The Student Information System (SIS)
What is the Student System Project (SSP)?
The third and final phase of the University's plan to
replace all of its administrative information systems is to implement a student
information system that will be integrated with the finance and human resources
applications. We envision a system that enables all student-related
administrative processes (from recruitment and application to graduation and
beyond) to be carried out electronically, with only “value-added” manual effort
required by students, faculty, and/or staff.
What is the Student Information System (SIS)?
The new student information system (SIS) replaces ISIS and
creates the University’s new system of record for admission, student finance,
and registration and records. Systems that currently provide data to or extract
data from ISIS may also be involved with the implementation of a new student
information system. It is expected that the new system provides greater
functionality, accuracy, depth of information, consistency, and security
centrally than is possible in current shadow or supporting student systems
across the University and, therefore, provides significant benefit to all
participants.
Why is SIS being implemented?
The system and the technology that
support SIS will:
• Improve student service delivery
• Provide a secure and scalable environment for self-service
• Reduce paper based processes
• Reduce the need for shadow systems, where appropriate
• Increase online access to information in a secure environment
• Support one level of approval as the standard for transactions, where
appropriate
• Standardize administrative processes, where appropriate, so that they can be
effectively supported in a central system
• Standardize data definitions where appropriate to improve reporting
• Support compliance with laws and regulations.
When can I start using the SIS?
SIS became the official system
of record for all University of Virginia students for the fall 2009 term.
What happened to the Course
Offering Directory (COD)?
A Course Catalog and Schedule of
Classes (SOC) will replace the Course Offering Directory (COD). The
implementation of the SIS required the creation of a course master file or
Course Catalog. A course must exist in the Course Catalog before a class can be
scheduled for that course. The University Registrar (UREG) maintains the Course
Catalog.
The course numbers appear to be
different.
All course numbers now have 4 digits
instead of 3 digits. Use the crosswalk at
www.virginia.edu/registrar/search.php to find a new course number based on
an old one. In general, the first digit of the new 4-digit number indicates the
level of the course as it did in the previous course numbering scheme. Many
courses were renumbered simply by adding a zero to the end of the existing
3-digit number.
How will I pay for my courses?
The
University of Virginia, in partnership with Nelnet Business Solutions, an
e-commerce service provider, allows students to make payments through an
electronic system called QuikPay@UVA. Payments can be made by e-check or
by credit card and will be posted to your account by the next business day.
Payments can also be made with paper check and mailed.
Within the QuikPay@UVAsystem,
all payments by credit card (MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) are
accepted and processed by Nelnet Business Solutions. A 2.75% nonrefundable fee is charged by Nelnet Business Solutions for this service. There are no service fees for
e-check payments.
The QuikPayTM
system is used by many universities for account payment and was developed under
the highest Internet security standards.
Is the system secure?
The University of Virginia is
committed to offering a very secure online account payment system. Our business
partner, Nelnet Business, has designed the QuikPay system to use a combination
of firewall systems, encryption and intrusion detection to protect their data.
Customers are first authenticated in the Student Information System (SIS) by
providing their username and password, and then securely passed to the Nelnet
Business Solutions system using a 128-bit MD5 encryption scheme. All billing
data exchanged between U.Va. and Nelnet Business Solutions is first compressed,
then encrypted using PGP encryption, and transmitted using Secure File Transfer
Protocol.
Nelnet Business Solutions is
fully compliant with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the
Gramm-Leach Bliley (GLB) Act.
Why is VISA not accepted?
VISA’s association rules will
not permit the vendor to charge a percentage service fee and would require U.Va.
to charge the same fee for ALL transactions, including e-check or paper check.
If I want to mail my payment,
where would I send the check?
Payments should be mailed to the SCPS
Regional Center through which you are enrolling. Address information can be
found at
www.scps.virginia.edu/centers.php
My e-check payment was
returned “No Account/Cannot Locate”, or “Non-Transaction Account”. What does
this mean?
-
“No
Account/Cannot Locate” usually means the account number structure is valid and
will pass the editing tests, but the financial institution cannot match it to
the individual, or it is not an open account. In this instance the payer should
contact their financial institution for the correct information to use in an ACH
debit transaction.
- Non-Transaction Account” means the account the payer is attempting to use is
restricted from ACH debit transactions. The payer should submit a different
account to use for e-check payments, or mail in a paper check for payment.
What are e-checks?
An e-check is an electronic
direct debit to your checking or savings account. Any checking or savings
account can be used, provided it allows a direct draft, and is drawn against an
account with a US bank. We can only accept payments in US dollars. When making
an e-check payment, you must provide your routing number and checking or savings
account number. Please verify this information with your financial institution.
You have the option to have
the system retain your bank account information or you may enter it each time
you make a payment by e-check. Payers can only see their own bank account
information. Authorized payers cannot see the student’s banking information and
students cannot see that of the authorized payers.
There is no service charge
for using an e-check to pay your bill. After you or your authorized payers
makes an e-check payment, you will receive an e-mail confirmation, and a payment
will post to the student’s account overnight and will show in the Student
Information System (SIS) the following business day. Subsequent verification of
bank account number and funds availability through the ACH (Automated Clearing
House) system will take place and the debit to your bank account will occur no
later than 24 hours after the payment transaction is completed online.
Therefore, to avoid overdrafts, it is strongly recommended that there are
sufficient funds available at the time of payment.
Equity line accounts and
investment accounts cannot be used for ACH debit transactions. Please verify
account information with your financial institution if you are uncertain.
What credit cards are
accepted?
The QuikPay@UVA service
provider (Nelnet Business Solutions/Moneris) accepts MasterCard, Discover and
American Express for payment of tuition, fees and other charges. VISA credit
cards are NOT participating in this program. A 2.75% norefundable service charge will be
charged by the service provider to the payer for all credit card payments.
Credit card information is verified at the time of the transaction.
When I pay by credit card,
why do I see the “Nelnet Business Solutions” logo?
The University of Virginia
has contracted with a service provider, Nelnet Business Solutions, to process
credit card payments for tuition, fees and other charges. Credit card payments
are processed by Nelnet Business Solutions through Moneris Solutions.
Is there a service charge for
paying by credit card?
Our service provider charges
a 2.75% nonrefundable service charge for all credit card payments. The payer will receive
separate payment receipts via e-mail for the tuition payment and service charge
if the credit card payment option is selected. The service fee is not
paid to the university and is not refundable. There is no service charge for
paying by e-check.
If I am paying by credit card, will I see and approve
the service charge?
Yes. You will see the credit card fees and the amount of the service
charge. You will get two emails: one for the payment that was applied and one
for the amount of the service charge.
Can I still make payment at
the Center Office?
The hours of operation vary
among the SCPS regional centers, however most are open between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m. Payments by cash (exact cash required,) check or money order are accepted. If you wish to pay
by e-check or credit card, you can do this from your own computer or from one of
the public computers at an SCPS regional center. One of the many reasons we
have implemented the new electronic system is to improve customer service by
providing an easy, convenient method for customers to pay online without having
to stand in line or wait for the mail to deliver your payment.
Can I pay by credit card or
e-check at the Cashiers Office?
Only the Nelnet Business
Solutions QuikPay@UVA system, which is our credit card service provider, can
accept a credit card payment, and only students/customers and authorized payers
can access QuikPay@UVA. SCPS cannot accept either credit card payments or
e-check payments on your behalf either in person or by telephone. While SCPS
staff can view your statement information within QuikPay@UVA and monitor payment
activity, for your security, credit card or bank account information is not
available to our staff.