Projects & Initiatives
Highlights of Major ISC Projects & Initiatives for 2007

Learn how ISC works and partners with others at Penn to make the institution work more efficiently and effectively. Listed below are descriptions of and links to some of the projects and initiatives underway at ISC. To read about a project, select a topic to the right or scroll through the page:

The Advancement Project
The Advancement Project is a joint effort of Development and Alumni Relations, the Treasurer's Office, and ISC to replace the University's systems that support fundraising and gift processing, which date from the 1980s. The project's goal is to integrate and improve the processes, systems, and tools that will allow increased fundraising and support Penn's alumni, donor, and membership programs. Learn more by visiting the The Advancement Project web site.

PennERA
PennERA is the University's Electronic Research Administration project, a multiyear initiative to develop streamlined processes and more efficient tools for handling pre- and post-award administrative tasks related to the sponsored projects of Penn's academic research community. Ultimately, the project will implement a "cradle-to-grave" web-based system for research project development, support, and management. Projects under the PennERA umbrella are being developed jointly by the Office of Research Services, the Office of Regulatory Affairs and ISC. Learn more by visiting the PennERA web site.

Student Borrowing Management System
ISC is working with Student Registration & Financial Services (SRFS) to design and develop a custom, web-based system that will not only facilitate the processing of student loan applications, but will also provide interactive features that will assist students and their families in planning and implementing various student loan options. Based on a flexible rules-based and workflow-based infrastructure, the new Student Borrowing Management System will provide SRFS with greater long-term flexibility, both for adapting to regulatory changes and for introducing new programs, and will also position SRFS for the evolutionary implementation of the next generation of student systems. Learn more by contacting Tess Bocage, Project Leader, bocage@isc.upenn.edu.

Admissions
ISC and the Admissions Office are leading the effort to replace Penn’s existing undergraduate admissions system. The project will also examine potential synergies with graduate admissions as well as seamless integration with other student systems at Penn. The new system will include innovative new tools and solutions that include real-time information and personalized communications for all those involved in the admissions process, from prospective students, parents, alumni, and secondary school counselors to Penn Admissions Officers, faculty, and staff. Project goals are to meet the growing needs and service goals for the admissions process by increasing productivity and exceeding high customer service expectations and to position Penn admissions for the future. Learn more about the project and current status by contacting Amy Schott, Project Leader, schott@isc.upenn.edu.

Faculty Database
In conjunction with representatives from the Provost's Office, Institutional Research, and the schools, ISC will begin development of new application to provide a consistent, cohesive view of faculty data across the University. The Faculty Database system will allow both schools and central administration to achieve fundamental operational and reporting gains in support of faculty affairs administration. Anticipated benefits of this new system include improved data quality and consistency and university-wide historical analysis of faculty data. Learn more about the Faculty Database by contacting Amy Miller, Project Leader, millera@isc.upenn.edu.

Voice over IP - Integrated Communications
ISC is taking the first step in providing the next generation of integrated communication services to the University community. Voice over IP (VoIP) communications will be the first service offered as part of an integrated communication strategy.

VoIP will allow for integrated email and voice mail services. A pilot for VoIP services to various departments within the University community will begin fall 2005. Learn more about the VoIP pilot by visiting the Penn Voice Services web site and clicking the link "Penn iPhone."

Mobile Computing
Over the past several years there have been significant advances in portable computing devices. Included in this category are laptop computers as well as handheld Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Likewise, wireless networks have matured and also enjoyed rapid, broadly distributed deployment. Together, these two trends have resulted in the growth of mobile computing. This new computing model is prompting changes in user expectations, and has implications for application and infrastructure service providers. ISC has undertaken an effort to assess the mobile computing needs of the campus community through a collaborative effort. As a new strategy emerges, the impact of mobile computing in multiple dimensions including online applications and services, user and device support, and information security practices will be considered. Learn more about mobile computing at Penn by contacting James Choate, IT Technical Director, choate@isc.upenn.edu.

Wireless PennNet Program
ISC deploys wireless service using a class of technologies designed to serve large organizations. Benefits to Penn's mobile web users include a robust set of features such as improved signal strength and stability as well as long-term, reliable customer support. In addition, ISC is refining and strengthening wireless network security, utilizing a common authentication mechanism. The final outcome is a secure, scalable, and cost-effective wireless infrastructure for the University which focuses on increased shared bandwidth and greater load capacity to provide higher quality service levels to the Penn community. Adoption of these strategies is based on Penn's current research in new technologies and best practices for wireless technologies and is part of the overall continuing research necessary to ensure an ever updated delivery of network services. To learn more about service offerings, activities, and future plans, see Wireless at Penn.

Budget Planning
Working with the Budget and Comptroller's Offices, as well as school and center representatives, ISC will embark on the design and implementation of a new budget planning system for the University. This system not only replaces Penn's outgrown budgeting software (Pillar), but will also give the university financial community more powerful tools to move forward with integrated budget planning, forecasting, and financial analysis. To learn more about the new budget planning system, contact Amy Miller, Project Leader, millera@isc.upenn.edu.

PennConnect CD
The PennConnect CD makes it easy for students, faculty, and staff to install and configure Penn's supported networking and anti-virus software. The CD significantly reduces support costs by providing users with current software that has been licensed and customized for use at Penn. ISC works closely with vendors and with IT staff on campus to ensure that the CD supports the full range of systems on campus. To pick up a copy of the CD or to learn more, see PennConnect CD.

IT Orientation
One of ISC's primary missions within Penn's distributed model for computing is to provide services for IT staff on campus. The IT Orientation program is an important foundation for these efforts, ensuring that new IT staff have a basic understanding of computing at Penn and know where to turn for help when they have questions or problems. An initial half-day session provides an overview of Penn's decentralized environment, an introduction to various resources developed specifically for IT staff, a discussion of PennNet, and a summary of information security policies and practices. Follow up sessions are offered monthly and cover a range of topics of interest to IT staff on campus (Internet2, Penn's Data Universe, Network Operations, Videoconferencing and Webcasting, etc.). Many of the presenters provide central services for IT staff on campus, so the sessions are also an important opportunity to meet colleagues who will serve as a second-tier support network. Learn more about IT Orientation.