In their first meeting of the new year, newly elected Regents Kathy White (D-Ann Arbor) and David Brandon (R-Ann Arbor), along with the rest of the University Board of Regents discussed yesterday the progress of updating new administrative computer systems.
More than $9.5 million will be needed to finish the implementation of M-Pathways, the University's consolidated computer administration system, which is being introduced in stages.
The new systems will replace computer systems that are becoming outdated. Most of the older systems have been in use for more than a quarter of a century.
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When completed after the turn of the century, M-Pathways will link computer systems from different areas of the University including physical resource management, research, human resources, student affairs and financial information.
Patterson said the systems needed to be completely overhauled because it would have been difficult to upgrade the systems for new features and technologies and for year 2000 problem compliance.
"We were going to loose our ability to compete for the best students, faculty, and research dollars," she said, adding that the overlap in computer systems has led to numerous "data redundancy across the University.
"We should throw (the old systems) out and put in place a new data structure that can be used and shared across the University," Patterson said.
Currently, more than $30.5 million has been spent on implementing the M-Pathways system, mainly on consulting and contracting. Another $4.9 million has been spent on the software itself.
The first implementation of M-Pathways involved hospital physical asset management of University Hospitals in October 1996. More systems have become available over time, most recently one last semester involving application processing.
To date, 20,200 applications have been processed, with M-Pathways programs helping find the best applicants from the entire pool.
"Last year at this time, 6,000 applications were backlogged - there is no backlog today," Patterson said.
But some problems with the system have created major problems for users. "We are not without out our challenges," Patterson said.
Patterson said that there is a significant delay in the processing of University payments to employees and vendors. Monthly financial reports across the University are also seeing delays.
"The system is working but it is taking longer than is acceptable," Patterson said.
Michigan Student Assembly treasurer Bram Elias said that the slowness of M-Pathways has prevented MSA from seeing current financial statements.
"All year long, we haven't been able to get an up-to-date financial report," Elias said.
He said the delays in receiving their financial reports have caused MSA to be conservative in spending.
"We don't know how much money we have," Elias said.
Despite the moderate performance of the new financial systems, more than 64,000 checks totaling $337 million and more than 44,000 purchase orders have been processed by M-Pathways to date.
Switching from the old systems to M-Pathways has also been troublesome for many users. "We underestimated how difficult it was going to be," Patterson said.
Along with assistance on the Internet, a telephone help-desk receives 300 to 400 calls a day, Patterson said.
University Provost Nancy Cantor said that many M-Pathways users are having trouble with the new systems.
"We are really trying to answer each individual e-mail from faculty," Cantor said. "They just want this thing fixed."
Chief Financial Officer Robert Kasdin said that the problems are being solved. "Significant changes are made every month. We're going to keep chipping away one user at a time."
The regents also discussed other projects, approved more resolutions and heard other reports at the meeting.
n A review of the Year of Humanities and Arts was presented by Julie Ellison, associate vice president for research. YoHA mission was to build educational communities through the arts and humanities.
Town-Gown 2000, a program associated with YoHA, will bring artists and scholars from universities and local communities together to establish national networks for arts and humanities.
A White House Town-Gown 2000 conference will be held March 11. University President Lee Bollinger will preside over the conference.
n The regents approved design schematics for two new helipads for the University Hospitals. The new site, located below East Medical Drive, will be fully landscaped and be linked to the University Hospitals by a 250 foot long tunnel.
n Susan Feagin, vice president for development, reported that 10,000 more gifts have been bequeathed to the University than last year.
n University alumnus Claude Shannon was profiled in a new monthly regents program called UM Greats, meant to showcase the accomplishments of graduates who have had a significant impact on the world.
Shannon's "mathematical model is the basis of all information technology used today," said executive vice president for research Fawwaz Ulbay.
n Members from the Michigan Student Assembly spoke on the review process for the Student Code of Conduct.
"I was very impressed with the report that came from MSA ... I think it forms the basis to make the Code better," Laurence Deitch (R-Bloomfield Hills) said.
n Members from the Graduate Employee Organization informed the Board of Regents on the current contract negotiations with the University. GEO spoke on the current problems with the current contract.
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