By Jeri Petersen and Stephen Suffron skiff staff Opinions still vary widely on the success of TCU's PeopleSoft implementation after 16 months of trial and error, consultants and spending. TCU is one of more than 420 colleges around the nation that are scrambling to meet Y2K deadlines with PeopleSoft's integrated system software. PeopleSoft, a dominant supplier of human resources operations software, entered the higher education market in 1994. Since then, schools around the country have been complaining loudly about the system's shortcomings. Last summer, company managers hosted a conference in New Orleans where they publicly apologized to more than 14,000 PeopleSoft users for "poor customer service and troublesome software," according to a Sept. 24 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Assistant Provost for Information Services Dave Edmondson responded to the article in TCU's Information Services newsletter, saying TCU's "implementation has been hugely successful." TCU is one of only three universities in the United States that has installed all three components of PeopleSoft's "Enterprise System," including human resources, financials and student administration software. "We are pleased with where we are," Edmondson said, "but we still have a long way to go." But TCU is not completely immune from the problems that come with implementing such an all-encompassing computer system. Sandra Fangman, TCU's accounts payable supervisor, said the sudden transition from the old system to the new was difficult. "When we first got up on this system in June of '98, we were ready to pull our hair out and jump out our windows," she said. James R. Henley, associate dean of AddRan College of Arts and Sciences, said the current PeopleSoft system lacks such features as designating which courses on a student's transcript fill University Curriculum Requirements, making him spend more time on each student's record. "You're going to be slower working on any new system than one you're fairly familiar with," he said. "But I think it's more than that." Armida Guzman, executive assistant to the dean of AddRan, said the new system forces her to retype student ID numbers to pull up certain types of information simultaneously. "Everything just takes longer," she said. Debbie Forrester, who handles re-enrollment in the registrar's office, said navigation difficulties within the new system proved time-consuming for her department as well. "It took a month after I was hired to get security (for computer) screens I needed to do my job," she said. "Counseling and financial aid couldn't see my re-enrollment panel, so I was constantly being asked about students' enrollments, and I had to find it manually. For housing, I had to type up a list for everyone who had applied." The registrar's office is still in the process of transferring student transcripts to the PeopleSoft version from the old mainframe, a process that must be completed by year's end because the mainframe is not Y2K compliant. Henley said Edmondson's enthusiasm about PeopleSoft's capabilities has kept him from understanding the problems users are still having. "Dave seems to have a bit of salesmanship to him," Henley said. "I don't know that he's fully appreciating what we're facing in this office." But others agree with Edmondson's assertion that PeopleSoft has allowed TCU to run "much more efficiently and effectively." Wendy Crowley, assistant director of financial services and student services, said the system has allowed student records to be updated much more quickly by integrating the financial services and financial aid offices. "We're now in a real-time environment," she said. Online registration and recruitment are also significant accomplishments of the new system, Edmondson said. But the transition has not been without its cost. A source in financial services, who asked not to be identified, estimated that TCU has spent around $16 million on the project thus far. The source said much of that the cost spent on PeopleSoft comes from the numerous consultants that have been on hand since the fall of 1997. "We've got tons of people here, and they're all from out of town," the source said. "So there's all the travel expense, hotel expense, food expense and all that." Edmondson said up to 27 consultants have been on-site, but the number is being reduced gradually. The consultants are expected to be phased out by March. Henley said although the transition has been rough at times, it should be worth it in the end. "The PeopleSoft of today would be more of a problem for us," he said. "But if they do what they intend to do - and if I survive the transition - then we'll have a better system in the future. But there's a price to pay to get onto a new system that hasn't been fully designed yet to meet the needs of all the offices using it."
