As of yesterday, Binghamton University students have been able to access course listings, campus news and academic calendars via the BU Brain, the new Web portal that will eventually allow undergrads to access all of their records and academic information from one location.
While students must still use the BUSI Web center to access grading and financial information, the BU Brain is slated to ultimately replace BUSI. Students will use the new system to register for their fall 2008 classes.
BUSI serves as the online facet of the University’s record-handling system. The change follows the administration’s decision to convert the system to Banner, a software developed by SunGard Higher Education and currently used by 40 out of the 64 SUNY campuses.
Over the course of the year, student information has been gradually transferred from the BUSI Web site to the Banner System.
According to Andrea Wawrzusin, associate registrar, the aging system was unable to meet students’ needs and the Brain will provide more options for them.
“We needed to improve the self-service for students,” she said. “We want students to be able to do administration tasks, such as be able to obtain their transcripts online rather than having to go to the Registrar’s office.”
Once the system is fully implemented, when a student enters their user name and password into the Brain they will gain access to all their University-related information.
Terry Kelley-Wallace, the registrar at BU, has been here for 20 years and has since witnessed the progression of the registration process even prior to the BUSI system.
“I remember people had to do everything manually,” she said. “Students would fill out their class schedule by choosing their top 10 classes by a bubble sheet.”
In 1992, the University’s computer technology support group developed the BUSI Web site.
About seven years back, the administration began to look at different software called Oracle, but it did not have all the applications the administration wanted for the student body.
Eventually, they found that SunGard fit the University’s needs.