Banner training begins for finance, HR

Staff training has begun at Northwest for the implementation of finance and human resources Banner, a comprehensive management software system designed and marketed by SunGard Higher Education.

Known as Banner Finance System and Banner Human Resources, the new software will be deployed using relational database management technology developed by Oracle. The system replaces software known as HRS Plus (Human Resources System) and FRS Plus (Financial Records System), which was installed 25 years ago.

Administrative entities affected by the upgrade include accounting, payroll, human resources, purchasing and finance. Student services functions, including admissions and the registrar's office, made the switch to Banner in 2004.

When training, installation and deployment are complete in about 15 months, Northwest administrators and staff will have access to an integrated software system serving the entire university.

Banner Finance System is a comprehensive financial information and management package designed to deliver strategic fiscal data. Banner Human Resources supports a wide range of functions, including employment and compensation; budgeting; position control and staffing; applicant tracking, requisitioning and processing; EEO, W-2 and 1099-R reporting; payroll processing; labor relations; health and safety administration; and benefits administration.

Training in Banner Finance for accounting, finance and purchasing personnel is to continue over the next nine months with the system scheduled to go live on July 1, 2008.

Training for Banner Human Resources users will begin in November with a projected go-live date of January 1, 2009. Affected employees include staff in human resources, payroll, finance and accounting.

Northwest Controller Dan Edmonds is serving as project manager for the training and conversion effort, which has been named BCAT$ for Banner Conversion All Together!

"We respectfully ask for your patience as we go through training, development and implementation of these projects," Edmonds wrote in a welcome message posted on the BCAT$ Web site (www.nwmissouri.edu/compserv/bcat). "Our goal, in addition to achieving a seamless, integrated system, is to provide a high level of service to our departments and employees."

Dr. Jon Rickman, vice president for information systems, said that while the transition will be challenging, it is also necessary, since vendor support for the current system -- ancient by software standards -- ends in 2011.

Rickman said switching to "Web-friendly" Banner means users will have access to online support and other resources available solely through the Internet, and noted that an integrated system will be far simpler to administer.

"The fewer software vendors we have -- the fewer databases and languages -- the better off we are," he said.

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone (660) 562-1704
Fax (660) 562-1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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