There have been a lot of banner changes at TTU since January, but none as pervasive as the Banner project itself. For those directly involved in its implementation, it's a daily part of life and conversation. For many on campus, changing programs, screens and web pages have begun to signal the way Banner will affect all of us.

Banner is software that maintains records used by university personnel who deal with student records, payroll, finances, and financial aid. The Human Resources module went into production in January; the finance module went into production in July.

Rick Cashion, assistant director for Information Technology Services, says the next project priority is to learn and implement the baseline Banner in Admissions, International Student Affairs, Financial Aid, Student Records and Registration, Graduate School and Accounts Receivable. Cashion said the key phrase is "baseline Banner," which means we are implementing the system with no institutional modifications except for those from the TBR.

"There are bits of system functionality that you are used to that will not be available as soon as we go live, but this additional functionality will be added as time goes along," said Cashion. "Developing these capabilities, especially interfaces to other systems, will take time and effort and will be addressed as resources permit.

"A large number of system interfaces and enhancements were developed over the last 20 years on SIS," he explained. "A list of these, along with their description and status, is provided on the Banner Project web page to inform campus of our progress."

The page is www.tntech.edu/banner. Click on Banner Student-SIS GAP for updates.

Admissions will go into production next month to accept applications, test scores, transfer credit, high school credits, and other information for new students entering fall 2008.

Financial Aid will go into production in February 2008, covering both new and returning student awards for fall 2008.

The first registration on Banner, for fall 2008, will begin April 2008. Two formal "mock registrations," full-scale simulations of pre-registration, registration and post-registration, and several informal ones will take place and involve all administrative offices. The first formal mock registration is scheduled for mid-October 2007.

Accounts Receivable will not go into production until the summer 2008 term is closed out.

Approximately 70,000 student records will be migrated from SIS to Banner, representing more than 2 million courses and 230,000 addresses.

"We are ahead of schedule on migrating the bio/demographic data on these students," said Cashion. "However, we are about three or four weeks behind on the migration of test scores, academic history and accounts receivable data.

"I remind everyone that it will take some time to redevelop the interfaces and enhancements that we developed in SIS over the last 20 years," said Cashion.

If you see any system interfaces or TTU enhancements to SIS that are not mentioned in the list, bring it to Cashion’s attention at rcashion@tntech.edu.