Printer FriendlyThe version of ISIS which UMass Lowell has in place is now a number of years old and there are many new and improved features in more recent releases. While there is no plan yet to upgrade this software, it is something which is being talked about and desired by many functional staff and managers. More detailed reviews will take place in coming months to assess options. Information about the latest release of Oracle/PeopleSoft's student administration (v9) software is available.
Until such a time that we begin an upgrade, we will continue to push forward with making necessary updates and fixes to the system; improving overall functionality; and seeking to maximize the investment in the technology by utilizing previously un/underused functionality.
New & Planned Enhancements 2007
- A new online web application has been rolled out and includes additional data which will assist in the processing of admissions applications for undergraduate and graduate prospects. The most significant change will be in the area of Continuing Education as this marks the first time they have a web application available for that important student population.
- Improvements have been made to allow faculty to email students directly from within ISIS without having to send these communications through their own client or personal email account.
- Efforts are ongoing to transition parts of the Orientation program data into the ISIS system. By including some tracking within ISIS, there will be new opportunities for real time access to student data and will reduce dependencies on ancillary tracking systems.
- A new career is being developed to allow Lowell to track campus provided training to students in non-degree seeking programs. The first planned group to transition to this will be the New England Consortium. (http://www.uml.edu/TNEC/)
- Functionality to track accommodations for disabilities has been rolled out. This will provide the campus with an integrated data capture of information necessary for multiple office use in areas such as reporting and classroom scheduling.
- Report development continues to occur and the campus has successfully developed a large number of reports for campus operations and analysis; the Board of Higher Educations; external agencies (surveys); and various accreditation review.
- The Housing Module was enhanced with new functionality to allow students and residence life staff to better manage the room selection process
- Student Health Insurance enrollment and waiving is now managed online through ISIS.
- Improved data related to external schools (high schools and other colleges) has been acquired and loaded into ISIS. This will improve the aesthics of the transcript and will improve usability of the transfer dictionary
- A new process to capture emergency contact data is being designed. The goal is to strongly encourage and push students to provide emergency contact data to the campus. Target completion is fall/winter 2007.
Updated: 2007-August-30