Streamlined admissions, better faculty advising and 24 hours a day 7 days week accessibility and registration are a few of the perks of the student administration software that is now being implemented at Sacramento State, according to the Sac State Web site for Common Management Systems.

In August, the management systems project office at Sac State launched the student administration implementation, which is the most expensive and biggest part of the management project, and the university’s final step to a fully integrated computer system.

Project Director Jeanette Norton said that Sac State is replacing CasperWeb, the existing student information system, with PeopleSoft, an entirely web-based software that is used at all 23 California State University campuses as apart of the chancellor’s 1997 management initiative to consolidate computer software for increased communication capabilities, and to better administrative, human resource, financial and student functions by 2008.

Sac State, which is one of the last campuses to implement the student administration portion of the project, will execute the implementation in waves, working with academic calendar, Norton said.

In August 2006, the Course Catalog will be the first element implemented, the Class Schedule and Admissions will follow in October 2006; Financial Aid in March 2007; Registration in May 2007; Student Financial Aid in June 2007; and finally Academic Advising in October 2007.

The current student information system, which is 12 years old, relies on a combination of web and telephone systems, and unlike the new one, is only open to students between normal office hours, Norton said.

Norton said one of the biggest changes students will see with the PeopleSoft switch is the personal portals, which will be similar to portals used by Yahoo and Hotmail, but will be called “My Sac State.”

“It’s one place where you can go to get multiple information,” Norton said. “The portal will be a much nicer presentation.”

The portal will be a one-stop access spot where students, with a name and password, can access personal information pertaining to their education including contact information, holds, dues, classes, grades and registration.

Sonoma State University, Fresno State University, Long Beach State University and San Jose State ?” some of the first CSUs to integrate the student administration system ?” have paved the way for other campuses to follow. Norton said Sac State is working with such campuses, in addition to getting ideas from outside Web sites, for a smooth transition.

In April, when the third party ?” Io Consulting Inc. ?” assessed the project, one area that they said needed attention was in the budget dealings.

Faculty Senate Chair Cristy Jensen said that because some faculty members, both at the state and local level, were concerned about the money involved in the student administration project, a long-term financing plan from the chancellor’s office was decided upon.

“The faculty were concerned that the money was going to be drawn from the instructional budget,” Jensen said. “Annual payments on the loan are as small and as feasible as possible.”

Jensen said she thinks the student administration system is a good investment because it will be an additional service that students can use.

“It is the ability to get information of their academic progress on their own computer at home,” Jensen said.

In addition, Jensen said Norton hired a faculty liaison to link the technical part of the program to the practical and make the program more user-friendly for students and faculty.

The student administration program fits with Alexander Gonzalez’s plan to focus on campus “everyday planning” and the reconfiguration of technology for the spring semester.

“It will really make a big difference in the service we provide for students,” Gonzalez said. One of the biggest positives of the project, Gonzalez said, is that the system will allow faculty advisors to pull up student records while advising students to make the process easier.

Associated Students Inc. President Angel Barajas said the student service would be an investment since every year more students are turning to web-based registration for classes, and only 19 percent use the phone services. He said the only disadvantage is for people who don’t have home access to the Internet.

However, Norton said that Sacramento State will work to keep students updated of the details at each new stage of the project, and will help students adjust to the changes.

Norton said she predicts that the step-by-step transformation to the student administration program will be smooth because many aspects will remain the same.

“It’s a different look and feel, but the processes don’t necessarily change,” Norton said. Already, Sacramento State has implemented a Human Resources program that deals with benefits and hiring, and a Financials system that includes accounts payable, purchasing and asset management. Upgrades for both programs will also be pursued during the 2005-2007 timeframe

Jessica Weilding can be reached at [email protected]