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Nevertheless, we must try to do the best possible implementation,
because, quite simply, we have no other choice. So, as URI proceeds
down this very difficult path, it will be important to have
the support and understanding of the entire University community.
Why Does It Take So Long To Implement PeopleSoft?
The PeopleSoft system is designed to accommodate a wide audience
of colleges and universities by requiring each school to specify
their own unique business rules. An example of a very simple
business rule is how a school divides its academic calendar:
by semesters, trimesters, quarters, etc. Hundreds of URI interdependent
business rules are being defined in PeopleSoft by
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tables
to meet our business requirements. Historically, many of these
business rules were written into the actual program code that
runs the existing URI Student System. As a result, many are not
documented in a straightforward way and have to be 'ferreted out',
then translated into PeopleSoft terms. With literally thousands
of PeopleSoft tables to fill out and analyze and test, this is
a very time-consuming process.
Will "Degree Audit" be Available?
The PeopleSoft Student Administration system includes a comprehensive
Academic Advising module (degree audit), which will be implemented
in the second phase of the project. On an interim basis, we
will be interfacing to the existing PACE degree audit system.
We envision the interface will work as follows: The PACE business
rules, curriculum, etc. will continue to be maintained through
the existing screens. To request degree audit report(s) for
a group of students or for an individual student, an advisor
will enter the selection criteria via a new online PeopleSoft
panel. That request will be processed overnight, with information
being extracted from PeopleSoft and fed into the PACE system
to produce the reports. It will be necessary to pick up the
output in Lippitt Hall. The possibility of building online reporting
using PeopleSoft and PACE is technically infeasible. Note, however,
that when the PeopleSoft Academic Advisement module is fully
implemented, online reports will be available.
During the interim period, students who arrive at their advisor's
office without an appointment will learn that online reports
are unavailable. However, paper copies of degree audits through
the most recently completed term can be printed and made available
to the departments. In addition, the most current student information
including grade changes, enrollments, etc. will be available
online in the PeopleSoft
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system.
We will work closely with the URI advisors to ensure that information
will be presented in a format that is easy to interpret and use.
The combination of the latest term degree audit report from PACE
and the most current student information from PeopleSoft should
provide an adequate advising tool until we realize our goal of
a full implementation of the PeopleSoft Academic Advisement module.
How Will PeopleSoft Affect Me?
Here's an example. Many courses require that students get permission
from the instructor before they can register. In our current
registration system, instructors fill out override slips, which
the students take to Enrollment Services where a staff member
enrolls them. With PeopleSoft, the instructor will be able to
provide the student with a unique override code, and the student
can enroll in the course via the Web.
What's It Cost?
The PeopleSoft applications cost $3.49 million. With financing
and pre-paid support, the RI Department of Administration is
paying $8.48 million for PeopleSoft. Funding provided by OHE
for the URI implementation is as follows:
" $745,922 FY00
" $820,922 FY01
" $820,922 FY02
" Unknown FY03 and beyond
Other research institutions typically spend $25 to $40 million
on implementation and the Gartner Group indicates that typical
implementation costs are about 3 to 4 times the software costs.
Will PeopleSoft Run On a Mac?
Yes! Version 8 of PeopleSoft is fully Web-enabled. The
recommended browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5
or higher.
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