Monday  October 27, 2003

Updates   

• Banner 6.x will allow managers and administrative assistants to track staff leave balances using a native Banner form.  HR plans to implement this functionality.
• Computer Services has a number of Banner patches and will install them in the TEST instance this week.  Jan will notify LIMT when this is done.  Module leads need to make sure the system is tested and then notify Jan when the patches can be moved into production.
  

• CPU Saturation
• The HP9000 CPU was near 100% utilization during advance registration for Winter term on October 15 and 16.  Web schedule refresh was temporarily disabled in an attempt to improve system performance.  Several large jobs were also running.  Computer Services had not sent a message to the campus to postpone non-essential jobs.  Faster CPUs are available for the HP9000.  The problem might also respond to “job juggling” or being more pro-active about the number and type of tasks executed through job submission, which Computer Services will attempt for one more term.  Regular major tasks that should not be scheduled simultaneously with a heavy registration period are:
• Billing processes
• HR payroll processes
• FA disbursements

• Extender Solutions
• Financial Aid has a long-standing interest in implementing document imaging, the SCT Extender Solution product, and has offered to pilot an implementation.  The most likely timeline for this implementation is the summer and fall of 2004 in time for the 2005-2006 award year.  The project requests feedback from LIMT members about interest in document imaging from other areas.  LIMT will need to decide whether to proceed with an Extender Solution implementation.
• AppWorks
• On October 14, Lane’s technical staff and 3 functional users attended a demo of AppWorks, a job scheduling tool that works with Banner.  Feedback received so far is very positive.  Linda has requested more feedback from demo attendees, and will research whether this type of software that interfaces smoothly with Banner is available from other vendors.
  
• Resource 25 Seats
• The college’s purchase of Series 25 included 10 scheduler seats.  In order to make this tool available to some areas that manage their “own” space, (such as Workforce Network) it is necessary to purchase additional seats.  The SPIT is recommending that the college purchase 10 additional seats.  LIMT requests that SPIT also look at the “unlimited seats” option, and bring back proposals for each of these at the next meeting.

• Financial Aid disbursed more aid to more students in the first disbursement run this fall than ever before.
• Student can now produce transcripts for students using Banner.
• HR has hired a new staff member to join the payroll team.  For now, payroll questions should be directed to Germaine Mock and Deborah Watkins.