The University spent an estimated $150 million for
a new system-wide business software product from PeopleSoft, even
though other institutions of higher learning have found it to
be inadequate and unreliable, according to a series of articles
in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Complaints about PeopleSoft can be heard across
the campus. "Ten times more work and no flexibility,"
is the word from the trenches. "A revamping of the former
system, which seemed to work very well, would have been far less
expensive," according to those close to the situation. Alumni,
faculty, students, and taxpayers should be outraged about squandered
resources and wasted time stemming from the PeopleSoft decision,
which involved little or no input from faculty.
Small wonder there's no money to fund faculty contracts,
buy books for the library, or support a full complement of varsity
athletics. I urge the Faculty Senate to call upon the Board of
Trustees to investigate the PeopleSoft decision and its consequences.
JOHN MOORE
professor,
Psychology Department
Joyce Hatch, interim vice chancellor for Administration and
Finance, replies:
The PeopleSoft project and other investments in
information technology are intended to enhance the life and business
of the University. These investments are necessary because the
old systems had become woefully obsolete, could not function in
tandem with the Commonwealth's new information system, and could
not perform many of the tasks expected at a 21st century university.
The University simply cannot afford, nor will students
accept, a university that is behind the technological curve. A
significant part of our recent project efforts have been devoted
to the professional development of staff so that they can take
full advantage of this modern system. Yes, this campus has made
a considerable investment of approximately $50 million in these
efforts, but this is right in line with what other institutions
of our size and complexity have also invested in their technology
infrastructure. The investments we make today are intended to
allow us to maintain a modern integrated system for the next two
decades.
With the launch of the human resources and finance
portions of the system in recent months, more than two thirds
of the system is already locked in place. The launch was a success
and virtually flawless when one considers the complexity and breadth
of the initiative. On the student system side, the Amherst campus
Admissions Office has been using the system for more than two
years and most of the remaining student services portion of the
system will be launched in the fall. After more than four years
of University-wide planning and implementation efforts, we are
very close to the end of this major transition.
Over 250 universities are using the information
systems that we are implementing now. We have benefited from the
lessons they have learned, allowing us to create one of the most
integrated and efficient systems in the country.
On July 28-30, E.S. "Ted" Blowes and Diana
K. Weiner, judges from the America in Bloom competition, visited
our campus to assess the University's beautification efforts.
While on campus, they visited Tillson Farm to evaluate our recycling
program and wastewater treatment, the Du Bois Library and its
gardens, toured the campus, and met with various staff and volunteers.
On behalf of the Campus Beautification Committee, I would like
to acknowledge and thank the many people who helped make the participation
in the competition a success:
The coordinating committee of Nancy Garrabrants,
Barbara Pitoniak and Bruce Thomas; Stan Sherer, photographer for
The Campus Chronicle; Union Station restaurant (Matthew and Emma
Pitoniak); Cathryn Lombardi and the staff at Hillside; Wendy Cooper
and Priscilla Coe, Computer Science; Becky Lawlor, Veterinary
and Animal Sciences; Kathy Conway, Stockbridge School of Agriculture;
Leslie Schaler, Barbara Morgan and their many volunteers, Library;
Herb Bryan, Brian Konieczny, Jen Konieczny, and Art Wentworth,
Grounds Management; Bob Camp-bell and Herm Eichstaedt, Housing
Services; Jack Ahern, Waugh Arboretum; Michael Davidsohn, Stockbridge
and the College of Food and Natural Resources; Jane Szelewicki
and Kathy Rossi and Jim Britt, Waste Management; the staff of
Landscaping Services; and the participants of the Adopt-a-Planter
program.
And there are probably many more people to thank.
We have quite a treasure on our campus: the many gardens, tree
specimens, the great recycling and wastewater treatment program,
and many dedicated staff and volunteers. I hope the campus community
will thank these many individuals by supporting the various programs
that enhance the beauty of our campus.
MICHAEL WISEMAN
co-chair,
Campus Beautification Committee
