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Date: 1/16/02
To: Members of the President's Administrative Forum
From: Barry Scherr and Win Johnson
Subject: Mac-to-Windows Migration
In recent years, Dartmouth has adopted several new information systems for
administrative departments to increase efficiency and effectiveness in managing
purchasing, human resources, financial, student, and alumni data. As many of
you know, these systems function more smoothly on the Windows-based computing
platform than they do on the Apple Macintosh operating system. In some cases
they will not function on a Macintosh.
Because we can provide better equipment, more frequent upgrades, and more
comprehensive support in a standardized administrative computing environment,
most administrative departments will be migrating, over the next three years,
to the Windows platform. Furthermore, these new systems will be equipped with a
more standardized set of administrative software tools. A team from Computing
Services has been assigned to manage the change in a way that is fully
responsive to particular departmental obstacles. The team, led by Rita Murdoch
and Larry Levine, is working closely with offices across the campus to assess
computing needs, recommend the most appropriate technology and provide training
on the new equipment.
The move to a Windows platform is designed to better accommodate
administrative tasks, and it will not limit faculty or student choice of a
preferred platform.
This staged three-year migration to the Windows environment will ensure that
the equipment of participants in this program is kept up to date, improve
software compatibility and inter- departmental communication, and allow
Computing Services to enhance its level of Windows support across the
institution. A better coordinated computing environment will also facilitate
running Oracle-based applications on which much of Dartmouth's business
processes depend.
Software included in the new configuration will be the Windows 2000
operating system, Microsoft Office XP, Norton Anti-Virus, both Netscape and
Internet Explorer, BlitzMail for Windows, and a number of other common
applications. Administrative systems software such as Banner and Oracle
Financials will be installed where appropriate. Department specific software
such as FileMaker or programs used only by particular departments will also be
installed and Computing Services will work with each department to determine
how best to screen and maintain the more standardized set of administrative
applications to be used by departments participating in this program.
The program began in the late fall when Dartmouth's Procurement Services and
Accounts Payable moved to standard Dell computers in anticipation of an Oracle
Financials upgrade that took place early this month. Other offices that have
made the transition include Human Resources, Payroll and various Oracle
Financials users. Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid, Student Accounts,
the Loan Office, Grants and Contracts, and the Controller's, Budget, and
Endowment offices will be moving to the new platform in the near future.
Numerous other offices, including those in the Dean of the College's area,
are working with Administrative Computing to establish a timetable for the
transition.
A special Web site will soon be developed to provide information on the
timetable and details of the conversion, as well as frequently asked questions
and other relevant information.
Computing Services will continue to conduct workshops and information
sessions and will work closely with offices making the transition, and after
the transition is accomplished, to continually determine needs, recommend the
best equipment, and provide support. The goal is to provide the best possible
support for the increasingly complicated work you do on Dartmouth's behalf.
If you are interested in hearing more about the project, please contact Rita
Murdoch, Director of Computing Support and Fiscal Services (at 6-3012 or Rita.T.Murdoch@Dartmouth.edu).
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