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University receives technology systems upgrade |
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Tuesday, 24 July 2007 |
 | Rankins
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by CHRIS ZALUSKI
Associate Editor for Online Operations
Though Appalachian State University is involved in several major construction projects this summer, one project may be harder to notice with the naked eye.
The university’s 25-year-old student information system is being replaced with the Banner Student system to handle information in virtually every aspect of the university ranging from financial aid to course registration.
University
Registrar Don Rankins said the reasons for the new system include the
fact that the old system was out of date and a University of North
Carolina system mandate prohibiting social security numbers as student
ID numbers.
“Appalachian has done pretty good with our Web systems, but you have to renew that technology,”
Rankins said.
Rankins said a major part of the Banner system is protecting student data – an undertaking across universities nationwide.
One such feature that helps accomplish this task is called the parent
portal, which will be available to students via their AppalNET accounts.
The portal gives total control to students regarding who can access their information.
For example, students can grant permission to parents, guardians and
designated third parties to access information such as financial aid,
credit card payment options and transcripts.
The portal will go live near the beginning of August.
“We’ve implemented security that masks confidential information except for those who need it,” Rankins said.
Other new features within the Banner system include an upgraded AppalNET, enhanced calendaring and enhanced e-mail functions.
However, as in traditional construction projects, the change has taken time.
Rankins said implementation of the new system and all of its parts has taken all summer and will continue into August.
The implementation of the software is split among several teams working in unison.
These teams are human resources, advancement, finance and student, which encompasses all registration and financial aid issues.
Rankins said there is a concentrated focus on documentation, and the
student team alone has had to move more than 800,000 records into the
Banner system.
Another aspect of the Banner system is training.
Lynne Waugh, associate director of the Academic Advising Center, said
her office has been training its academic advisors since receiving the
new system on May 15th.
“[The new system is] different,” Waugh said. “It’s not necessarily easier; it’s not necessarily harder. It’s different.”
Waugh said the Banner system works with forms, opposed to the old system that worked with screens.
Each form runs on seven unique characters, which takes time to learn and understand.
The Academic Advising Center already had practical experience in June with the Banner system during freshmen orientation.
“We are getting there,” Waugh said. “I have been really pleased with
the way our staff and advisors have picked up on this system.”
In addition to general academic advising, every departmental advisor will also be using the banner system.
Rankins said the university is working hard on training how to use the
new system and tailor these training sessions to individual needs.
Some faculty members may only need to learn Banner fundamentals, while others may need role-specific courses.
“We’re trying to complete activities in the summer and move over into
fall while making the shift as invisible as possible,” Rankins said.
Another department already affected by the Banner system is Housing and Residence Life.
Stacy Sears, assistant director of Housing and Residence Life, said
adjusting to the new software slightly slowed down the normal process
of notifying incoming freshmen of their housing assignments.
However, she said the assignments are expected to be mailed out this week.
“We’re not really too far [off from the projected date] as far as
notifying the students, what’s been busy for us is all the backend
work,” Sears said.
Sears said one example of this backend work is managing the information
sent between the Housing and Residence Life system and the Banner
system.
Rankins said one road bump along the way is converting those still accustomed to the old system.
However, he thinks once people see the benefits of the Banner system, the adoption will be easier.
“Fortunately, most people realize that we’ve provided a nice system,” Rankins said.
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