Have You Refreshed Your Student System Strategy and Roadmap Lately?

For colleges and universities, a Student Information System (SIS) is more than just software—it is the lifeblood of campus operations. The SIS drives essential processes throughout the student lifecycle, including admissions, financial aid, course catalog management, course enrollment, student billing, student degree progress, and transcripts. Every day, students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders rely on the SIS for crucial tasks. The SIS touches every aspect of campus life; it helps manage compliance, improve administrative efficiency, and support student success. But how confident are you that your SIS is operating at its full potential?  Is it user-friendly? Does it streamline operations and help your students succeed academically? Does it integrate well with other enterprise systems and reflect your institution’s unique processes and values?

The Importance of Reviewing Your Student System Strategy

As the higher education landscape evolves, it is essential to confirm that your SIS meets the needs of today’s students and faculty. An effective, future-proof SIS not only simplifies daily tasks but also serves as a platform for student success. Here are some critical questions for your institution to consider:

• User Experience: Can students easily use the system to review and accept financial aid, register for courses, and access critical academic information? Does it help guide students through their academic careers, helping them make the right course enrollment decisions? Does the interface make sense to faculty and staff, or are there persistent bottlenecks? Does it help your advisors interact with students effectively?
• System Integration: Does your SIS connect seamlessly with other campus technologies, such as Recruitment and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems? Does it support efficient data sharing and smooth workflows?
• Institutional Differentiation: Does your SIS reflect your institution’s distinctive processes, values, and goals? Does it differentiate your institution and provide a personalized student experience?
• Operational Efficiency: Is your system optimized for efficiency? Would more automation or improved workflow management help reduce administrative burdens and allow staff to concentrate on more strategic tasks? Is your system technically tuned so that your Information Technology team can focus on mission-critical and student-focused activities vs keeping the system up and running?
• Improved Reporting: Cloud reporting simplifies this process by allowing multiple dashboards to be set up with each one triggered to create reports based on a few parameters. This provides information instantly.

Work with Sierra-Cedar, the Student System Specialists

At Sierra-Cedar, we have decades of experience collaborating with higher education institutions to implement and optimize Student Information systems. We understand the unique challenges faced by colleges and universities. That’s why we have developed a flexible roadmap to help colleges and universities assess and modernize their SIS. Whether you are considering staying on-premises or moving to the cloud, Sierra-Cedar is here to support you at every stage of your SIS journey.

Step 1: Roadmap Consultation

Unsure about transitioning to the cloud? We can help assess your readiness, analyze your current system, and develop a strategic plan tailored to your institution’s future needs. We will work with you to help identify an appropriate path forward, whether that involves optimizing your current SIS or planning for a cloud migration.

Step 2: PeopleSoft Optimization

If your institution plans to remain on-premises for the time being, we can help optimize your current PeopleSoft system to enhance efficiency and achieve cost savings. Even without migrating to the cloud, system improvements can boost performance and prepare you for a future cloud transition.

Step 3: Cloud Hosting and Managed Services

For institutions that plan to remain on Campus Solutions for several more years, considering a transition to the public cloud may be a worthwhile interim step. We can migrate your Campus Solutions system to the public cloud then manage the day-to-day technical operations for you. This would allow your staff to focus on strategic initiatives rather than system maintenance.

Step 4: Cloud Transition

Are you ready for a full transition to Oracle Student Cloud? We will guide you through the deployment process, helping your institution take advantage of modern cloud-based systems with limited disruption. Whether you choose a phased approach or a full migration, we’ll facilitate a seamless and efficient transition.

Why Sierra-Cedar?

With over 27 years of experience deploying applications for higher education, Sierra-Cedar has collaborated with 398 colleges and universities. We have successfully completed over 2,500 Oracle ERP implementations and worked on 18 Student Financial Planning projects, 11 of which are already live. Currently, we are working on two early adopter Oracle Student Cloud projects. Our extensive experience in higher education means we understand the complexities of managing complex academic systems while prioritizing a student-centered approach.

Is it time to refresh your SIS strategy? Contact us today to discuss your Student System Roadmap!

In today’s rapidly changing academic environment, it is essential that your SIS aligns with your institution’s mission. Whether you’re looking to enhance your current system or begin a cloud migration, Sierra-Cedar can help guide your institution toward a more effective student system.