| ||||||||
|
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact strives to maintain communication with all of its member states. This newsletter provides higher education institutions and agencies timely information about MHEC programs and policy research and analysis. |
|||||||||||||||||
| October 15, 2008
MHEC contract with Oracle is basis for new student information system in Nebraska
After two years of study, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved Oracle USA as the provider of a new $29.8 million student information system in early September. The student information system, to be in place by August 2010, will serve the four campuses of the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska State College System, which includes Chadron State, Peru State and Wayne State. The Midwestern Higher Education Compact’s contract with Oracle provided the starting point for negotiations. "The prices MHEC had won were useful to us as a starting point for further negotiations about concessions," indicated Walter Weir, chief information officer for the University of Nebraska.
The new system will manage the complete student experience, including such key processes as recruitment, admissions, financial aid, registration, housing and tuition.
Several participants in the selection process are also involved in MHEC activities. Linda Pratt, the executive vice president and provost of the University of Nebraska, who was appointed to serve as the executive sponsor of the SIS selection process, also serves as a MHEC commissioner. MHEC’s Technologies Committee members also served in advisory capacities throughout Nebraska’s process: Weir served on the NeSIS Steering Committee, Dennis Linster, Wayne State College, assisted on the NeSIS Core Team Committee and also serves as the chair of the MHEC Technologies Committee; and John Dunning also from Wayne State provided input on a technical committee. Ed Hoffman, from the Nebraska State Colleges System has been involved in MHEC's Master Property Program and he also served on the NeSIS Steering Committee.
Virtualization software vendor details available at mhectech.org
 MHEC’s new contract with Open Systems of Cleveland for VMWare virtualization software, licenses, support services, training and related materials or services posted an updated web page available at www.mhectech.org/vmware. Virtualization software is an increasingly important and expensive component in computer operations that allows a cluster of computers to appear like one, and one computer to appear like many. Virtualization software helps manage licensing costs and reduces staff time. Questions may be directed to Diane Kearney at Open Systems by calling 440-439-2332 x102 or MHEC Chief Information Officer Grant Crawford at 612-626-6383.
Register for MHEC's policy summit by Friday, October 31
Online registration for MHEC’s 4th annual policy summit, Difficult Dialogues, Rewarding Solutions: The Imperative to Expand Postsecondary Opportunities While Controlling Costs, closes Friday, October 31. The summit will take place November 17-18 in Minneapolis and will focus on the need to expand significantly the pool of human capital necessary for states and the Midwest region to remain vibrant and economically competitive in a resource-limited environment. The summit is part of Making Opportunity Affordable, a multi-year initiative of Lumina Foundation for Education focused on improving college access and completion through efforts to improve the overall productivity of colleges and universities. Lumina Foundation has provided generous financial support for the summit. Additional sponsors of the event include Cargill, PhRMA, USA Funds and ACT.
The policy summit will be held at The Depot, a newly-renovated Renaissance Hotel located in the historic Milwaukee Road train station in downtown Minneapolis. The hotel is within walking distance of the Mississippi riverfront, the world-renowned Guthrie Theatre, the Mill City Museum, and the downtown shopping and entertainment districts. A light rail stop located three blocks from the hotel provides convenient access to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. Registration, hotel information and the policy summit agenda are available online at www.mhec.org/registration. Questions may be directed to Gina Johnson, data analyst and research associate at 612-625-6568. We look forward to seeing you in Minneapolis!
 MHEC in the News
Check out the fall issue of the Higher Education Consortia Magazine. Their fall issue focuses on "Cooperative Purchasing by Design" and MHEC is featured in an article about technology: A Bigger Technology Picture: Delivering Your Students the Newest Tech Tools Starts with Collaboration. Several of MHEC's Technologies Committee members contributed to the article. |
|
||||||||||||||||
To sign up for MHEC e-News or update your contact information in our database, please click HERE. Midwestern Higher Education Compact | 1300 S Second St., Suite 130 | Minneapolis, MN | 55454-1079 Tel: (612) 626-8288 | Fax: (612) 626-8290 | www.mhec.org |
|||||||||||||||||