Remember the fix to the Web Registration system three weeks ago that decreased the number of SQL statements generated by the Web (English translation: when the team unclogged the database)?

That same fix also helped PeopleSoft panel users in colleges and administrative offices.

Staff report that performance is better, both generally, because of the fix to the data base, and specifically, because of the fixes listed below.

One problem fixed by the team that caused countless hours of frustration is the ID Delete/Change process, a very important database scan that identifies duplicate records. The process was very slow and in December regularly timed out.

OTR's Jenny Sebring said, "In January you couldn't make it work anytime, night or day. The change is a BIG improvement." HRIS's Angela Jennotta said "One week it didn't work at all and the next week it improved dramatically. Whatever they did, it helped a lot."

The Team still isn't satisfied with the improved performance (it still takes 3- to 4-minutes to change or delete an ID) and say the process is a prime candidate for redesign once the worst problems have been solved.

UPGRADE MEANS A TEMPORARY HALT TO MOVING FIXES INTO PRODUCTION

The upgrade to PeopleSoft Version 7.6, occurs February 17-21. The system is currently "frozen" so the upgrade team can make sure that there are no surprises during the upgrade process. After the upgrade is completed, the team will move the new fixes they have been working on into production.

Below is an updated Top Ten Problems list, this time using baseball metaphors.

FIXED AND IN PRODUCTION: HOME RUNS AND TRIPLES

• Print transcripts: One transcript took 15-20 minutes to generate, now 15 seconds.
• Web add/drop: Vast majority of add/drops in 7- to 10-second range, down from 20-25 seconds in Nov/Dec.
• Campus Visit Summary Report: Report routinely ran 8-10 minutes/ now about 30 seconds.
• ID Delete & Change (on-line): Process took 20 minutes or timed out; now takes 4 minutes. Both a student and an HR process. Will probably redesign process once worst problems are fixed.
• Duplicate ID Report: Took 6 to 7 minutes, now 3.5 minutes. Both a student and an HR process.
• Payment Applier: Process ran for several hours until it ran out of hard drive space and stopped. Now completes normally.
• Class Schedule Entry (on-line): Took 8.5 minutes. Now takes 3 seconds.
• Interactive Voice Response for grade information (IVR): Used to take 3 minutes, now takes a few seconds.

AT BAT

• Student Program/Plan (on-line)
• Transcripts (on-line) -- patch coming from PeopleSoft; temporary work-around in place.

NEXT UP

• Enrollment Request (on-line): Can take 24 to 60+ seconds.Third-Party Contract: Any panel using the "Post" pushbutton has performance issues when the account or contract reaches a certain volume of transactions. Third-party Contract is a prime example.
• ISIR Load (batch): Can take 5 minutes to load just 71 records.
• Demographic Data (on-line): Varied and very slow response times reported.
• Quick Refund (online): This process can take up to 20 minutes to run.
• FA Term (batch): This process can run from one to four hours each night.
• Residency Data (on-line): Very slow.
• Tuition Calc (online/batch): On-line performance averages between 25-40 seconds +. Batch process often takes 14 hours to run. Can only process approximately 2000 students per night.
• ISIR Correction (on-line): Corrections take about 55 seconds.
• Award Entry (online): This process takes an average of 25 seconds.

ON THE BENCH BUT READY TO GO

• New problems added daily.
• Student Records
  
• Term Activation (on-line)
• Study List push button (on-line)
• Quick Enroll (on-line/batch)
  

• Financial Aid
  

• Customer Accounts
• Packaging (batch)
• Disbursements (batch)
• Checklist Summary (on-line)
• Budget Maintenance (on-line)
• Disburse Aid (on-line)
  
• Student Financials
• Credit History (batch)
• Billing (batch)
• Payment Reversal (on-line)