MDConnect Overview

Editor's Notes

• #2: Good morning, I am <insert name> and I currently serve on the MDConnect steering committee. Today I will be presenting an overview and key updates regarding this important project.
• #3: As many of you are aware, MDC’s Odyssey system has reached its maximum capacity of service and support given its age, the number of students MDC serves, and how much has changed in higher education over the past decades since it was originally implemented. As a result, the College has decided to replace Odyssey with a more robust system, PeopleSoft also known as MDConnect. MDConnect is a collegewide project that will manage and integrate all College financials, human resources, and student information.
• #4: The goal of MDConnect is to implement PeopleSoft seamlessly and improve services to students, faculty, and staff. PeopleSoft will provide many benefits to MDC, which include: Service. MDConnect will provide users with faster response time and more efficient processes. Security. MDConnect will protect MDC’s data and improve system security. Innovation and Growth. MDConnect will allow MDC to add new services quickly and without incurring substantial costs. Decision Support. MDConnect will improve data quality, expand data collection, and support decision-making through powerful analytic and reporting tools.
• #5: The MDConnect project is divided into a Project Management Office and eight pillars. Three of these pillars are functional pillars, meaning they will provide key functionality as it impacts the College audience. Campus Solutions is the pillar that supports students and includes: Admissions, Academic Advising, Financial Aid, Student Financials, and Student Records. Financial Supply Chain Management includes key business affairs functions such as: General Ledger, Accounting, Purchasing, Grants, and others areas critical to the financial management of the College. Human Capital Management is the pillar that will deploy all Human Resource functionality, including: benefits, payroll, and other general HR functions.
• #6: There are two major go live dates for the project, as indicated by the large blue circles. The smaller gray circles indicate a minor release. January 2016: Major go live for FSCM/ HCM This is the first big go live date for the implementation. The first big release includes functionality in FSCM and HCM, as well as a minor release in CS. This go live will encompass most of the key functionality for FSCM and HCM with both pillars having second minor go lives in the spring of 2016. June 2016: Major go live for CS The next big go live date that we are driving towards is in June 2016—This is the major go live for the CS pillar. The MDConnect project follows the student life cycle and this go live will deploy key features such as registration for Fall 2016. The minor CS releases will include important preparation for the June go live, as well as updates that follow the student life cycle. This continue through early 2017. The specifics about how these dates may affect the work that you do will be communicated appropriately as we more closely approach these timeframes.
• #7: MDConnect’s training program will address multiple learning needs including how jobs are changing and the skills needed to perform on the job. MDConnect will utilize a variety of delivery methods for training, including: in-person training, online training, hands-on training and open labs, and user guides. This variety of methods will help you learn and feel comfortable in the system and provide the tools and knowledge you need to be successful once we go live. Training for HCM and FSCM will begin in October 2015 and CS training will be scheduled in 2016.
• #8: The team has also built a network of Change Ambassadors on each campus to help you through the transitional period. An MDConnect Change Ambassador is your liaison to and from the project team. They will be able to answer your questions or connect you with a person on the project who can. They will also work closely with leaders on your campus and on the MDConnect project to prepare you for the PeopleSoft implementation. On behalf of the MDConnect steering committee I would like to ask your campus Change Ambassadors to stand and be recognized. <Please introduce each Change Ambassador by name>. Finally, I am excited to share with you a 5-minute video that will provide a small glimpse into life on the MDConnect project. <Move to the MDConnect 360 video>.