Jeri Petersen Stephen Suffron
By Justin Roche staff reporter A modern art sculpture was noticed for something other than its looks this weekend: It was missing. The sculpture, created by a former TCU student, was torn from its base and stolen from behind the Moudy Building either late Friday evening or early Saturday morning, TCU police officials said. The piece, created two years ago by Charles Wells, was noticed missing by Thad Duhigg, a professor of sculpture. "I came in on Saturday afternoon and found it had been ripped from the wagon, and I filed a report with the police," Duhigg said. "I'm surprised no one saw or heard anything." Duhigg was Well's professor when the piece was created, and Duhigg said it dealt with how people have different outlooks of the world during different stages of life.
Wells was scheduled to pick the sculpture up this week, but the 15-foot, 180-pound steel piece had not been found as of Tuesday evening. The sculpture's value has been estimated at $6,000. Wells, who graduated in May, currently teaches sculpture at Baylor University and was unavailable for comment. TCU Detective Kelly Ham said there are no leads or suspects in the case. However, Ham said the nature of displaying art pieces increases their likelihood of theft or vandalism. "Anything that's left out is going to have a potential to be vandalized," Ham said. "Art is going to be displayed, but how are you going to display it without security issues?" Duhigg said the number of incidents concerning art pieces has increased over the last few years. "I've been here 10 years, and it seems in the last three or four, thefts have gone up," he said. Duhigg said photos have been taken off walls, sculptures taken off display floors and one student's piece was taken out of a workroom before it had been graded. "I think people liked them and wanted them in their homes," he said. "But this incident with the sculpture outside was just malicious." Duhigg said the theft of art pieces at TCU is more than simply stealing an object. "It takes just as much time, effort and expense to make these pieces as any term paper or other project," he said. "It's like having your term paper stolen before you turn it in. It's devastating." Assistant Chief J.C. Williams said TCU police has been in the process of hiring additional security guards in order to increase visibility on campus and make buildings more secure. Ham said the issue of security guards must be carefully examined in order to justify hiring them. "A security guard would probably cut down a lot on incidents, but you've got to weigh the pros and cons," Ham said. "You've got to compare what you're protecting with the price of protecting it." However, with or without security guards, Duhigg said pieces will continue to be displayed without fear of potential thieves or vandals. "You're always going to come across mean-spirited people," Duhigg said. "You don't stop doing something you want to do just because someone takes a shot at you." Anyone with information about the missing sculpture can contact TCU police at 257-7777.
Justin Roche
By Reagan Duplisea skiff london correspondent LONDON - When studying at the TCU London Centre, many students quickly find that the passage across the Atlantic is not the biggest gap they have to bridge. The gap in culture can be even wider and more intimidating, despite a common language. However, TCU London Centre director Lisa Atkins, who has roots in both the United States and London, helps students bridge that gap. Atkins was born and raised in Florida but has lived in London the past 10 years. Atkins said she still continues to face a sort of culture shock. "Sometimes there are too many people," Atkins said. "It can get very crowded and noisy, but in 45 minutes, you can board a train, go to the countryside and take a long walk to rejuvenate your soul." Reagan Wilson, a senior management major and London Centre program assistant, said students have come to rely on Atkins for advice on the differences in culture. "It's really interesting because she's able to see things from British and American perspectives," Wilson said. "She's really good about helping us (assimilate) into the culture." Atkins first came into contact with TCU when she met Larry Adams, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Delia Pitts, director of international education, several years ago when they were looking at the Florida State University London Centre building as a possible site for the program.
