WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
–
Agency 365
2008 Supplemental Budget Request
Administrative & Student Core
Computer Systems Replacement Study (PL-SS)
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AGENCY RECOMMENDATION AND FISCAL SUMMARY
Washington State
University requests $1
million for a feasibility study to replace WSU’s aging
core computer systems for administration and direct student support. The request is made
in accordance with state Information Service Board (ISB) guidelines and in
consultation with state Department of Information Systems. The central systems
are at risk for a prolonged period of shutdown in the event of a disaster or an
emergency.
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|
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2007-08
|
|
2008-09
|
2007-09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biennium
|
|
|
FTE
|
|
FTE
|
|
|
|
General
Fund
State
|
-
|
220,000
|
-
|
780,000
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NARRATIVE JUSTIFICATION AND IMPACT STATEMENT
Current WSU information technology systems were designed with 1970s technology
and are no longer able to provide the level of service required. The feasibility
study lays the groundwork for a successful project plan with the goal of modern,
reliable, sustainable, vendor-supported business systems and processes that will
support faculty and students for years to come.
There is a lack of integration in student and administrative core systems. The
core systems are unable to perform many tasks required by the university.
Inadequate electrical and data backup on outdated equipment leaves WSU
especially vulnerable to system failure following electrical surges or outages
that can follow severe storms.
Research faculty members do not have the database support they need. Research
grants are difficult to track. New core systems, for example, will provide
students access to a range of improved services and information including
improved application for admission, course registration, financial aid, billing
services, library, and other learning resources, health and safety, and
employment. The proposed study will also address the related need to
upgrade fiber and building electronics to support higher network speeds, and the
impact on peripheral electronic systems that interface to the core systems, end
user reporting, and virtually all university business that requires central
electronic data collection and processing.
There is an urgent need to replace our existing core systems.
For example:
·
The necessary and reliable software for recruiting
prospective students and managing the needs of current students does not exist
today.
·
Departments are spending time and money buying
non-integrated hardware and software products.
·
There is no systems support for centralized
institutional decision
making with regard to funding, enrollment, accountability measures etc.
Shadow systems and databases with inaccurate and
confusing information make centralized decision making and reporting difficult
or impossible.
·
Current information technology systems are 30 years
old and require an extraordinary amount of maintenance and reprogramming
compared to modern systems.
·
The lack of a site license for a central database
(which requires an updated core system) is hampering WSU’s faculty research.
·
The current core system does not support accurate
and timely means for managing grants. Grant management is essential to growing
university research and supporting economic development.
·
While some student and administrative core systems
exist, they are not integrated with other systems that serve students at the
university. The older systems do not
handle complex tasks well, which makes it nearly impossible to provide some
services.
·
Internet capacity to WSU and within the institution
is inadequate to handle the volume of data necessary to integrate and service
new core systems.
·
While WSU’s security practices are adequate, the
institution needs enhanced methods and tools to detect breaches and take
appropriate and timely action.
FISCAL DETAILS
|
By Program
|
FTE
|
FY 08
|
FTE
|
FY 09
|
TOTAL
|
|
Institutional Support
|
-
|
220,000
|
-
|
780,000
|
1,000,000
|
|
Total
|
-
|
220,000
|
-
|
780,000
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Object
|
FTE
|
FY 08
|
FTE
|
FY 09
|
TOTAL
|
|
Goods/Services
|
|
200,000
|
|
670,000
|
870,000
|
|
Travel
|
|
10,000
|
|
40,000
|
50,000
|
|
Equipment
|
|
10,000
|
|
70,000
|
80,000
|
|
Total
|
-
|
220,000
|
-
|
780,000
|
1,000,000
|
