Woodring Information System
Details
Project Status
On Target
Last Reported
Estimated Start Date
Project Manager
Project Sponsor
Veronica Velez, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Woodring College
Description
Project Statement
This project will review current functionality of the Woodring Information System (WIS), and Woodring’s “Field Experience Log” in Web4U (FLOG) and identify dependencies on Banner and other systems, particularly as it pertains to Banner security tables/objects, which are likely to be deprecated on same schedule as Banner 8 Self Service Banner. We will research solution options and make recommendations as to how to move forward to retain essential functionality. After receiving approval, the project will implement the solution.
Background
The Woodring Information System (WIS) is a Java web application originally written in 2003 to address insufficiencies in Banner. It has since co-evolved, sharing the same Oracle database instance as Banner and utilizing both baseline and custom/local database objects including security objects. That dependency upon Banner and the fact that it has not kept pace with Java releases suggest that it is overdue for a comprehensive evaluation.
Another area of dependency upon Banner for Woodring is their use of a custom Web4U/B8 SSB application, their “Field Experience Log” (FLOG), used by students to record hours worked at internships and practicums, requirements of certification. Ellucian has given 09/30/2025 as end of maintenance support for Banner 8 Self Service Banner and 01/01/2026 as end of life, so alternative technologies must be found.
Data from both WIS and FLOG are used in fulfilling state reporting requirements and internally for performance and progress tracking, so care must be taken to avoid disruptions to that stream or an orderly cutover to alternative planned.
We are requesting the formation of a project team including Woodring stakeholders and subject matter experts (SME) to review these applications and formulate options for addressing the business needs of the Woodring College of Education . There is significant risk that the end-of-life of Banner 8 Self Service Banner (9/30/2025) causes breaking changes to these applications. We need to be intentional about exploring these unknowns in order to allow us as much time as possible to develop alternatives.
Status Summary
The Field Experience Log system was transitioned from a Banner 8 Self Service application to the new Student Success instance of Slate on March 23, 2026 (with one exception).
Woodring students that are doing internships or field experience in Teacher Education, Human Services, and Rehab Counseling during spring quarter will begin using the new system. The project team communicated directly with students providing instructions on how to get to and use the new system. Additionally, the new system is now listed in Web4U (Student Records section), MyWestern (Administrative Tools section), and the Office of Field Experience webpage. In Banner 8 Self Service (Student tab, Student Records section) where students used to go to get to the old system there is now some helpful text redirecting users to the new location.
(The exception: There is a cohort of Secondary Education students that will continue to use the legacy system in Banner 8 Self Service through April 2026. They have been provided a link to the system and will rely on that emailed link to get access. Cheryl Larsen is the Woodring contact for these students.)
The project team meets regularly to support the Woodring staff primarily using Field Experience Log. The technical team has begun the work to bring data into the data warehouse.
In Process
- develop integration from Slate to the data warehouse
- stabilization support for Field Experience Log