Instructions for integrating with your Student Information System (SIS) and automated subscriber uploads

Automated Subscriber Uploads allow your institution to securely sync subscriber data — typically students — from your Student Information System (SIS) into uConnect. This integration allows your team to:

• Email students directly from uConnect

• Segment communications

• Track student engagement with career-related content

While most institutions upload student data, you may also include alumni, faculty, and staff in your file. Manual uploads remain available at any time and are not impacted by automation.

 

Lastly, you can manage the entire SIS file set up process within the uConnect platform itself so you have full control over your file's mapping, syncing, and additional settings.

 

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Overview of the Setup Process

Setting up automated uploads includes:

1. Confirm if SIS is already enabled in your uConnect platform

2. Coordinate with IT to prepare your file

3. Begin the automated upload process in uConnect

4. Upload the file to your secure S3 bucket

5. Complete field mapping and activate the sync

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Step 1: Confirm Whether SIS Is Already Enabled

Navigate to:

Engage > Subscribers > Subscriber Upload Log. Check the User column and follow the next steps below:

• If you see “System-SIS Bridge” under the "User" section of your Subscribers Upload Log section, automation is already active. If you need to make changes to this existing SIS file, coordinate with IT and submit a support ticket. The uConnect support team will help you make any additional changes.

• If there is not an active SIS within this section, continue reading and follow the remaining steps!

 

 

 

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Step 2: Coordinate With Your IT Team

Your IT department (or data team) must generate a recurring SIS file in CSV format.

They will need to:

• Review formatting requirements

• Determine which fields to include

• Configure automated recurring uploads

• Overwrite the existing file with each upload (when applicable)

• Combine multiple populations (undergrad, grad, alumni) into one single file if applicable

uConnect processes only one file. If uploading multiple user populations, include them in a single list and add a field (e.g., USER_TYPE or STUDY_LEVEL) to distinguish them. A user may only appear once in the file. Duplicate records (same email or ID) are not allowed.

Use the below email template to reach out to your IT Contact to get started!

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Step 3: Begin the Automated Upload Process

Navigate to:

Engage > Subscribers > Automate Subscriber Uploads

Select Begin Automatic Subscriber Uploads Process

 

 

This will:

• Create a secure Amazon S3 bucket

• Send you an instructional email that you can forward to your IT team

• Provide a secure link to generate S3 credentials (valid for 7 days)

Note: Automating uploads does not prevent manual uploads.

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Step 4: IT Uploads the File to S3 Bucket

Your IT team will:

• Generate S3 credentials

• Configure automated uploads to your assigned S3 bucket

• Ensure each upload overwrites the previous file

Important:

• The file must include a header row and at least one data record

• If the file is empty, it will not be processed

• The sync runs weekly (Saturday night) by default but you can choose daily.

You cannot complete setup until the first file is uploaded.

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Step 5: Configure Automation Settings in uConnect

Once the first file has been uploaded, return to:

Engage > Subscribers > Automate Subscriber Uploads

 

 

Configure the following items:

Status

Toggle to Active to enable ongoing syncs.

File Name

Select your SIS file.

Sync Frequency

• Weekly (recommended)

• Daily

Auto Deprovision

If enabled, users not included in the latest file are removed.

Email Frequency

Optionally auto-enroll subscribers in a selected email cadence.

Academic Year Start Date

Select the month/day your academic year begins. This determines class year progression.

 

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Step 6: Format and Map your SIS file 

After selecting your file, map your CSV headers to uConnect fields.

Required Fields

Your CSV must include:

• FIRST_NAME

• LAST_NAME

• EMAIL

• USER_ID or USER_LOGIN

• GRADUATION

• STAKEHOLDERS

Optional fields will appear if included.

How to Format Your SIS File

Once required mappings are complete and Status is set to Active, your automated SIS sync is live. Please refer to our SIS sample file template below!

 

Your file must:

• Be in CSV format

• Meet RFC 4180 standards:

  • Comma-separated values

  • One row per line

  • Fields containing commas enclosed in double quotes

  • When using multiple values within a single field, use semicolons

Field Overview

Required Fields

Unique Identifier Requirements

Each user must have a persistent unique identifier.

If SSO is enabled:

• USER_ID or USER_LOGIN must match the SSO attribute passed during login

• This prevents duplicate users

EMAIL may serve as the unique identifier only if:

• It is persistent

• It matches the email passed via SSO

A user may only appear once in the file.

Optional Fields

Community Mapping Rules

Community fields allow subscribers to be associated with uConnect Communities.

Important rules:

• 1 extra column per Community Group

• One field can map to only one Community Group

• Multiple values must be separated by a semicolon

• You cannot map combinations of values to a single community

• If headers or values don’t match existing Community names, provide a mapping document

Example:

Graduation Field Notes

• Provide a 4-digit year (e.g., 2025)

• If full date is provided, uConnect defaults to 8/31 as cutoff (customizable)

• Required only if class year segmentation is used

Stakeholders Field Notes

Required if you segment users by study level or audience type.

Each user may only have one value (e.g., Undergraduate OR Graduate OR Alumni).

Email Preference Behavior

If a user has previously:

• Opted out of email, or

• Customized their email preferences

Those settings remain unchanged during SIS sync.

 

 

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Need Help?

If you have any questions or need assistance with setup, feel free to contact the uConnect support team—we’re here to help ensure a smooth and successful SIS integration.