Campus Solutions 9.2 will bring U to latest PeopleSoft platform

After years of playing catch-up with PeopleSoft upgrades, UIT's University Support Services (USS) is bringing Campus Solutions (CS) to version 9.2 – Oracle's current platform – in early October.

USS is tasked with upgrading and maintaining PeopleTools, the back-end framework components of the application, and PeopleSoft Applications, which includes user-facing applications like CS, HR, and Financials. Once the CS upgrade is complete, all three will run on version 9.2.

Rachael Sheedy, associate director for Product Management and Student Systems in USS, said this will be the first full CS upgrade since 2010.

"Oracle released the CS 9.2 upgrade to keep CS and HR on the same technology platform, and provide additional functionality," Sheedy said.

The impetus for upgrading is to remain under vendor support, but new versions also include security improvements, bug fixes, and tool enhancements. A key advantage of the new version of CS, Sheedy said, is the integration of newer "Fluid User Interface" pages and applications, promising more intuitive user navigation and a mobile-responsive interface.

"The main purpose and benefit of Fluid pages is that they allow users to interact with PeopleSoft CS via a mobile device," Sheedy said. "The original product pages, called 'Classic' pages, were designed to be accessed via a desktop computer and are not mobile friendly. Fluid pages are mobile friendly and provide an improved user experience."

The success of every upgrade is a credit to a wide-ranging effort led by USS and in collaboration with dedicated IT and business professionals across campus. At the Strategic Information Technology Committee (SITC) meeting on August 21, Deputy CIO Ken Pink called attention to the efforts of Andrea Roner, associate registrar of Student Systems and Technology, who helped USS retire about 70 percent of modifications made to PeopleSoft's enrollment engine, dating back to 1997.

"We couldn't accomplish an upgrade like this without the help and coordination of a great many people and teams," Sheedy said. "I have so much confidence in everyone involved, and I'm grateful for their expertise and dedication."

 

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