by Justin Flam
Daily Lobo
Due to a pending series of technology upgrades, UNM students may have to wait in fewer lines in the future, said Fred Youberg, manager of the Electronic Management Information Systems project.
The upgrades, which will affect some administrative processes, campus information systems and other support systems, are meant to increase the efficiency of services among University faculty, staff and students.
The project improvements will come in the form of network changes, adjustments in administrative and University procedures and increased Web-based information available to students.
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"This is an enterprise-wide integrating system that integrates all alumni, financial and registrar activities," Youberg said.
The new system is being used after a study conducted by the University revealed some inefficiency in UNM administrative procedures.
Started in the fall of 1997, the project's original goal was reengineering business processes at UNM. But, the project was expanded after it was determined that other areas of the University could use the same type of upgrades, Youberg said.
The project will be used in phases during the next seven years, according to a Sept. 10 memorandum sent by UNM President Chris Garcia to University faculty and staff.
"The first project is to improve all of our financial processes by July 2004," Youberg said.
He added that the next step will take two years and will focus on student and financial aid systems.
Scheduled for completion in 2009, the improvement project will cost between $5 million and $6 million a year, according to Garcia's memo. Included in that cost will be technological upgrades such as new computer servers.
The memo also states that cost projections by an outside consulting firm estimate that the University will save $85 million during the next 10 years.
"This is the first time we have ever done an institution-wide implementation like this," Youberg said.
He added that past institutional and departmental upgrades have not been made collectively.
"They've been brought up sort of piecemeal, they're not integrated, none of them really talk to each other," Youberg said.
In addition to technological aspects, Youberg said administrative procedures will also be improved. The current administrative system, he said, is based on a 1950's model of operation.
"I think this is a step in the right direction and it will help the University do a better job in its activities," said Bill Adkins, interim associate vice president of Computer Information Resources and Technology.
Although the project stipulates that planned improvements will not lead to reductions in staffing, UNM employees will endure other costs, Youberg said.
University staff and faculty will need to be trained to adjust to the new system.
"People are going to have to learn new things and to do things new ways," Youberg said.
