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Microsoft SQL Server Customer Solution Case Study

California University Modernizes Student Information System with Microsoft Platform

“We needed a platform that would enable us to standardize. We have complex, distributed systems that require a more modern type of development. Going forward, we are looking to further expand the student services platform and functionality.” Lubomir Bojilov, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Director, Student Information Systems and Technology, The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) wanted to upgrade and modernize its complex student information system while preserving existing functionality. With help from ATERAS, UCSB converted its code and data from its suite of Software AG ADABAS-Natural applications on an IBM mainframe to a platform based on Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise. As a result, UCSB has gained a more flexible foundation for implementing new technologies; eased management; and provided uninterrupted service for 75,000 new applicants each year, 23,000 students and thousands of staff and faculty.

Business Needs (UCSB) is organized into five colleges, Located approximately 100 miles 12 national institutes and centers, and northwest of Los Angeles, the offers 87 undergraduate and 55 University of California, Santa Barbara graduate degrees. UCSB is ranked in

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published September 2013 the top 10 among all public universities with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 by the U.S. News and World Report Enterprise software and the Windows Platform for New Technologies guide and its faculty includes five Server 2008 R2 operating system. Based on the new platform, UCSB winners of Nobel Prizes. could maintain its existing functionality After a comprehensive bidding while gaining new capabilities. While the university operated a mostly process, UCSB ultimately chose Although the university is currently distributed IT infrastructure, the Student ATERAS, a Microsoft partner that working on enhancing its current Information Systems and Technology specializes in IT migration and services, it is already looking forward department had become a central hub modernization services, to help with to new projects. “We needed a that handled business and academic the project. Following a successful platform that would enable us to processes for approximately 23,000 proof of concept, ATERAS and UCSB standardize. We have complex, students. As requirements changed, migrated the mainframe database to distributed systems that require a USCB looked for a new solution that SQL Server 2008 R2, and began more modern type of development,” would provide better flexibility and new converting the suite of applications explains Bojilov. “Going forward, we functionality. using the ATERAS DB-Shuttle and are looking to expand the student eavRPM tool set, the Microsoft Visual services platform and functionality. For The student information system, which C# development tool, and the example, we’re looking at mobile was written using SAG Natural language Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 technologies and more dynamic ways programming, ran on an IBM development system. to provide data.” mainframe with an ADABAS database. The system performed well, initially UCSB, which is moving toward a more Streamlined Management handling core processes such as service-oriented architecture, replaced Management is also easier with a admissions and student records. the software that had connected the solution that can be centrally managed However, administration of the system mainframe application to web servers with other IT infrastructure. “In the became increasingly challenging as with a Windows Communication past, coordinating efforts between the needs expanded. “The core system that Foundation interface. A component of data center environment and the was originally intended for internal use the Microsoft .NET Framework 4, mainframe took up a lot of time,” says needed to provide more self-service Windows Communication Foundation James Kinneavy, Associate Director for capabilities to students, staff, and enables fast communication between Enterprise Architecture and faculty including web-based and mobile the Internet Information Services 7 Technologies at University of access.” says Lubomir Bojilov, Chief web servers and the SQL Server 2008 California, Santa Barbara. The Technology Officer and Student R2 database. The university also university has been able to reduce Information Systems and Technology created a single sign-on solution with management overhead significantly by Executive Director at University of Active Directory Federation Services so standardizing on a Microsoft platform. California, Santa Barbara. “So over the that staff, faculty, and students could last 15 years, approximately 40 access multiple applications with one However, centralized management additional applications were built- set of credentials. The solution went isn’t the only benefit—UCSB around and closely integrated with the live in February 2013. Next, UCSB looks anticipates that connecting with new student information system.” forward to upgrading to SQL Server applications will be easier too. “We 2012 to take advantage of features support numerous applications that Solution such as enhanced analytics and self- have a large number of In January 2010, UCSB began looking service business intelligence tools. interdependencies,” says Bojilov. for a vendor that could provide a new Implementing changes and integrating solution. The university had originally Benefits new systems and data sources will be considered an off-the-shelf product, but By migrating its student information much easier on a standardized decided that it wanted to preserve the system to a modern platform, the platform. features it had developed in its existing University of California, Santa Barbara solution. To maintain existing business has gained a better foundation for Smooth Migration logic and functionality while gaining implementing new capabilities, easier With help from ATERAS, UCSB was one maximum flexibility and expandability, management, and uninterrupted of the first universities to convert its UCSB decided to convert its code and service for thousands of staff and entire student information system to a data to run on a Microsoft platform students. new environment. “Our student information system went live on the

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published September 2013 Microsoft platform over a holiday had made a conversion,” Kinneavy service, and we have tens of thousands weekend, and no one noticed that we says. “There was no disruption in of users.”

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published September 2013