended the conference, or even with all who use MCIS – the availability of the postings being an option they would choose when uploading their files / URL links). This feature is scheduled to be implemented following the OAME’007 Annual Conference.