Northstar V3 Introduction
What's New in Version 3
Northstar Version 3 is built around three core objectives:
1. Web-accessibility – a fully browser-based platform that works seamlessly across desktops, tablets, and smartphones, featuring responsive design and ADA-compliant accessibility to ensure inclusivity for all users.
2. Improved User-experience – enhancements driven by user feedback, including faster report discovery and modernized forms for a more intuitive and streamlined interface.
3. Enhanced functionality – Robust APIs to support custom institutional processes, customizable dashboards for actionable insights, and an integrated knowledge base for quick access to information.
As we continue to expand and refine the system, we encourage you to report any issues promptly using the Support option located in the bottom-left corner of the application or by emailing support@northstarmis.org
Available Features in This Release
This release of Northstar Version 3 introduces an initial set of Student Management and Instructional Management features as part of a phased rollout. The functionality included in this release represents a foundational set of tools, with additional student- and instruction-related features planned for future updates.
Depending on your assigned role, you may also have access to Reporting and Finance functionality that has been enabled within Version 3. Feature availability may vary by role and will continue to expand as development progresses.
Table of Contents
Use the links below to learn more about each area.
- Getting Started
- Homepage Overview
- Student Management Overview
- Student Search
- Student Dashboard
- Student Import
- New Student Creation
- Student Files
- Student Notes
- Student Contacts
- Student Canvas Data
- Instruction Management Overview
- Instructor Dashboard
- Class Roll
- Gradebook
- Reporting Overview
- Reports
- Customize PDFs
- Edit Images
- Submission Calendar
- Glossaries
- Finance Overview
- Cash Drawer
- Student Balances
- General Ledger
- FAQs
Upcoming Releases
- Curriculum (Fall 2026)
- Scheduling (Fall 2026)
- Fiscal (Fall 2026)
- Sponsor (Summer 2027)
- Administrative Tools (Summer 2027)
- Glossary Management (Summer 2027)
Getting Started
Access to the Version 3 TEST environment is currently limited by default to MDU and Admin users. In legacy "zXXX Training" environments, administrators may grant non-admin roles access to selected Version 3 features by using the Authorization form and assigning permissions prefixed with "WEB".
The "zXXX Training" environment is connected to the Northstar Web Test environment. As a result, any changes made in either environment will be reflected in both.
Accessing the new Northstar web-based application (Version3) TEST environment is quick and straightforward. From the links below, select the link associated with your school and sign in using the same credentials you currently use for the Northstar desktop application.
Once logged in, you will be directed to the homepage, where you can begin exploring the new features and tools.
- https://northstarweb.davistech.test.utah.edu
- https://northstarweb.dixietech.test.utah.edu
- https://northstarweb.mtec.test.utah.edu
- https://northstarweb.otech.test.utah.edu
- https://northstarweb.stech.test.utah.edu
- https://northstarweb.tooeletech.test.utah.edu
- https://northstarweb.ubtech.test.utah.edu
Homepage Overview
The homepage provides a centralized view of important information at a glance, including incomplete or upcoming tasks, recent student activity, and saved searches.
Depending on your role, you may be able to:
- Look up a individual student or a group of students
- Access dashboards related to students, sponsors, curriculum and more
- Customize display settings and homepage preferences
- Contact Support directly via email
- Configure APIs
The image below highlights key homepage features and functionality. Your homepage may vary slightly depending on your role. Definitions for the fields and controls are provided in the section that follows. If a field or control is not listed, it does not require additional explanation.
| Field or Control | Description |
|---|---|
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Home |
Return to the homepage from any page |
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Welcome |
Highlights new features and provides quick access to Students, Reports & Finance pages. |
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Notifications |
View personal notifications in detail. |
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Settings |
Configure your user interface preferences and display options. |
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Support |
Access help resources or email the support team. |
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Equivalent to 'Clone Machine' in the desktop application, the User View lets you impersonate the roles of another staff member to see how the app will look & function for their account. |
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Log out of the system. |
| My Dashboard | Displays personal notifications, saved searches, and recently viewed students. |
| Saved Searches | Save search criteria for future use; searches may be private or shared. |
| Recent Students | Shows your recently accessed student accounts. |
| Student Look Up | Search for an individual student using standard fields. |
| Custom | Create a custom searches using advanced filter. |
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Pin or unpin columns to adjust the table layout. |
| Categories | Displays role-based dashboard links for students, sponsors, curriculum, and more. |
| Tableau | Access embedded Tableau dashboards and reports. |
| API | Configure integration with external sites, tools, scripts, and automation. |
User View
The User View feature (formerly known as Clone Machine) allows authorized users to view the application as another staff member. This tool is available from the user-menu located in the bottom-left hand corner of the application and is designed to help administrators understand how Northstar appears and behaves for different roles.
Using User View, you can impersonate another user account to see the pages, features, and access levels available to that role. The updated interface also supports free-form searching by name or role, making it easier to locate and switch between users.
Access to User View-and most other areas of the application- is governed by permissions that are directly tied to legacy Northstar authorizations. Some newer dashboard-style pages do not yet have direct legacy equivalents and are therefore not fully restricted by role.
Page Navigation And Access Indicators
Not all pages in Version 3 are complete, and not all completed pages are available to every role. During early testing and preview phases, the system intentionally exposes additional context to help users become familiar with new functionality. As development progresses, this behavior will be refined and access will be more tightly aligned with role-based permissions.
In the navigation menu, page availability is indicated using visual cues
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Blue links indicate pages that are enabled, have content, and are available to your role. |
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A closed black lock icon indicates that the page has content but your current role does have have permission to access it. |
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An open lock icon indicates that the page currently does not have a corresponding legacy permission restricting access. |
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Disabled links without a lock icon represent placeholder pages that are not yet available to any role. |
The screenshot below illustrates these difference by comparing page access for two users with different roles within a Student account view.
FAQs
- How do I login to Northstar Version 3?
- How do I search for an individual student?
- How do I use the advanced search?
- How do I upload a student file?
- How do I enter class roll?
- How do I run a report?
- How do I manually create a student account?
- How do I sign-off modules?
Share Feedback
If you have questions, comments or feature suggestions, please submit them using the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/NreuhQX1Df or send an email to support@northstarmis.org
Your feedback is essential in helping us improve the new Northstar experience. Thank you for your support and participation!