Staff
Some of the greatest improvements brought by Project K.E.Y.S. will be
realized by the people who use them most: the staff at Kent State
University. The Banner suite of applications will not only bring new
capabilities in the areas of reporting, but will also streamline many of
the processes that are day-in and day-out by any one of the staff members
of the University's eight campuses.
*** Updates for Staff are now sent via FlashLine messages, and through the "Personal Annoucement" section in FlashLine.
GENERAL ISSUES, HUMAN RESOURCES Q&A
-How does Banner speed up some of the current processes for hiring?
-Overall, will workflow increase efficiency?
-Will students be able to access workflow processes?
-Will information be updated to the phone directory more easily?
-With the upgraded portal environment, can I customize my Flashline channels?
-How will imaging and workflows work together?
-Will I be able to access this new Banner system remotely, say, from another part of the world?
-Will we still have to change our Flashword every six months?
-Lotus Notes won't let me approve expenses easily. How does Banner allow that?
-Will Banner bring an end to paper-based PAFs?
-Who can use the new reporting tool?
-Will Regional Campuses be able to use this reporting?
-Will the codes and shortcuts for information change?
-Is it the portal that makes it the UDC?
-Can my administrative assistant check in from home?
-Who is designing the vocabulary for Banner. Where do these terms come from?
-$23 million is a lot of money for this project. Any cost coming to departments?
How does Banner speed up some of the current processes for hiring?
Banner’s workflow capabilities will allow us to add efficiencies to many current processes. The team has identified 22 workflows for Human Resources, with 7 to be implemented for the January 1, 2007 Go-Live date. In addition, Banner allows for many processes to be automated and available in the online portal environment. Return to top.
Overall, will workflow increase efficiency?
Because of its automatic tracking, you will know where a request is in the workflow stage. You will know who has it, for how long and when it is due for approval. You can also put “triggers” into the system to let you know if someone inline to provide authorization for a stage in the workflow is currently away or out of the office. Workflow is designed to keep need ‘paperwork’ moving automatically, increasing the overall turnaround and efficiency of our daily processes. Return to top.
Will students be able to access workflow processes?
Banner is role-based in that only authorized people are able to access certain processes. If a student is authorized to begin, or continue a workflow, then they will have access to it from the web portal. The login also acts as an electronic signature, providing for added security. Return to top.
Will information be updated to the phone directory more easily?
Any information that is changed in Banner will automatically update those fields contained within the Kent State University directory. Return to top.
With the upgraded portal environment, can I customize my FlashLine channels?
Yes. With the new improvements to FlashLine, a student or employee can easily pick from several customized options. While some University channels cannot be changed, the user will have access to weather, news, stocks and more. Return to top.
How will imaging and workflows work together?
Banner can work with many imaging programs and procedures currently in place at the University. Ideally, the University will eventually move away from paper. Banner positions each campus to be able to image and index records and data as they come in. Return to top.
Will I be able to access this new Banner system remotely, say, from another part of the world?
We are still looking at remote access. We know this is an important technology and we are looking at every option to make it available, while at the same time ensuring that the strictest standards for security are also available to protect vital and sensitive information. Return to top.
Will we still have to change our Flashword every six months?
This is an administrative policy of the University and not a part of Banner. Return to top.
Lotus Notes won’t let me approve expenses easily. How does Banner allow that?
Banner’s workflow is easier to use because Banner’s workflow platform is designed especially for workflow processes. Lotus Notes is email software that the University has manipulated into doing some workflow processes for us. Banner provides the University with the software to improve the efficiency of our current workflows and develop new ones. Return to top.
Banner uses software called a “J-Initiator” which allows Banner to interface with several different forms of Java language. Banner is much more Java-compatible than our current systems. Return to top.
No. The implementation of the Banner ERP applications and the email replacement are two completely separate efforts by the University. Return to top.
Will Banner bring an end to paper-based PAFs?
Eventually. With Banner workflow, the University is moving in the direction of becoming less dependant on bulky paper processes and utilizing more efficient electronic means. Return to top.
Historical data will only be available in electronic form beginning on January 1, 2007. However, all of your previous pay information is still maintained by the University and accessible to you upon request. Return to top.
When we initially sign up for direct deposit, will the first check still come to the department as a "real check" and then be direct deposited from the second paycheck forward?
The procedures for initiating direct deposit will remain the same as they are now. After signing up for direct deposit, the employee's first check will be paper. Likewise, because of the bank's procedures, the process of direct deposit for existing employees still require two pay cycles to be processed electronically into their bank accounts. Return to top.
The roll-out strategy is much different and there will be two production servers and a development server. The development server will be used for testing and will not interfere with the two production servers. This is a whole new architecture that is more stable and more scalable. Return to top.
Who can use the new reporting tool?
The reporting tool is role-based. Users will be permitted to access the information relative to their position at the University. Return to top.
Will Regional Campuses be able to use this reporting?
Of course! The concept of the Unified Digital Campus is to ensure that everyone can have access to a shared information system. Regional campuses will not only have access to all the information within the Banner environment, they can also use filters to narrow down their searches to regional campus-specific personnel and student information. Return to top.
Will the codes and shortcuts for information change?
It depends. In some circumstances, classifications and codes have to change because Banner’s coding of job positions and such differs from the current practices at Kent State University. However, the Data Standards Committee is committed to ensuring that “crosswalk” documentation will be available to ensure a smooth transition from the currently-used language to the classifications and codes in the Banner environment. Return to top.
Is it the portal that makes it the UDC?
Yes. It’s bringing everything you use to put it in one place. The portal unifies all the components (Banner, workflows, reporting) and implements these improvements/upgrades at the same time.
Luminis Portal is the very visible front end that everyone will see, the Unified Digital Campus is more than just the portal. It is tying all of the University’s applications together to further the institution’s goals that makes the UDC what it is. So, all of the ERP solutions are part and parcel of the UDC, not just the portal. Return to top.
Can my administrative assistant check in from home?
No. Kronos will not be available outside of the Kent.edu domain. Special permission may be available, however the team is still reviewing this option. Return to top.
Who is designing the vocabulary for Banner. Where do these terms come from?
For reporting in Advancement, we used what it came with. During training, every user should become more familiarized with the Banner terminology. The training team will also provide reference material and “crosswalks” so that users can look at the terms of the new environment and their relation to former processes and terms. Return to top.
$23 million is a lot of money for this project. Any cost coming to departments?
The budget is set and, at this point, there are no new costs. Regional campuses and auxiliaries are charged a portion of this cost, however, individual departments will not be charged for this. Return to top.
As soon as possible. The team needs to know what employees currently use so that they can measure those programs against the processes offered by Banner. Then, the team can make a decision on whether to continue with the current process or to adapt to the process included with Banner. Return to top.