The Systems We Use
The Systems We Use
Student Information System:
The implementation of the student information system greatly increases the accessibility of student data. It allows students to check their own grades, class schedules, financial information, and other such important data on the web from anywhere with very little problem. Simply put, the student information system allows for easy and secure access to important data for students from anywhere they can access the Internet.
As the system is improved and upgraded more, it will become more user-friendly and have even greater capabilities, such as allowing students to enter their hours at on-campus jobs and to change their majors. This system will also make classroom scheduling easier and more efficient so that departments can focus on other matters.
Financial System
James Madison University purchased its Financial Information System (FIS) module, consisting of three sub modules -- General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Procurement -- from PeopleSoft Inc. in June 1995. When JMU began using its General Ledger and Accounts Payable modules on Oct. 1, 1996, it became the first university in the United States to go on-line with a PeopleSoft higher education financial system solution.
Approximately 375 employees, from "power users," such as staff in the finance and resource planning offices whose jobs require that they extensively use FIS, to "casual users," such as department heads, secretaries and others with departmental budget responsibilities, have access to the finance module. All of these staff members have completed a training program to teach them how to operate the system and to emphasize the need for appropriate security in handling university data. All new users of the system attend similar training sessions offered throughout the year.
Human Resources System
The Human Resources Information System module (HRIS) of the Integrated Information System (IIS) gives the University exclusive control of its own payroll for faculty, staff and student employment for the first time. The 27-year old Legacy system that the IIS replaced made a data tape of the payroll. The tape then had to be taken to Richmond, where state offices issued the checks. The approximately 5,000 checks were delivered to JMU, put in envelopes by hand, and distributed to employees. The entire process, which occurred twice a month, took about three and a half days.
Since January, 1996, checks (or reports on direct deposits) have been printed on campus using the HRIS module of the new IIS. Now it takes less than half a day between the point when the time sheets have been entered and the payroll reports have been run, balanced and confirmed. Then we estimate an hour to print the checks and 30 minutes to fold them for delivery.
PowerPark Overview
James Madison University purchased the PowerPark® parking software from T2 Systems, Inc. in 1999 and implemented the software on December 17, 1999. PowerPark® is a client/server product utilizing a fully relational Oracle database, running on a UNIX operating system.
The primary modules purchased include:- Parking Citation Issuance and Tracking
- Permit Issuance and Control
- Customer Account Creation and Maintenance
- Vehicle Registrations
- Citation Finder Query Tool
- Payment and Cash Management with Integrated Cashiering Module
- Hearings (Appeals) Scheduling and Tracking
- Special Event Management
- Boot/Tow Tracker
- Automated Notice and Letter Generation
- Reporting Module
- Lot Maintenance
- Citation Book Logging and Control
- Batch Permit Logging and Control
- Automated Application of Late Fees
- Import/Export Capability with External Systems
James Madison has developed interfaces with the Student and Human Resources products by PeopleSoft, Inc. which allows customer information to be downloaded from these systems into PowerPark®. This eases data entry for the University Parking staff and allows all vital customer information to be stored in one database.
The PowerPark® citation issuance software works with handheld ticketwriters by Radix. JMU purchased 10 Radix RX1 Handheld Ticketwriters with 2MB RAM and RX-HP High Speed Thermal Printers, as well as 10 additional PCMCIA 10MB Flash ROM storage cards. The handheld ticketwriters eliminates unreadable tickets and vast amounts of manual data entry. Once citations have been issued, the handheld ticketwriters are placed in a 16 port PowerCom Communications Adapter to upload the information into the PowerPark® database. The PowerCom allows for unattended, simultaneous communications between a host PC and up to 16 ticketwriters. The host PC is, and must be, an NT workstation.
For more information about the PowerPark® product, visit T2 Systems, Inc.'s website at http://www.t2systems.com/.
EMPAC System
EMPAC (Enterprise Maintenance Planning and Control) is an enterprise asset management (EAM) system used by Facilities Management, Residence Life, and PC Services to manage many of JMU's assets. These assets are much of the equipment, facilities and processes that make the University's operations run.
EMPAC is a tool that assists these departments in minimizing operating costs while improving asset reliability and workflow efficiency. This solution is designed to help the University yield a higher return from its assets. The departments use EMPAC asset, work, resource, and materials management.