An upgrade to the university’s information system is becoming visible on campus with the progression of the Enterprise Information System Enhancement project.

All faculty and staff are being affected by the system through the reissuing of their panther cards.

Earlier in the summer another change became visible when the University staff began using the Banner financial system on July 1, coinciding with the new fiscal year.

“We started using the Banner systems for purchasing,” said Bill Witsman, EISE project director.

All five modules of the Banner software are in use or are being developed, Witsman said.

The other four modules, human resources, student, financial aid, and alumni and advancement systems are also making progress.

Payroll and benefits under the human resources system should be in use by January, Witsman said. Students who work on campus will then receive biweekly paychecks instead of monthly paychecks.

The financial aid system is scheduled to be online in Spring 2007, and class registration through Banner should be available in March 2007, Witsman said.

“The student system is the largest part of this because it encompasses so many things,” he said, including transcripts, recruiting, admissions, academic catalog, grades, registration and accounts receivable.

Over the summer, Banner was used to enter admission information for new graduate students under the student system, Witsman said. Its complexity will make it the last module to be finished in Banner, even though the alumni and advancement system was the last to begin development.

Witsman is happy with the progress of Banner, which is sticking close to the estimated timeline and budget.

“In general, we are on schedule,” he said. “In a project this big, there’s always adjustments.”

Banner began in March 2005 and should be completed by Spring 2008.

The next item due to be available from Banner is the academic catalog to be ready in September.