Date: April 2, 2002
To: USHE Presidents
From: Cecelia H. Foxley
Subject: Administrative Systems Update
In a letter dated April 27, 2001, I asked all institutions to delay any decisions related to administrative systems migrations until we could utilize $250,000 in state funding to conduct an administrative systems master plan. Much has changed since then. Two of the more important developments since last spring are (1) the completion of a study by Arthur Andersen recommending a shared service solution to our current Administrative systems deficiencies, and (2) a major retrenchment of the state budget.
Given current fiscal circumstances, it appears that significant state resources for a major administrative systems initiative is some time away. However, the need for our institutions to migrate of their legacy administrative systems becomes more acute every day. Given these circumstances it appears that a new interim strategy is needed. Based on informal input from the Council of Presidents and the USHE CIO'S, it is recommended that we collectively pursue the following strategy:
- Reaffirm our commitment to SCT as our primary vendor for administrative software and maintenance and utilize our current 5-year contract with SCT for such necessary software and service - this includes the Banner software.
- Allow institutions willing to make the financial commitment to initiate a systems migration process that involves replacing legacy systems with SCT Banner.
- Utilize the Office of the Commissioner to negotiate other hardware and software purchases that best facilitate an SCT Banner conversion including: Oracle, SUN, TouchNet, Campus Pipeline, Crystal Decisions, etc.
- To the extent that central (OCHE) resources can be found, participate with consultants to develop system wide standards for baseline rules, tables and values.
We will continue to seek resources at the state level to allow all USHE institutions to migrate over the next few years and to establish adequate base budgets for the increasingly important IT function.