Projects
IT Related Projects March 2012
iTrent
Further work on employee self-service functionality, now called my.HR, has taken place, culminating in a technical pilot on a test system. The branding and images are being updated by web developers in Marketing in preparation for a pilot on the live system. Further set-up work has taken place for manager self-service.
Within Payroll, data conversion is now being used to automatically update tax codes and student loan changes. These changes happen on a monthly basis but increase in volume at tax year end. This is already proving beneficial by saving a significant number of day’s manual effort and will be an on-going benefit.
The project intern has been involved in delivering training to those who do not have ready access to computers so that they will be prepared to use my.HR, ePayslips, etc.
In the web recruitment project, changes to both the application form and web recruitment pages have been made to take account of feedback received from the focus groups held in December. At the beginning of March, a test system was made available to a selection of internal testers for them to test as both internal and external applicants. The feedback is currently under review and any changes required will be implemented as soon as possible. Work is underway on the correspondence templates, document lifecycles and the production of training materials.
Campus Access Card
The project is still chasing the final Operation and Maintenance manuals and drawings. Some further materials have been received and the project has met with the engineers to progress the outstanding items.
The Project Management Board has been reconvened to look at wrapping up these loose ends and reviewing procedures for managing the system with a view to improving the integrity and robustness.
Lupin
LUPIN has been rolled to all academic schools on a School by School basis since November 2011, with the last school going live on February 8th. This was followed by the roll out to Research Students on March 20th such that research students now also have the ability to manage their own publications and upload items into the Institutional Repository using LUPIN.
HR and research student data is updated automatically on a daily basis and harvesting of outputs is being run automatically on a two weekly schedule along with automatic emails to alert users to new publications found. The link between LUPIN and the PRP facility is also in place.
Cross-walks, the field mappings between LUPIN and the Institutional Repository, are in place. LUPIN has recently been upgraded to the latest version, 3.7.15, in order to resolve a problem with synchronisation between LUPIN and the Institutional Repository. It has been confirmed by Library staff that the problem now seems to be resolved.
Though not within the scope of the LUPIN project, it is recognised that there are requirements which are likely to result in further development work and, if approved, will necessitate the setting up of new projects.
Identity Management for Tenants
The technical environment and configuration requirements have been finalised with Salford Software.
The project team is now working with Salford Software to plan the installation of the ARMS application in a development environment.
Central Timetabling
The in-house developed online timetables have been well received and accessed by over 4,000 students since the start of Semester 2.
The remaining IT tasks within the project are:
- To undertake the necessary IT systems work to enable student module choices to be uploaded and made available for timetabling purposes.
- To complete the necessary IT systems work to provide automated daily transfers from LUSI to CMIS.
- To complete the technical support documentation for the Loughborough University implementation of CMIS including the bespoke online timetables.
- To complete the implementation of exam scheduling.
The final meeting of the project board is to take place at the end of May.
From May, an operational group will be set up to oversee the use and development of the system on an on-going basis.
Student Financial Support
The requirements specification has been drafted for the LUSI changes to facilitate the identification, monitoring and reporting of students eligible for financial support from academic year 2012/13, and to track adjustments. The IT developments project team is meeting in late March to finalise the requirements.
The Implementation Plan Working Group has yet to agree a recommendation for fee liability for students who withdraw. Once agreed, the proposal will be taken to Operations Committee for approval.
Key Information Sets
The LUSI changes for module specifications have been completed and are being tested by Academic Registry and School representatives. The data will be pre-populated from the information on the Central Timetabling system and then checked and amended as necessary by Schools during April. Guidance documentation will be sent to Schools in early April.
The next step will be the finalisation of the requirements at KIS course (programme) and University levels. The project schedule has been revised to allow for departmental checking of learning and teaching data at the KIS Course level to be undertaken in May.
Web Content Management System
The University-wide adoption of the Site Manager Web Content Management System is progressing well and is largely to schedule.
