Student Information
System Evaluation Chart
Areas
To Address
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Your
Findings and Evaluation
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Total
Cost of Software Ownership (including reoccurring and ongoing costs)
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Sr. Director Enterprise
Services Response:
In
addition to the purchase of the software license, consulting services were
purchased to support the implementation of the software. Annual
software maintenance fees (typically 18-21% of the original license cost)
provide fixes, enhancements and upgrades to all systems. Additional
third party systems were purchased to provide functions such as check
printing, transcript processing/printing and credit card payment
processing. New hardware (database and application servers; storage
systems and networking) were purchased to support the software. There
is a human component to the support, including database administrators
(DBAs), Linux System Admins, Business Analyst, Application Admins,
Programmers and other support staff.
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Software
Features Set
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Sr. Director Enterprise
Services Response:
The
full suite of Banner products provide an integrated ERP system encompassing
Finance, HR, payroll, Student Financial Aid, and Student Information.
Some features of the student information system include student registration,
student records maintenance, degree audit and a web based self service
product that allows students online access to their student information,
registration and student account. The web based self service product also
provides faculty members access to class information.
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Texas-specific
Functionality
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Sr. Director Enterprise
Services Response:
The
State of Texas requires the reporting of student, enrollment and faculty
data.
The
Texas Connection Consortium and SunGard Higher Education work together to
provide Texas-specific solutions saving time and money for the members of the
Texas Connection Consortium. The TCC association comprises 40 state
universities, colleges, and community college districts sharing the resources of a single
Solution Center that maintains solutions from SunGard Higher Education.
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Ease
of Use and Reporting
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Sr. Director Enterprise
Services Response:
This, I
believe, is a matter of opinion. While the web based solution is user
friendly, the tool used by the majority of the administrative staff may not
be considered user friendly. However, as is true with most tools,
productivity will increase as knowledge is gained and experience with the
tool increases.
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Customer
Support and Experience of the Support Staff
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Sr. Director Enterprise
Services Response:
Academic and administrative
departments that need assistance with the student system may contact the
Registrar’s office, may contact our helpdesk (helpdesk@lamar.edu)
or may contact the Information Technology Service Division. The vendor,
SunGard Higher Education, offers online support services for issues that
cannot be resolved on campus.
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Thorough
User Training in the Software System
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Sr. Director Enterprise
Services Response:
Basic
training sessions provide a foundation for use of the system. The wide
diversity of administrative uses require more specialized training sessions.
Academic and Administrative office use the student information system to
support the business and academic functions of their areas, and with time,
the individuals that are using the system on a daily basis become subject
matter experts and are valuable resources for training other faculty and
staff in their own and related areas across camps. For example,
groups of advisors may share their experiences and develop common best
practice in using the student information system for their purpose.
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My Reflections
and Conclusions
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I feel that
the answers given were very thorough and thought out. There is a lot in
dealing with the Student Information System on any campus; from cost of
upkeep and maintenance to making sure every aspect and component works together
for the faculty and staff to maintain accurate records of student
information. It is also important to stay up to par with what is required by
the State of Texas. All aspects of the system have to be maintained to stay
within the guidelines so that no violations occur.
As the Sr.
Director Enterprise Services responded, as far as “ease of use and
reporting,” that is a matter of opinion. I know a lot of the times, you run
into the fact of some employees not liking to change and making things much
harder than they really are. Training sessions however; are provided for
users to become acquainted, familiar and to provide a foundation for use of
the system.
The
information provided by our Sr. Director Enterprise Services, has spoken
volumes of the many aspects of the Student Information System; its uses,
purpose and how vital it is to the campus.
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