Project ORION Overview

• Slideshow summary of project goals.
• Project issues for review and comment.
• Project sequence
• Project expectations, guiding principles, and critical success factors.
• Frequently asked questions
• Milestones
• "Speak PeopleSoft": an introduction to the basic technical vocabulary for the project.

Unlike the current university systems for student administration and human resources, which are based upon various software programs with independent (although generally redundant) databases, ORION uses an integrated database that establishes a single record for each individual, regardless of the number or variety of roles that individual may have at the University. ORION will provide improved clerical efficiency and accuracy (and related cost-savings) as well as expanded secure access to student and personnel records for authorized persons all across the University. More importantly, ORION will free students, faculty and staff to devote more time to the central concerns of the University -- teaching, research, and community service -- by eliminating bureaucratic complications, redundancies and wasted effort.

The PeopleSoft system is being implemented for use at the university in a two-year foundation-level implementation (Fall 1997-Fall 1999). From Spring 2000 through 2001, the systems will be enriched to provide institution-specific support for a wide range of student-administration and human-resources management needs. Once in production, ORION will include many new facilities and functions to benefit the university community, as these examples show:

• "Self-service" scheduling, degree audits, catalogue consultation, and transcript services through interactive voice-response and World Wide Web access for students;
• Full-scale online career services for University staff and faculty from applicant-tracking, through employment and promotion to retirement;
• Improved personnel services that promote recruitment and retention of high-quality students, faculty and staff;
• Improved accuracy and delivery of payroll and benefits information and services;
• Accurate data and analysis functions for state and federal institutional reports;
• Year 2000 compliance.
  
  

So that these benefits can be available as soon as possible -- which will mean an early beginning to the cost-savings anticipated from ORION -- the system is being brought into production as soon as its operation has been reconciled with the university's business practices, a process that has required the collaboration of the project teams and advisory committees, the constituent senates, the faculties, and the administration. Information about reconciliation issues has been made available online, and a formal process has been used for their resolution.

For further information, follow these links:

• Project ORION latest update
• Quarterly report
• Rapid implementation
• Foundation and enrichment phases
• Communications plan
• Policy issues
• Issues resolution process
• Project structure
• Administrative sponsors
• Project teams
• Advisory committees
• System modules
• Milestones
• Budget
• PeopleSoft resources and integrated database
• Cambridge Technology Partners, implementation consultants

Copyright © 1997 University of Louisville. All rights reserved.