Welcome to the April University Community Newsletter. The goal of this newsletter is to provide the university community with project updates and information of interest regarding the SIS project. If you have questions about the project and/or are interested in receiving information about a particular topic, we want to hear from you! Please send your inquiries to: sis@osu.edu.

A Message from Martha Garland, Vice Provost and Dean Office of Enrollment Services and Undergraduate Education and SIS Project Sponsor

With spring quarter well underway, the SIS team is focused on completing the Testing phase of the project before the first Admissions implementation occurs on June 2nd. To underscore the significance of the project to the university, Dr. Gee paid a surprise visit to the SIS Project Team meeting on March 31st to personally thank team members for their hard work and to recognize all that been accomplished by the team to date. Dr. Gee also emphasized the importance of the SIS project in connecting areas of academic excellence. As the university prepares to become a global institution, it must be able to meet the future needs of our student population across campus and throughout the world. The SIS project is a critical step in that process.

The new SIS plays an important role because for the first time in our university's history, all data will be housed and stored in the same system. The first step towards a shared system was taken last month when the 9-digit OSU ID numbering scheme was successfully implemented for the Human Resources system. This implementation is paving the way for new and current (non-employee) students to be assigned a 9-digit OSU ID number beginning in June of 2008.

Additionally, a new version of Buckeye Link will go live on May 18th. It will consolidate academic web services for all members of the university community in one convenient location. Where the current Buckeye Link focuses on current students, the new Buckeye Link provides something for everyone--current students, future students (applicants), alumni, faculty, and staff. Also, beginning on June 2nd, as new functionality is implemented for the new Student Information System, links to various business units and services will be featured in the center section of each page, providing users with direct links to the appropriate online services.

One integrated system for one global university - our mantra and mission is well on its way to being realized.

SIS Implementations through 2008

As the SIS Project prepares for the Admissions implementation on June 2nd, many other important milestones will be reached in the coming weeks and months that follow. Below is a listing of the major SIS events that will occur between June and October of 2008:

June, 2008

•Professional programs begin accepting first applications for SU09 and beyond.

•First availability of Admissions Self-Service page via the newly designed Buckeye Link.

•Professional programs begin evaluating applications for SU09 and beyond.

July, 2008

•UA/FYE begins processing first applications for SU09 and beyond.

September, 2008

•Begin evaluation of undergraduate applications for AU09.

October, 2008

•First admission decisions posted.

•First acceptance fees processed.

•Graduate programs begin accepting first applications for SU09 and beyond.

For more information about the project implementation timeline, visit:
oaa.osu.edu/sis/timeline.html.

COMMUNICATING UPDATES - EMAIL YOUR TOPIC IDEAS

Over the coming months and years, we will be communicating project updates to you primarily through this newsletter. What topics would you like to see featured in this newsletter? Do you have a question we can address? Please let us know your thoughts. We welcome your participation in helping to shape the content of this newsletter. Please send your ideas, comments and/or questions to the Change Management Team at sis@osu.edu.

For a more detailed overview about the SIS Project, visit the "Frequently Asked Questions" page
on the SIS web site at:

http://oaa.osu.edu/sis/faq.html

THE SIS PROJECT: MOVING FORWARD TO MEET OUR FUTURE!

Martha Garland