Patriot Project

About the Project

Project Phases

Data Standards Document (pdf format)

The Patriot Project is a university-wide initiative to convert Mason's finance, human resources (HR), and student administrative systems to SCT Corporation's Banner Software.

Implementing Banner brings about significant changes in the way we do our work. Users access their systems through standard web browsers, and these systems offer enhanced functionality to students, faculty, administrative support staff, and decision makers throughout the university. For example, when Banner Student goes live, students will be able to apply to the university, register for classes, and pay their bills online. As another example, when Banner HR becomes operational, employees will no longer complete paper time-and-attendance forms, but will instead report and receive approval for attendance through Banner's online self-service forms.

The Patriot Project will integrate the finance, human resources, and student systems. Using shared data will reduce the duplication of effort and the errors that are inevitably introduced when each office must maintain separate systems. It will also enable decision makers to look at university operations in more sophisticated ways. The shared component of the Banner database is known as the General Person Record. A Data Standards Document describing the General Person Record is available in pdf format.
(You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to be able to view and print this file. Get a free copy of Acrobat Reader by visiting Adobe's Acrobat Reader Download page.)

Banner systems reside on an Oracle relational database. The flexibility of the relational database model should facilitate both system maintenance and enhancements.

The Patriot Project will be implemented in phases. Each phase includes opportunities to discuss the changes that are coming, and training to help the university community to adapt to them. In order to ensure that the new systems are fully integrated, a single Coordinating Committee has been assigned to monitor progress on the implementations and surface issues.

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