Salisbury University (SU) provides a variety of important computer based services which enable students to apply for admission, register for classes, maintain academic transcripts, receive and pay bills, and receive financial aid. The list of computer systems which “run the university” is much longer and includes a financials software, human resources software, and an alumni management software. For the most part, office staff and faculty have been the primary users of these systems. Students could only perform a few functions themselves using the GullLine or the Opal Web software. The current systems have been in place since the late 1980’s. The university is now replacing these with the Peoplesoft suite of software products. These new products will allow SU to provide many more self-service web-based services to the campus community in the near future. Peoplesoft will become the corner stone of GullNet.

What is the university planning on doing?
The university’s goal is to provide a wide range of web based academic, financial, and human resource services. The new collection of e-services, called GullNet , will provide a range of services to students and faculty over the Internet. Ultimately, GullNet will be a campus portal which will house not only the Peoplesoft software, but other campus softwares like GroupWise Email, WebCT and the new RMS housing management software. The primary aim is into provide easy access to student and management information of various types through a campus portal, with a single sign-on. No more having to remember 10 usernames and passwords! With web based access you can complete much of your university business from any location, as long as you can get on to the Internet. GullNet is now under construction and should be fully operational in about 18 months.

What is a campus portal?
A campus portal is a web based system which allows you to sign on once and enable you to have access to all sorts of services: registration, email, WebCT, billing information, financial aid, etc. If you have used MyYahoo or MyMSN or AOL, you have used a portal. You will even be able to personalize some of the portal display in GullNet.

Back to Top

Why is the university doing this?
SU provides a small number of web based services now, but GullNet will be much more comprehensive. GullNet services will soon include:

• Access to personal data (name, address, phone numbers, etc.)
• Ability to register for classes in real time 24 hours a day.
• Ability to see your academic records, view grades, degree audit, financial aid records, and billing records.
• Ability to pay bills
• Ability to apply for admission to graduate and graduate programs
• Ability to determine the transferability of courses which you have completed or plan to take in the future.
  

It will start with web registration for Fall 2003 class (in April 2003), and will grow quickly over the next several months.

When will all of this take place?

The SU admissions and human resources office are already using Peoplesoft software. The Registrar’s Office will use it for registration in April 2003. This is the first time most students and faculty will utilize GullNet.

By fall 2003 the following additional services and functions will be in place:

• Degree Audit
• Student records
• Financial Aid
• Student Financials (Cashier’s Office)

Financial Services will go live January 2004 and Contributor Relations (alumni services) will go live in July 2004. The Campus Portal, which will tie all of this together and link to other systems (WebCT, Housing, Library, etc) will come on-line in 2004.

GullNet is a new approach to providing student and faculty services over the web. GullNet will grow as the university grows and we expect to add more services, while integrating the services we have. It will provide a new dimension of services to the campus.

Keep an eye on GullNet!

Back to Top