USI Alumni Association

Issue 8: December 2003
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USI adopts new administrative computer system

Bridges

The University is about to embark on a three-
year project revolutionizing administrative
computer services on campus with Steve
Bridges '88 M '95, controller and assistant
director of the Business Office, at the helm.

In his temporary assignment as SCT Banner
implementation project coordinator, Bridges
will oversee USI's transition from SCT Plus to
SCT Banner, a move that will affect SIS, the
Student Information System; FRS, the
Financial Record System; HRS, the Human
Resources System; and ADS, the Alumni
Development System.

USI adopted SCT Plus, a product of Systems and Computer Technology Corp., roughly 25 years ago. SCT Banner, also created by the corporation that designs software specifically tailored for higher education, embraces new technology that will facilitate improved services and increased data analysis, while decreasing the downtime previously required for maintenance.

"It's a completely different animal," Bridges explained. "It's going away from the mainframe technology to a client-server environment. It will be using computer servers instead of one massive machine, and it will be more functional and flexible for reporting. What we have now works well, but what we will have will work better."

SCT Banner will impact computer operations ranging from employee payroll to student registration as well as donor services, financial aid processing, grade reporting, admission, and Web applications.

"It's the software that runs everything, everything having to do with the administration of the University," said Dr. Robert Ruble, vice president for Business Affairs.

"This system has tremendous new capabilities, and it's Web-based, which means virtually anything that needs to be done can be done from any computer in the world that has Internet access. Because of that, it will have the look and feel of Windows, so it will be very intuitive as opposed to the current system that has mainframe screens."

To select the system, the University called upon the campus community to attend vendor presentations, share observations, and make recommendations.

"Everyone from the vice presidents to the newest data entry clerk had an opportunity to come listen, ask questions, and offer suggestions. The comments were heard loud and clear, and that's why we went with the system we did," Ruble said.

"It's terribly important for the whole campus community to know this involves them. For the next three years, our lives are going to be a bit different. It's going to result in a few challenges and in a wonderful new system."

A timetable for the implementation and strategies for the transition are anticipated in November, and in about two weeks Bridges will be moving into the Wright Administration Building, where his new office will be located in the former Human Resources Training Room. His telephone number, 812/465-7048, will remain the same.

"I look forward to this project and to the assistance that this project will need from the University community," Bridges said. "Information will follow as the direct plan becomes more clear."

Unanimously selected, Bridges was appointed to lead the project by the SCT Banner Executive Steering Committee comprised of the University's vice presidents.

He joined USI in 1989 as staff accountant and also has served as bursar, chief accountant, and controller. A USI graduate, he earned a bachelor's in accounting in 1988 and an M.B.A. in 1995.

When the project is complete, Bridges will resume his duties as controller and assistant director of the Business Office.

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