Oracle Corporation presented its proposed student information system to faculty, staff and students this week as part of its ongoing bid to replace the university's current student database.
The student information system stores student data that can be accessed across campus by academic departments and student services. Student social security numbers, addresses, financial data and other personal information are stored in the system.
Both Oracle and Sungard are competing for the contract and have submitted the projected costs of their systems to the university. Until the selection process is completed, the university will not release the estimates.
Oracle sales consultants used a live demonstration, often hampered by network delays, to showcase its database. A single portal for faculty, staff and students is the core of the Oracle proposal.
It's a complete student center
except it's an online student center so you don't have to run around to different offices to try and do things said David Dickson, an Oracle application sales representative.
Using Oracle's software, students would be able to register for classes, pay bills, contact advisers, view grades and access class-specific information currently provided by Blackboard.
Students use a single username and password to access their accounts, where they can configure what sections of the system they want to view on the front page.
Ultimately I think the goal is to allow students to better manage the administrative things they need to do to allow them to concentrate on the things they should be concentrating on
said Paul Majoros, Oracle principal sales consultant, adding that the same is true for administrators.
The goal is to remove for them the administrative burden
so they can spend more time on the true problems and issues that the students are having
Majoros said.
The university's current student information system has been in use for more than a decade, and its outdated technology requires regular downtime to process new information. Oracle's database allows for real-time updating of information using modern Web server technology.
System security isn't an issue, Oracle representatives said. The same Oracle database product is used both by the CIA and the U.S. Mint.
Sungard, Oracle's competitor for the project, will present its system Feb. 13-15.
- Laura Bernheim contributed to this article
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