ConnectCarolina: Enterprise Resource Planning

The first component of ERP implementation at the University will be Oracle's PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, which consists of Admissions, Student Records, Financial Aid and Student Financials. This site provides information on the development and implementation of an integrated student information system.

The ERP project, now called ConnectCarolina, consolidates a large variety of systems into one in a deliberate, planned effort. It will provide the University with a 21^st century sophisticated system that will help us compete in research, student recruitment, and faculty and staff retention.

A parallel to the ConnectCarolina project might be the Carolina Computing Initiative (CCI). Now in its 10^th year, CCI has transformed the computing experience for faculty, staff and students alike, and the program continues to make regular updates to maintain its high standard.

Transformational (not transitional)

ConnectCarolina is also transformational. We are not just taking our old systems and converting them to new software. ConnectCarolina provides the University with the rare opportunity to rethink how we do business at all levels in ways we have never thought about before. We have meticulously documented and analyzed existing or “as-is” processes and have developed “to-be” processes for maximum efficiency and effectiveness within the ConnectCarolina software environment.

Why Now?

Many of the current core administrative systems at the University are old and do not provide the necessary functionality required by a complex and changing regulatory environment. Additionally, the University’s core student system, particularly financial aid regulatory updates, will no longer be supported after December 2009. The University needs to move forward immediately to replace the student system by that date.

It’s like an old house that you just let go too long without renovating; we’ve let this go so long that we have a very big renovation in front of us, but one that, when completed, will make interaction with the University easier for prospective students, students, faculty and staff.

Change Isn’t Easy

People are comfortable because we haven’t changed our systems in a long time. The current system is very customized – but that also means it is fragmented as are processes and communication. ConnectCarolina will provide an integrated administrative system and a consistent information environment across the University, increasing efficiencies, maximizing effectiveness and improving communication. With appropriate understanding and training, the University community will embrace ConnectCarolina and the improvements it provides.

Portal

ConnectCarolina is leading us to change the way faculty, staff and students access our administrative systems through a new portal, which will provide one entry point with a common look and feel, rather than multiple sources (faculty/staff central, student central, etc.). The portal provides opportunities to think about more cohesive and unified ways of presenting information and data to faculty, staff and students. This innovative new system and its access point are also critical for how the broader community (potential students and faculty, for example) perceive Carolina.

Person Management

As the University gets bigger, it is really critical that we better understand who is here. We have an identity management problem; there are too many people with multiple IDs. ConnectCarolina is prompting a review of identity management and a new system that will be more efficient and will provide better reporting capability. For example, biographic and demographic information about students, faculty, staff and affiliated persons is housed in one place and accessed by all departments, school and units that need it.