Message from the Project Manager
This is the first edition of the NC State Student Information System (SIS) E-News. The primary purpose
of this communication is to get our campus community involved in the SIS project.
The objective of this project is to replace existing student information systems with newer technology purchased
from PeopleSoft. The functionality and flexibility of this software must allow NC State University to participate fully
in the opportunities of the future. It will provide us with an integrated, sustainable student information system that
provides anytime, anywhere real-time, self-service, access for students, faculty, and staff.
One of my goals as project manager is to identify current student system users. We need to know who you are and where
you are. We also want to know what you do, in other words, what is your role on campus and how do you use our current
system. The main reason to establish contact with you is so we can listen. The rank and file system users, spread across
our institution, are really the people with the vision. The job of our project team is to listen to you and let you tell
us about your vision so we can work together to insure that the new system meets your needs.
The job we have to do is not easy. In fact it is a little daunting. The scope of this effort covers a very large part
of the critical administrative processes that support our student body. This includes admissions, financial aid, student
accounts, student records and academic advising. We have nearly 30,000 students supported by thousands of teachers and
administrators. These are our system users and they have expectations of quality on-line service. We want to exceed those
expectations. This is not an easy task. The customized systems we use now have been built over a long period of time. The
rapid pace of change in education and student service has outstripped our ability to economically and efficiently keep
pace from a systems perspective. Our new system must provide a framework to adapt and keep pace in the higher education
market. Getting there is the hard part. One challenge is for us all to learn to think outside the box. Implementing a large-scale student administration system is a little like the facilities construction effort our campus has been going through for the past two years. There may be some temporary displacement as a result but the new buildings are critical to our future. Working together we can insure that this project is carried out in a way that minimizes the risk of disruption. This means carefully planning for each phase.
SIS E-News will provide project updates, answer frequently asked questions, solicit feedback, input and opinions
through quick surveys, preview system features and provide training and education opportunities. In short we want
this to be a concise, helpful, easy way for you to plug in and keep up. We are counting on your help because we know
you are counting on our team. I welcome your calls and e-mails. Contact me at (919) 515-1998 or rick_liston@ncsu.edu.
About the SIS Project
The SIS Project is the implementation of Oracle Campus Solutions (formerly PeopleSoft) to replace NC State's current student information systems (RUMBA, Pack Tracks, web-based financial aid and billing systems, etc.). The results of this project will be an integrated, sustainable student information system that will provide real-time, self-service, anytime, anywhere access for students, faculty, and staff. This type of technology-enabled environment will support NC State's image as a 21st century university and better prepare the institution to meet the increasingly competitive demands of higher education.
The SIS project is managed by a group of key university administrators, an advisory board, and a project manager. It is then organized into functional and technical teams. Functional teams are divided by module (area of focus). These modules include Admissions, Advising, Financial Aid, Student Financials, and Student Records. Additionally, the technical teams are divided by area of expertise. An organizational chart (pdf) is available from the SIS project website.
Consultant Profile
 Mark Leenhouts
Mark Leenhouts is part of the SIS project team as the Student Records Consultant. Mark is a native of Wisconsin who currently resides in Lambertville, New Jersey. However, Mark spends his week working at NC State University. He classifies himself as a senior information technology and business consultant with an understanding of the management and operation of higher education and not-for-profit organizations
Mark has been in the university environment since 1982. Originally a college business manager, he soon joined the field of consulting at KPMG Consulting. Mark now works for himself through Leenhouts Consulting LLC.
He has worked with the PeopleSoft/Oracle Student Admin Product for over seven years. Mark has worked on PeopleSoft's student system implementations at Ryerson University, St. Clair College, University System of Maryland, and New Jersey City University just to name a few. He has also been involved in project planning and review at other universities.
Mark's advice for implementing PeopleSoft at NC State is to "have an open mind." He says that moving from a homegrown system like the one here at NC State to PeopleSoft will take some getting used to. Homegrown systems are very university specific meaning that NC State built it for its own business processes. PeopleSoft is built to be used by many different universities and therefore it may take NCSU users some time to adjust. Mark warns that the initial reaction to PeopleSoft may be negative but the positives of the product, such as having the opportunity to learn from other PeopleSoft universities and the ability to get real-time information, will far outweigh the negatives.
He uses a short example from New Jersey City University's implementation of their course catalog in PeopleSoft.
At first everyone was saying "oh no, it is going to take five times as long for me to do anything in this new system!" Within a short period of time he heard the employees talking about the tricks and short cuts they had learned in PeopleSoft. Soon after that they had to admit that they were just as quick with the new system as they were with their old one.
Mark's consulting has taken him to many areas in and outside of the United States. One of his favorite locations was Toronto, Canada. In his free time, Mark enjoys practicing yoga. He recently won a kayak and took his daughter kayaking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
SIS Terminology
With any new system comes new terminology or vocabulary. PeopleSoft is no exception. To assist with the transition from legacy terminology to PeopleSoft terminology, each newsletter will contain examples of some of the new terms associated with the new system. Examples will also be given to provide a context for the new vocabulary.
Academic Program - The academic unit that a student applies to, is admitted to, and graduates from.
Examples
- Undergraduate: College of Humanities and Social Sciences. For the Undergraduate career, academic programs equate primarily to what we commonly refer to as Colleges.
- Graduate: Electrical Engineering, Bioinformatics. The Dean of the Graduate School traditionally admits graduate students at NC State directly into a specific degree program. In the Graduate career, programs are generally associated with specific fields of instruction, including interdisciplinary fields. These programs or fields of instruction do not necessarily follow precisely along departmental or college boundaries.
Academic Plan - An area of study within a program. There are several types of academic plans. These types include majors, minors, certificates and non-degree plans.
Examples
- Undergraduate: Bachelor's degree in Communication or Minor in English
- Graduate: Doctor of Philosophy Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Master of Science Biochemistry, Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems.
Academic Subplan - Specializations or concentrations within a plan. There are several types of academic subplans including concentrations, options, specializations and tracks.
Examples
- Undergraduate: Concentration in Public Relations
- Graduate: Doctor of Philosophy Zoology - Concentration in Behavioral Biology, Masters of Toxicology - Environmental Toxicology Option, Masters of Civil Engineering - Distance Track
Get Involved
Nicole Wood, Training & Communication Lead, is looking for volunteers to be SIS testers and cheerleaders. As a team member, you will be an integral part of the SIS training module's construction, transition and deployment phases.
- Construction: assist in the development of training materials; serve as a contact for information gathering and distribution
- Transition: test training materials and scripts; suggest ways to improve the materials
- Deployment: serve as a college or departmental contact and expert; assist in training events in your area of expertise
To join the training and communication team, please contact Nicole using the submit feedback page on this website. Be one of the first people on campus to view the new student information system!
Stay Informed
If you would like to receive SIS information and updates, in addition to this newsletter, please join the SIS Listserv. Instructions for joining the Listserv are available on this website.
If you know of colleagues and co-workers who should be receiving this newsletter but are not, please have them contact Nicole Wood using the submit feedback page on this website to have their name added to the list.
To be removed from the newsletter contact list or the Listserv, please contact Nicole using the submit feedback page on this website.
Upcoming Issue
- What does an "integrated system" mean?
- When is the new SIS going to affect my job?
Return to the SIS Project Homepage
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