As with the Mobile Computing Program, the Banner Implementation Project continues Seton Hall's IT leadership tradition. The new technology provides a significant upgrade to the FRS, SIS, ADS and HRS systems.  | |
Seton Hall is headed for a “Banner” few years – as it sets out to replace its current SCT Plus administrative system with SCT Banner. Elements of the current system that will be replaced or upgraded include FRS (Financial Record System), SIS (Student Information System), ADS (Alumni and Development System) and HRS (Human Resources System). What is the Banner Project?
Improving on Plus
Implemented on campus in 1985, SCT Plus has served Seton Hall well, but with the dramatic growth of the University and the World Wide Web, it has become necessary to use a Web-friendly, more current software package. “SCT Banner will allow for all users to move seamlessly around the system,” says Steven Landry, Ph.D., chief information officer and Banner project manager. “The reason so many people are excited about this new system is that Banner gives us a platform to improve our business and academic processes. Some of our current procedures and processes are cumbersome — the paper trail is too long or it takes days for paper forms to travel through campus mail for proper approval.
“Banner allows for a Web-based process through a browser, and ultimately the ‘form’ is electronically accessible to those who need to provide final sign off,” Landry continues. “Moreover, Banner allows for easy delegation, monitoring and follow up.”
Ultimately, Banner will change the way the entire University works — and for the better. “Not to sound dramatic,” says Regina Kleinman, Banner Project coordinator, “but for the University, this new system brings about a revolution. It provides us all with the opportunity to perform work in a more intelligent way because the system is more negotiable and flexible in terms of its tasks. Through Banner, users can enter data once, rather than multiple times, which is how our current system works.” What are the benefits of SCT Banner?
Continuing Seton Hall's IT Leadership Tradition
The old technology is dying, or as Landry puts it, SCT Plus is being “de-supported,” and now is the time to boldly move forward. Through the Banner Project, Seton Hall has an opportunity to transform itself. As an institution, the University has used technology for teaching and learning since the inception of its award-winning Mobile Computing Program. With the advent of this new system, administrative functions will catch up to and keep pace with its longstanding academic and learning endeavors.
As with any major institutional change, myriad people are involved. With the Banner Project, there’s not an area that won’t be affected, notes Landry. “Everyone will be impacted to some extent. If you touch a paper form or log into the current Plus system, you’ll be hands-on with the new system.”
The Banner Project is expected to take approximately three years to implement, with a staggered go-live date for the various modules. When will SCT Banner be implemented?
The Admissions and Recruitment modules are slated to debut in August. Banner training has already begun and will continue well into — and beyond — the course of implementation. When will I receive Banner training?
“With Banner, we are truly taking advantage of all the system has to offer,” Kleinman says. “This is not a cut-and-paste job from SCT Plus to Banner. This upgrade will really allow us to work smarter, not harder.
“To be involved and affected by a project like this is a once in a lifetime career opportunity,” she continues. There are so many possibilities here and every single person involved can make a difference.”
To read more about the Banner Project, read the Banner FAQs.
