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Student Information Management System (SIMS) and Student UseR Friendly System (SURFS) Web Enabled Applications

July 2003 update

Objective:
To provide a Student Information Management System (SIMS) that effectively supports an optimal level of student service across UMB schools and central service offices. The system will manage student processes, including those related to pre-application, application, admission, enrollment, progression, and academic history. It will maintain a central, electronic repository of current and historical student data. SIMS will provide the tools for optimizing services to students and for making management decisions intended to enhance the academic and administrative quality of the institution.

Phase I Completed:
Phase I was successfully implemented in calendar year 2001. This provided the campus with a contemporary system to manage Admissions, Registration, Academic History, Financial Aid, and Accounts Receivable. After going live with the first set of modules, the Recruitment module was completed as well as all of the reports requested by schools and central service departments.

Phase ll Web for Student Registration- Completed tasks:
In preparation for the Web for Student (WFS) module, Banner version 5 was implemented in April 2002, enabling the system to use the most current features of the Oracle database system. WFS, which allows students to access their grades, unofficial transcripts, course schedules, to register, etc. via the web, was installed. In July and August of 2002, the configuration, testing, and roll out of the first web student service modules occurred. Nursing and Graduate School departments conducted on line registration in a pilot phase using the Student UseR Friendly System (SURFS).

Phase II Web for Student Registration - Complete:
Web registration, via SURFS, for Nursing, Graduate, the Dental Hygiene Program, Social Work, Pharmacy and Law schools was completed and was placed in production for Summer and Fall 2003 registration.

Phase III Web for Student Admissions - In Progress tasks:
The SIMS Implementation Team is working with the Nursing and Graduate schools to implement the Web Admissions module. It is projected that the Web Admissions module will be used in production by the pilot schools beginning with the 2004 Spring admissions cycle.

Other System Enhancements - Complete:
Implemented Sallie Mae's NETPAY credit card service to allow student's to pay tuition bills, via the SURFS web page. This went into production in May 2003.

CITS is working with the Law School Admissions Office on the implementation of LSAC's Admit-M product and the NOLIJ Banner interface module to load selected admissions applications directly into the SIMS. Expected implementation - Summer 2003.

Implemented Apogee Consulting software to process files received from the Maryland State Scholarship Commission to update student financial aid records. This went into production in June 2003.

Planned Enhancements - Near Term:

  • Upgrade to Oracle 9i
  • Upgrade to version 6.0 of Banner
  • Enhanced password security
  • Automated admissions application interface for School of Pharmacy
  • Conversion from SSN to Generated Numbers for SIMS IDs

Communications Groups:
President, Deans, Vice Presidents, School Student Affairs staffs, Central Service Offices that deal with students.

Ultimate Goal:
To provide a state-of-the-art, fully web-based student information management system to the schools, central service offices, and students of the University of Maryland Baltimore that meets all business and process needs.