The role of cms

Common Management System, or CMS, was first discussed in 1996 under the concept of a collaborative campus venture guiding force. CMS is an initiative that seeks to replace legacy administrative software in Human Resources, Financial Accounting, and Student Administration on each of the 23 CSU campuses. A project that cost around $405 million over a 7-10 year implementation period, left CSUS with a share of $12 million dollars and the hope that a new system can actually bring integration among departments and colleges.

in the hands of peoplesoft

After nearly three years of analysis and searching for a software package, CMS has chosen PeopleSoft as the administrative software package for the CSU. PeopleSoft manages data and communication for a wide range of human resources and other services. It also provides accounting, finance, and facilities planning functions. According to CMS, the most important feature is that it provides a “central warehouse” relational database of employee data. It is capable of maintaining historical, current and future dated information. PeopleSoft claims to have 69 universities and colleges as successful clients besides the 23 UCS system, thus becoming the only software package to provide these kinds of services.

Talking to CSUS' EXPERTS

According to Jose Chois, Information Technology Consultant for the CSUS Business Department, the problems generated by the current software system (SIS), are well known. The IT administrative system is decentralized and that is why there is no communication between departments and colleges. In fact, Chois stated, “Each college runs its own software system, making it impossible to hope for a connection between them.” The financial aspect of PeopleSoft software has already been implemented and

according to Chois, it has been encountering some resistance on the part of the new users.

But resistance, in principle, doesn't seem to be a factor to take into consideration for those who hope that the new software can diminish their workload. Kathleen McCord, Academic Counselor for the College of Business Administration , is welcoming the changes associated with PeopleSoft. The majority of her work is being done by hand utilizing a system based on paper documentation, and with only two counselors available to take care of approximately 4,500 Business students. Feeling hopeful of change, McCord stated, “PeopleSoft is creating a new program that will enable the Business Department to evaluate Pre-Major requirements through it instead of manually. When students apply from Community Colleges, the new link between CSUS and the specific Community College will evaluate if students have fulfilled their Pre-Major requirements or not, and identify whatever classes are still required.” She believes that there is no substitute for human skills in the evaluation process, but the new system will reduce significantly the amount of paperwork they handle. For others, the main wish is a simplified program, “We need simplification and efficiency”, claims Ed Perhay, Academic Advisor for the GE Evaluation Department. He doesn't believe that the new system can help very much in his area because of the Catalogue Rights and different schools' applications. However, he believes any system that replaces the existing 25 year-old CSUS model just has to be better.

In contradiction, CSUS' MIS major was rated as one of the top 20 best programs of its kind in the country. Who would imagine that the same institution is taking so long to apply this technology to its own matters?