There are now a large number of sites either fully live or in active development within the WCMS environment. Recent launches have included the Library and Counselling and Disability Service. New websites for the Teaching Centre, IT Services and the latest Undergraduate Prospectus are due to be launched very soon.
In active development are websites for: all departments within the School of Science and School of Political, Social and Geographical Sciences; the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering; and School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. The University's 2012 games website is also going to be moved into the WCMS to ensure it is maintained effectively in the run up to and during the Olympic Games.
Work is also progressing on using the WCMS to creating course data feeds that will be used to power a mobile phone app for the Undergraduate Prospectus.
A growing number of University staff now have publishing access to the system and feedback has been positive, both in terms of ease of use and flexibility of managing web content.
Gladstone
The University-wide adoption of the Site Manager Web Content Management System is progressing well and is largely to schedule.
There are now a large number of sites either fully live or in active development within the WCMS environment. Recent launches have included the Library and Counselling and Disability Service. New websites for the Teaching Centre, IT Services and the latest Undergraduate Prospectus are due to be launched very soon.
In active development are websites for: all departments within the School of Science and School of Political, Social and Geographical Sciences; the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering; and School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. The University's 2012 games website is also going to be moved into the WCMS to ensure it is maintained effectively in the run up to and during the Olympic Games.
Work is also progressing on using the WCMS to creating course data feeds that will be used to power a mobile phone app for the Undergraduate Prospectus.
A growing number of University staff now have publishing access to the system and feedback has been positive, both in terms of ease of use and flexibility of managing web content.
i2012
The i2012 data centre is now running 152 production virtual servers, including 17 School servers. IT Services is now ensuring and recording the decommissioning of all migrated servers.
Progress on i2012 network has been delayed by damage to a series of fibre optic cables during building and demolition work, however progress has been made in moving to a new fibre ring in East Park which will stand that part of campus in good stead for the future.
Logicalis completed extensive i2012 voice work during February to get existing production voice services running on the pods. A data collection exercise to capture phone numbers to append to the University Active Directory is complete in Schools and progressing in Support Services – this is required to enable full i2012 voice functionality, including voicemail.
The i2012 corporate desktop pilot service for 10 users in Registry has been proved as fit for purpose with a wider evaluation underway. An i2012 data centre opening ceremony took place on Wednesday 9 May with VIPs including Phil Smith, CEO Cisco UK and Chair BIS TSB, Tom Kelly, CEO Logicalis UK and Tim Marshall, CEO Janet UK.
Windows 7 Upgrade
The Windows 7 migration continues across campus. Some departments are behind schedule which could result in the project not completing the upgrade by the May deadline. An options paper has been submitted to IT Committee for consideration
Service Management Tool
The roll out of Service Now to all IT users of RT has now been completed, and we have signed off on the system with our suppliers Team Ultra.
We are currently working on the scope for Facilities Management.
The next project board meeting will be discussing the next phase(s) of roll out for IT Services.
Olympics – IT Provision
We now have about 15 IT volunteers in the team with a variety of useful skills. Their initial training is May 19/20, we will then be seeking to have them in for a day or two shadowing before they start their roles. IT Services have started drawing up the shift rotas.
The BOA Press Centre location has been confirmed as the new Holywell Stadium and we are working on details of requirements.
Corporate Printing
Good progress has been made on the billing and finance aspects of the project with processes in place for billing. The new ordering process is documented and has been tested. The support processes are documented though have stalled due to outstanding information requirements, which are being prioritised. The G3 upgrade has been planned though some clarification is needed from the suppliers about the timings of the release of a new version. The project is keen not to duplicate effort so want to upgrade to the correct release of Safecom G3.
Labs Project 2012
This year the lab project includes the Multi-Boot iMac Labs (MBiLs).
Funding was available to upgrade S006. This work was brought forward due to problems with slow logins in this lab. Phase One of this work is now complete – the replacement of the system. Phase Two is currently being organised. This involves replacing the monitors.