Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is ConnecTech?
2. What is Banner and who is SunGard Higher Education (SGHE)?
3. Why is Texas Tech implementing the SunGard Higher Education (SGHE) Banner systems?
4. What systems will be replaced and/or enhanced?
5. What are the major benefits of the new administrative systems?
6. How will this affect me?
7. How do I obtain access to Banner and/or Banner Self-Service (SSB)?
8. How will I obtain reports from Banner that are currently available on the web?
9. If I have questions that are not answered at this website or in the links provided under “Training and Resources”, who do I contact?
1. What is ConnecTech?
ConnecTech is a joint venture between Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center that began in 2005 to replace and upgrade our legacy administrative computer applications used by students, faculty, and staff with a newer suite of products called “Banner” from SunGard Higher Education. The systems being replaced are TechSIS and Financial Aid (Student systems), TechFIM (Financial Accounting system), TecHRIS (Human Resource system), TechPAY (Payroll system) and the Budget System.
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2. What is Banner and who is SunGard Higher Education (SGHE)?
Banner is the name of the software purchased. Banner modules include Banner Finance, Banner Student and Financial Aid, Banner Human Resources. SunGard Higher Education is the provider for the software. (www.sungardhe.com)
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3. Why is Texas Tech implementing the SunGard Higher Education (SGHE) Banner systems?
Texas Tech has had a lengthy relationship with SunGard as the legacy student and financial aid systems are also from SGHE (the PLUS system known as TechSIS). In late 2004, Texas Tech made a commitment to move from the Plus system to the SGHE Banner system. In order to obtain an integrated suite of products and move the legacy environment into a fully unified digital campus, Texas Tech made a strategic decision in late 2005 to purchase the remaining Banner modules from SGHE for Finance and Human Resources. This direction was approved by the Board of Regents and is supported by the Texas Tech executive administration.
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4. What systems will be replaced and/or enhanced?
- TechSIS (admissions, registration, financial aid)
- Techfim (financial accounting and budget)
- ePO
- Travel
- Direct Pay
- TecHRIS (human resources)
- HRPaf
- TechPAY (payroll)
- Budget System
5. What are the major benefits of the new administrative systems?
- Productivity gains will be achieved from re-engineered business practices using an integrated digital workflow environment;
- Real time data will be accessible via the web on a near 24 x 7 basis;
- An enterprise-wide relational database will improve the accuracy and utility of institutional data;
- Every person’s data will be in a central location with role identification;
- Use of SSN will be eliminated as the primary identifier;
- A unified Financial Aid solution will be provided for TTU and TTUHSC;
- Mission critical systems will migrate from a mainframe hardware environment to a server and relational database environment;
- With minimal local modifications, Texas Tech will take advantage of upgrades from SunGard Higher Education as they provide functional and technological enhancements with each release.
6. How will this affect me?
All students, faculty and staff will see changes from small to large depending on their role(s) with Texas Tech. For students, RaiderLink (TTU) and WebRaider (HSC) will incorporate changes seen on the website(s) used for admissions, registration and other student administrative needs. For faculty, RaiderLink (TTU) and WebRaider (HSC) will provide the new web pages similar to web for faculty, links and information for current WebCT and eLearning needs. All faculty and staff should review the information links and training information provided in the Training section on this website to determine if you have taken advantage of the current training opportunities. (http://www.texastech.edu/connectech/training.aspx) Future training opportunities can also be found at the URLs provided.
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7. How do I obtain access to Banner and/or Banner Self-Service (SSB)?
Roles will determine access needed. Information can be gained through training sessions. If your job responsibilities do not require additional training for the new systems, then your eRaider will provide access to the information you need as an employee via RaiderLink (TTU), raiderlink.ttu.edu, or WebRaider (HSC), webraider.ttuhsc.edu portals.
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8. How will I obtain reports from Banner that are currently available on the web?
Reports for the new Banner systems will now be available through Cognos Reporting. Links are available through the RaiderLink (TTU) and WebRaider (HSC) portals. Cognos reports replace the current reporting environments which are: Data Warehouse for Student and Finance (TTU/HSC, provided by Institutional Research and Information Management), Administration & Finance Dashboard (TTU) and M^RS (HSC Finance). Legacy system data will continue to be available through the legacy reporting environment.
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9. If I have questions that are not answered at this website or in the links provided under “Training and Resources”, who do I contact?
Email your question or comment from the ConnecTech website at http://www.texastech.edu/ConnecTech/feedback.aspx .
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