Financial Software Conversion Project Paper

Running head: Financial Software Project

Financial Software Conversion Project Paper

Name Goes Here

Abstract

This proposal discusses the implementation of financial software application and database in Toccoa Falls College. Currently, the school has a legacy system that houses the administrative software for the campus. Implementation of the software will increase the efficiency of several departments and enhance value to the TFC clients by providing improved services.

Financial Software Conversion Project Paper

Toccoa Falls College is a private Christian college based in northeastern Georgia. TFC has been nationally recognized through the unfortunate flood incident in 1978. Dam Break in Georgia by K. Neill Foster details the events and rebuilding of the tragedy. Through the struggling efforts of many courageous individuals and groups, TFC has been able to survive insurmountable hurdles and become a beacon of hope to many people global-wide who seek a foundation in Christian education.

Introduction

The main administrative software system resides on a VAX/VMS Alpha Server. The departments have been seeking approval to convert the entire system for several years. At this time, the Financial Aid Department has obtained approval for the financial software portion of this system to be replaced with another product. The chosen software is PowerFaids to provide real-time compliance interfacing and best functionality features for clients. It has an SQL database and resides on a Windows 2000 platform. The look and feel of the software is windows based and user-friendly. It manages student eligibility, verification, Pell Grant management, award packaging, loan origination, reporting and research. Provides the latest federal rules which are programmed into the software so you are always compliant with federal regulations. It is a WindowsÐ'®-based, client-server solution which offers technical support, upgrades, and enhancements.

This project is initiated to interface data files between the two systems and load the SQL database with the data history information from the legacy system database. PowerFaids will interface with the existing administrative software until complete conversion efforts can be made to move all the data from the VAX/VMS system.

History

The college has increased in personnel and data information over the last several years. There

is a need to keep in compliance with state and federal educational regulations on an immediate

real-time basis that the current software does not provide. The antiquated software does not

allow client user friendly capabilities for accurate or efficient job performance. The current

software did not provide clients access to data for any report writing intervention. The Financial

Department has been impaired by old technology and outgrown the functionality. Financial Aid

Director requested software to provide real time compliance with Georgia state and federal

regulations. The research evaluation process was approved. DataTel was compared to

PowerFaids software. Some of the main areas of comparison are charted below in Figure 1.

DATATEL Comparatives PowerFAIDS

Weeks Phone

Support Same day or 24 hrs

No Support State Grant Processing User defined variables

5 Available

Fields Customization

Defined 175 String Fields

198 Date/Integer Fields

No capability Batch

Processing Allows scheduling

Of jobs and reports

Extensive setup

Limited features Reports 43 built in reports

Multilevel functionality

One time processing Dynamic

Predetermination Intuitive software

Auto Updates

Not available

To user Audit

Trail Auto tracking/recording

Accessible to users

Figure 1: DataTel and PowerFaids Comparison Chart

Stakeholders

The stakeholders of Toccoa Falls College have influenced the school to continue to make positive advances toward achieving a higher level of awareness for the growth and success of TFC. The Brief of 2002 states the following:

• The Board of Trustees shall manage the business and the affairs of Toccoa Falls College within the limitations set forth in the By-laws, and other limitations lawfully imposed. While the Board initiates and approves policies, the achievement of these policies is delegated to the President of the College.

• The President's Cabinet initiates, reviews, and approves implementation of the plans of the college. It reviews and sets the budget concerning tuition, room and board, income and expenditures. It receives reports from its members and approves procedural policies and changes. (p. 5)

• The Project Manager is responsible for project planning, communication, execution and control in meeting, and exceeding project objectives and deliverables based on input from the project stakeholders. The director of each affecting department will submit the issues through the Issue Form to the Project Manager. All documents will be kept in a file and logged for viewing through the intranet web under PowerFaids Log Issues. All issues will be addressed with the P.M. and communicated in the project