NextGen Update: Faculty advisory group gets first look at SIS Replacement
FTAG to provide guidance as Rufus Initiative configures PeopleSoft's Faculty Center
October 20, 2009 - Class rosters, teaching schedules and student advisee lists all were on the agenda as members of the university’s Faculty Technology Advisory Group (FTAG) took their first look at PeopleSoft’s Faculty Center interface.
According to project director Shelley Ruff, Faculty Center will be the screen faculty will use most once PeopleSoft Campus Solutions comes online in 2011. “This will be the face of PeopleSoft for faculty, so we want to make sure they are involved right from the start as we discuss the best ways to configure the new system,” Ruff said.
Chris Mercer of the Rufus Initiative led the committee on a one hour interactive tour of the Faculty Center interface as delivered by PeopleSoft. Throughout the tour, Mercer cautioned committee members not to assume that what they were seeing was in any way final. “This is what it looks like out of the box,” Mercer said. “Not all of these features may be appropriate for Ohio University.”
In spite of Mercer's caveats, FTAG chair Phyllis Bernt was impressed by what she saw. "I can already see where some of these features will make me a more effective advisor," Bernt said.
Faculty potentially could use the Center for a variety of academic and administrative tasks, including viewing teaching schedules, checking student rosters, contacting individuals or groups of students, and submitting grades. For academic advisors, Faculty Center will provide access to advisee lists and information.
In the coming months, Rufus Initiative staff will meet regularly with FTAG to refine OHIO’s version of the Faculty Center. According to Ruff, the process will be a learning experience for both sides, as the project team learns more about faculty needs and FTAG learns more about the capabilities and limitations of PeopleSoft’s Campus Solutions.
According to Bernt, committee members are pleased with the approach. "I think people genuinely feel they're being listened to. This isn't just pro forma," Bernt said.
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