Student Information System (SIS) Renewal - Program Background, Rationale and Expectations

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

Student Information System (SIS) Renewal outlines a university-wide modernization effort to replace outdated technology that currently supports and stores student data from application through graduation. The program explains why the existing 1980s-era platform creates enterprise risk, limits agility during disruptions, and increases manual workload. It also justifies adopting Campus Solutions for stability and feature flexibility. The document details next steps, phased roll-out starting in summer 2022, and expectations for staff input, simplified processes, and standard configuration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages1

AccessFree to download

Background

What is it?

Why are we doing this?

Why Campus Solutions?

What happens if we DON’T?

What happens if we DO?

Expectations

What happens next?

What we need from YOU!

Student Information System (SIS) Renewal BACKGROUND What is it? The SIS Renewal Program is a major university-wide effort to modernize the IT systems that support and store student data from application to graduation. At BU, the most visible components of the Student Information System are the Student Link and the Faculty Link. Why are we doing this? Our current Student Information System uses technology from the 1980’s. Keeping the SIS on such outdated technology poses an enterprise-level risk to BU operations. A new SIS will support BU’s vision for 2030 which includes using digital technologies to engage with students, supporting learning across colleges, and operating more effectively and efficiently. Why Campus Solutions? Campus Solutions is a mature, reliable product that meets our needs and can be implemented within a few years. Most of our peer institutions have adopted Campus Solutions because it provides technical stability and the flexibility to adopt new features as they emerge. What happens if we DON’T? Supporting such an old system becomes more difficult each year, as more people with expertise in the technology retire. This legacy system often isn’t flexible enough to adapt to meet university needs quickly. When challenges occur, like COVID-19, our system lacks the agility to address them, causing more manual work and lessthan-ideal experiences for students and faculty. VS. What happens if we DO? The SIS Renewal will help us avoid major risks to University operations and begin a transformation of our SIS to a more flexible, collaborative, and standardized system. This will better support BU’s vision for the future, create unification across departments and schools, and provide better services to students and faculty – ultimately empowering our students to be more successful. EXPECTATIONS What happens next? First, the program team will design how the new system will look and work. Roll-out of the new system will happen in phases, with the first deployment in summer 2022. The program team will provide communications, resources, and support the whole way. What we need from YOU! 􀀹 Recognize the program as an opportunity for change in order to move the university forward. 􀀹 Provide input in program-related meetings, demos, focus groups, and workshops when invited. 􀀹 Aim for common, simplified processes to unify the student experience and promote collaboration. 􀀹 Value the flexibility of standard configuration over complex, custom development. To learn more, visit [bu.edu/SISrenewal](bu.edu/SISrenewal)

FAQs

What is the SIS Renewal Program trying to accomplish?

The SIS Renewal Program modernizes IT systems that support and store student data from application to graduation, using newer technology and a more flexible approach.

Why does BU need to renew the current Student Information System?

The existing system relies on technology from the 1980s, creating enterprise-level risk, reducing flexibility, and making it harder to respond quickly to university needs and disruptions like COVID-19.

What should staff and stakeholders do as part of the SIS Renewal?

Recognize the program as an opportunity for change and provide input in meetings, demos, focus groups, and workshops when invited, while supporting common simplified processes and standard configuration over complex customization.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai