Integrating Disparate Systems to Support the Online Campus Becky King Baylor University

Integrating Disparate Systems to Support the

Online Campus

Becky King

Baylor University

Integrating Disparate Systems to Support the Online Campus

Baylor University is…

• Located in Waco, Texas

• The oldest institution of higher learning in the state, founded in 1845

• Affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas

• The largest Baptist University in the world


The Mission of the University

To educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment with a caring community.


Other Baylor Info:

• 13,719 students in Fall 2000

• Emphasis on undergraduate education

• Highly ranked Law School

• George W. Truett Seminary

• 1,700+ fulltime faculty and staff

• Only private school in Big 12 athletic conference


Campus Technology Organization

Information Technology Services

IT Business Affairs

Inform ation M anagem ent System s System s & Netw orks

Inform ation System s & Services Distributed System s & Services

Academ ic Technology Center Student Technology Services

Dr. Reagan Ram sow erAsst VP and CIO


Changes in Progress

• Windows 2000 implementation

• IIS Web server

• Internet Explorer browser

• Outlook mail client

• Exchange e-mail & calendaring system

• SQL Server departmental databases


In other words…


Other Campus IT Stuff

• Wired dorms

• AirBear

• Computer labs

• Internet filtering

• Student kiosks

• Technology classrooms


Baylor Information Systems

• IBM OS/390, DB2

• AIX, Oracle

• COBOL, C, SQL

• Crystal Reports, FOCUS

• SCT, PeopleSoft, Diebold, Paciolan, Noel-Levitz, etc.

• Web services


Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.

- Napoleon I


Our solution…


A Little History

• Late 1980’s needed online directory– VSAM SIS on IBM mainframe– Homegrown CODASYL HRS on Honeywell– Had to have data from both

• Created COBOL extract/load programs

• Loaded indexed file in VMS on VAX

• New campus ID card system


More History

• 1991 conversion to Rdb Person Database

• Administrative Information Systems upgraded & converted

• Person Database enhanced as needed

• Person Database converted from Rdb to Oracle


The Database

• Oracle 7.3.4 (soon 8.1.6)• AIX Unix on 8-way RS/6000 J50• Shares server with SCT Banner HRS & ADS• Stores these categories of data:

– Personal info– Class enrollment info– Validation/rule info– Authorization info for faculty evaluation &

advisement data access


Database Processing

• Nightly updates 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.– From SIS (SCT Plus2000, DB2)– From Housing (Homegrown, DB2)– From HRS (SCT Banner, Oracle)– From ID System (Diebold ICAM, RMS)


Database Processing(continued)• Nightly updates 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.

– To E-mail System– To Library System– To Student Life Center System– To ID System– To LDAP files– To Kerberos– To other stuff


SIS ADS (DB2) Housing HRS (Oracle) (DB2) (Oracle) Campus ID System FUTURE

Web Apps White Pages E-Mail Web Directory Accounts Library BearAdvice Patron Faculty Evaluations File E-Mail Forwarding Directory Info. Rlse. Course Schedule Student Life Ctr File Ad hoc e-mail address books E-mail LDAP load Authentication LDAP load Network ID creation Kerberos load Course catalog file Active Directory load E-business support Additional Web applications FUTURE

Person Database Processing Flowchart


Time for a break?


When a new “person” added:

• Nine digit PID created

• Network ID (Bear ID) created

• Initial settings for ID System determined

• Initial settings for directory information release flags established…


Directory Information Release Flags

Maintained for these data items:Name Salutation

Suffix E-mail

Dorm address Dorm phone

Local address Local phone

Perm address Perm phone

Classification Major

Office address Office phone

Home address Home phone

Employee type Job/Position

Web homepage Picture


Values for Information Release Flags:

• N - No Access

• B - Baylor business (employee) access only

• C - Campus (employee & student) access only

• I - Open Internet access



Also when Person Database updated:

• Person’s changing role with the University updated…– Admittee– Student– Faculty– Staff– Auxiliary personnel– Special (exception)– Alumni (planned for future)


Class Info by Term

• Includes all critical data fields (bldg, room, time, instructor(s), max, etc.)

• Supports printed & Web class schedules

• Enrollments loaded daily, or twice daily

• Supports Web applications


OK, tell me more.


The Person Database is centralized point of creation of a unique network ID.

This Bear ID is username for…– e-mail– calendaring– most Web applications– network access


Nightly files from Person Database flow to:

LabLog E-mail

Kerberos (e-mail) Kerberos (fac/staff dial-in)

Library System Student Life Center System

ID System Mainframe authorization database

LDAP (e-mail) LDAP (authentication)


Regular and ad hoc batch jobs run from the Person Database.


Web Applications Supported

• Web Directory

• Web White Pages

• Information Release

• Resnet Signup

• E-mail Forwarding

• BearAdvice

• Chapel Attendance


Web Apps (continued)

• Electronic Forms• IT Seminars• Web for Employees• Set PIN• Faculty Evaluations• Course Listings• Electronic Grade Submission• PL/SQL routines


The Future?


Plans Include…

• Extension of network IDs to alumni

• Active Directory support

• Additional e-business & Web applications

• “My Baylor” student portal

• Conversion of Student Information System


Staff resources dedicated to the


Biggest Day-to-Day Issues

• Coordination & timing of jobs & file transfers

• ID changes in SIS & HRS

• New critical field values

• Term rollover coordination

• Research of questions


alumni

parents

students

prospects

faculty

contractors

donors

staff

retirees

Integrating Disparate Systems to Support the

Online Campus

Becky King

Baylor University

Documents

Integrating Disparate Systems to Support the Online Campus Becky King Baylor University