Rufus Initiative: The Big Picture
Project represents more than just a new SIS

By Sean O'Malley, photo by Josh Armstrong
September 16, 2009

What is the Rufus Initiative?  

Ask students, faculty, or administrative staff at random, and the answer most likely will be "a new SIS."  

That answer is only partly correct.  Transitioning to the new PeopleSoft SIS is an important goal, but it is only part of the larger picture. 

A new way of thinking

In the increasingly competitive world of higher education, universities must emphasize the quality of their student interactions, not only in the classroom and laboratory, but also in the home, at work, and online. The current generation of students expects to be able to conduct business with their school on their own terms, using the online tools and approaches they depend on in their personal lives.

The Rufus Initiative will help Ohio University meet these needs by changing how OHIO interacts with its students, from the moment they express interest in the institution through graduation and beyond.

From prospects to alumni

The Rufus Initiative consists of six major components.  Each is essential to one or more periods in OHIO's relationship with its students.  Several of these components also will play a major role in the university's larger IT improvement plans.

• PeopleSoft Campus Solutions - student admissions, academic records, finance, and financial aid
• Identity Management (IdM) - capturing, storing, and securing personal data for students, faculty, staff, guests, etc.
  
• Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) - efficient, personalized attention for prospective students
  
• University Portal - personalized, customizable access to university online services, including personalized communications about deadlines, to-do lists, etc.
  
• Enterprise Reporting and Intelligence (ERI) - tools to provide decision makers with the data they need to plan for the future
  
• Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) - a consistent framework that will help technical staff design applications that interface smoothly with the new SIS