UniVault

Overview

UniVault is a secure and centralized web application designed to streamline the management and distribution of academic documents within a university. It provides students with on-demand access to their official records—such as transcripts and certificates—while offering administrators a powerful dashboard to manage requests and user data. The primary goal is to create an efficient and paperless ecosystem for academic document handling.

Key Objectives

Centralized Access : Provide a single, reliable portal for students to view and download their academic documents anytime.
Administrative Efficiency : Reduce the manual workload on administrative staff by automating the document request and fulfillment process.
Enhanced Security : Ensure document integrity and secure access through role-based authentication and controlled permissions.

Technologies

Next.js
TypeScript
Tailwind CSS with Shadcn/ui
Supabase Auth (with Google OAuth)
Prisma (ORM)
Backblaze B2 for cloud file storage
Gmail API for email notifications

Features

Secure Authentication and Profile Management: Utilizes Supabase Auth with Google OAuth for secure, role-based access. Students can manage their personal information in a dedicated profile section.

Students can manage their personal information through a secure profile page.

Advanced Document Search: An intuitive search bar allows students to quickly find documents by name or type. The interface provides a clean, accessible view of all available documents, with options to download them instantly.

Document search functionality — Students can easily search and access their uploaded documents.

Streamlined Document Requests: Students can submit requests for new documents through a simple form. These requests are sent to administrators for approval, creating a transparent workflow.

Document request system — A clear interface for students to request new documents and track their status.

Comprehensive Admin Panel: Administrators have a powerful dashboard to oversee all operations. They can manage student accounts, review and approve/reject document requests, and upload new documents securely to student profiles.

UniVault Admin Panel — The admin dashboard for managing users, requests, and documents.

Automated Email Notifications: The system uses the Gmail API to automatically send email notifications to users. Students are alerted when their document requests are approved or when new resources are added to their profile, keeping them informed in real-time.

Development and Challenges

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Implementing a robust authentication system with Supabase Auth to create distinct and secure experiences for students and administrators was a primary challenge.
Secure File Handling: Building a secure pipeline for uploading files from the admin panel to Backblaze B2 and ensuring that students could only access their own documents required careful backend logic.
Third-Party API Integration: Integrating the Gmail API for reliable, real-time email notifications involved handling OAuth credentials and background job processing to ensure messages were delivered promptly upon status changes.

Conclusion

UniVault provides a modern, practical solution to the longstanding challenge of managing academic records. By leveraging a robust tech stack, it delivers a seamless, secure, and user-friendly platform that benefits both students and university administrators, ultimately modernizing a critical academic process.