IU centralizing Web services

Checking grades, paying the bursar bill and registering for classes are just a few of the tasks IU students are able to do on the Internet. Soon, even more conveniences will become accessible through the Web.\nUniversity Information Technology Systems has implemented a new system powered by PeopleSoft software called OneStart at http://onestart.indiana.edu that is giving IU technology a whole new look.\nBeginning fall 2004, students will use OneStart instead of INSITE to register for classes, check grades and request transcripts. The Web site will also include easy access to e-mail accounts, library services and Oncourse. \nStudents can also learn their new student identification numbers on the site. IU decided to stop using social security numbers as SIDs because of potential problems with identity theft.\nUITS intended for OneStart to serve as a single, centralized site where IU students, faculty and staff can access many IU services at once.\nJohn F. Walsh, director of University Information Systems, said OneStart will provide several new features and services not only to students, but to the entire IU community as well.\n"OneStart was started in 2000 as way to deliver electronic services to its major constituents: students, faculty, staff and alumni," Walsh said.\nWalsh said the new system includes services provided by the other major enterprise systems -- financial, human resource/payroll, purchasing, e-mail and course management. He also said OneStart was created to accommodate additional services as needed.\n"Examples of these services might be calendars, classified ads, chat rooms, threaded discussion forums, to name a few," Walsh said. "OneStart proposes to integrate the diverse information systems that provide these services in more meaningful and user friendly ways."\nThe site will provide benefits to users through the log-in process, as well as the ability to customize OneStart to their desire, Walsh said.\n"OneStart has a single sign-on process, with one user ID and password," Walsh said. "The OneStart default page is based on the user's primary role."\nThe Office of the Bursar introduced the new system to all IU students through a letter. \n"Your social security number will no longer be your bursar account," the letter said. "You have an assigned University Identification Number (UID) which will identify you as a member of the IU community. This new UID will be requested when you transact business with our office."\nLaurie Sullivan, director of the human resource management system, said IU's current information systems were becoming irreparable.\n"The new software and processes will replace the obsolete legacy systems at IU," Sullivan said. "The (system) will provide up-to-date, accurate information, multiple ways to access it and support for the mission-critical functions of teaching, learning and advising."\nSophomore Arun D'Silva said the bursar account features make OneStart very appealing.\n"The part of OneStart that I use most often is the bill payment section because I handle all my own bursar bills," D'Silva said. "Paying bills only takes a few seconds, and I don't have to worry about writing checks or due dates. I can just log on, and in a few seconds I have it taken care of."\nDespite this, D'Silva believes the system still has some negative aspects.\n"I have mixed feelings about the eventual success of OneStart at IU," D'Silva said. "I think it is a good idea to be able to access all essential information from a central location. However navigating through OneStart is often troublesome, and you can't always find the information you're looking for."\nWalsh said by using feedback from student government and student service functions, the services will constantly evolve to reflect needs.\nWalsh and Sullivan said the new system will go into effect beginning in the 2004-2005 academic year. Also, Walsh said a new version of OnCourse is current being developed and will be delivered to IU in 2005.\nTo view all the services OneStart currently offers and will offer next fall, visit http://registrar.iupui.edu/insite-onestart/htm. This site also details the transition from INSITE to OneStart. If students, faculty or staff have questions about how to use OneStart, a help site is offered at http://kb.indiana.edu/menu/onestart.html.\n-- Contact staff writer Matt Mattucci at mmattucc@indiana.edu.