"I was in the right place at the right time," Atkins said. "They wanted an American who had lived in London." Atkins said she enjoys her position as London Centre director, but it is not without some challenges. "There are a lot of people who walk into your life and after three months, they're gone," Atkins said. "It's always changing. It affects you personally when you get so involved with people and then they're gone." TCU London Centre coordinator Susan Layne said she faces a similar dilemma. "Lisa and I share a family," said Layne, who works as coordinator from the TCU campus. "I see the anticipation of them (going) and when they come back, and she has them while they're in London." Atkins first began to reside in London for months at a time when her husband, an FSU employee, started research into London courts. "We did whatever we could figure out to spend time in London," Atkins said. It was in London where Atkins developed a seriousness about art. She has a master's of criminology and political science from FSU but obtained a master's of post-war and contemporary art from Sotheby's University in London. "I was always interested in art but never had the opportunity," Atkins said. Atkins said the art and cultural resources in London are what she likes best about the city. "In some respects, I'm a self-taught art historian," Atkins said. She currently teaches art history with American university study-abroad programs. In her spare time, Atkins enjoys painting, print making, photography and working with textiles. She has exhibited some of her work in London. Layne said she admires Atkins for her ability to balance her art with other parts of her life. "It surprises me that she keeps everything going at the same time - art, class, being a den mother, administrative duties," Layne said. Philip Hawkins, a junior history major, said he has found Atkins to be helpful. "She's approachable and always willing to help you through the little problems, which is unusual for someone in an administration position," Hawkins said. "She'll help you with the everyday, not just problems with classes." In addition to her art, Atkins has traveled extensively throughout Europe and has been to China, Tibet, Russia and Mexico. Atkins still travels to the United States to visit her mother and her husband, who was recently reassigned to FSU. "It's a constant adjustment and readjustment," Atkins said. "We're apart seven months out of the year." Layne said Atkins' ties to the United States and to United Kingdom are an asset. "She knows London so well but she's been associated with American colleges, too, and she puts those two things together really well," Layne said. "We're really lucky we found someone like that."
Reagan Duplisea
By Jessica Schambach staff reporter The Pizza Hut eatery will host a breakfast buffet Wednesday night to compensate for the lack of an on-campus facility that offers an all-you-can-eat meal option, dining services representatives said. But instead of an all-you-can-eat deal, it will be a one-trip, "Fill Your Plate," said Ed Lube, food service director. "Some of these specials might help address some of the closure issues of Eden's North," Lube said. The buffet - a $2.99 breakfast spread from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. - is being coordinated with Sodexho-Marriott. If it is a hit, its return is more than plausible, Lube said. The buffet will be located in the display-cooking area in the Pizza Hut eatery. "If it's popular, we'll certainly look at doing it more," he said. Pancakes, biscuits and gravy, sausage and bacon will be served at the buffet.
"If it's a success and a lot of people like it, then we'll be doing it maybe on a weekly basis," he said. "But if there's not going to be anyone to attend, then we probably might make it once a month. It just depends on how many people want to go." Lube said feedback from the Dining Services Committee, in conjunction with the House of Student Representatives, is what prompted dining services representatives to offer the buffet. Watkins said he spoke to students and conducted surveys to find out what kinds of dining facilities students want implemented on campus. "A lot of people from Eden's North missed the buffet," he said. "And a lot of people complained that there's a lot of fried food at night, so we came up with this breakfast idea." Watkins said questionnaires will most likely be distributed during or after the buffet on Wednesday night to get students' reactions. Jessica Thompson, a junior biology major, said she would probably attend the buffet if she lived on-campus. "Ten at night till two in the morning is a little ridiculous for me," she said. Saustina Donkor, a senior neuroscience major, said she too thought the buffet was a great idea until she heard about the late hours of operation. She also lives off-campus. Logan Battison, a junior theology and philosophy double-major, said he doesn't have a problem with the buffet being offered late at night. "For $2.99?" he said. "Wow, that's a good deal. If it stays $2.99 then that's a whole lot better than anything else I've ever gotten here."
Jessica Shambach |
"(Wells) was observing children's drawings and was
fascinated with what they would draw and how they perceived reality."
Duhigg said. "He took the idea of a child's drawing and fused it with
an adult perspective."
She had been working with FSU and was initially hired as
a consultant to TCU for the creation of the London Centre program.
Dining Services Committee Chairman Michael Watkins, a sophomore
finance major, agreed with Lube.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |