Vanilla is THE Flavor for TIGERi
As more than one hundred ISU staff continue to work on the implementation of the Banner administrative computer system, it is important to remember one of the guiding principles of the TIGERi project. The implementation of Banner will be a “vanilla implementation,” which means that ISU will not make changes to Banner code, but will adapt business practices to conform to the processes built into Banner. This will allow the university to take advantage of the best practice processes adapted from the hundreds of institutions that use the Banner system.
One of the major reasons ISU bought the packaged suite of Banner web-based products was to take advantage of SunGard Higher Education’s (SunGardHE) ongoing improvements and enhancements to the software’s functionality and capability. This approach reduces expense, both in the initial implementation and in future upgrades. System updates and modifications would be extremely difficult and time consuming if ISU staff had to test or redevelop system changes every time a new version of Banner software was released. By implementing Banner as delivered, ISU also benefits from SunGardHE’s best practice experience working with many other colleges and universities.
“If we are to compete for students and resources, we must use our people and resources wisely and employ Banner as prescribed by SunGardHE, upgrading our business processes to reflect Banner’s capabilities, not modifying Banner to suit old needs,” emphasizes Jim Fletcher, vice president for finance and administration. “SunGardHE consultants have worked with over 800 universities to establish best practice procedures. Their experience and knowledge will guide us in streamlining our day-to-day procedures.”
Increasing the efficiency of university operations requires everyone to find more effective ways to operate. The TIGERi project will change the way everyone interacts with the university, requiring patience and perseverance to make this implementation a success. “This project has tremendous benefits for the entire campus; it's much more than just an IT project. Improved services and easier access to online services will provide better communication and interaction between students, faculty and staff,” observes Steve Adkison, associate vice president for academic programming and review. “It's a WIN-WIN project; everyone benefits, what more could you ask for?”
