RADFORD -- On Feb. 13, the RU Financial Aid office successfully launched into production the new Banner Financial Aid system. “The Banner Financial Aid system is providing us with opportunities to streamline business practices from the initial review of files, awarding aid, and processing loan applications,” says Barbara Porter, director of Financial Aid. “Banner Financial Aid Self Service will bring a new face to Financial Aid for students.”

New and current students will be awarded their financial aid for the 2008-2009 academic year through the new Banner system. When fully implemented, students will have complete access to their financial aid information via the web and will be able to upload required files and accept financial aid awards online. This accomplishment, completed prior to deadline, allows RU to be compliant with all Federal Financial Aid regulations.

The launch is part of Project RUDI (Radford University's Database Initiative), a major multi-year project designed to review, replace and enhance the university's administrative information systems. These core systems include undergraduate and graduate admissions, financial aid, registration and records, student housing, advancement and fundraising, financials, budget and human resources. Together, these systems provide the business processing, data retrieval, reporting and self-service functions critical to providing essential services to faculty, staff, students, prospective students, alumni and the entire university community. The project was launched in January 2007.

Launch Dates for Future System Upgrades Announced
The following launch dates have been announced for future RUDI system upgrades:

-- Finance Phase I: Purchasing, accounts payable, general ledger, budget and fixed assets will launch July 1, 2008

-- Advancement Phase I: Gift and pledge processing, donor identification will launch July 7, 2008

-- Financial Aid Phase II: Award disbursement will launch Aug. 25, 2008

-- Advancement Phase II: Solicitations, prospect management and alumni self-service will launch by January 2009

-- Luminis, the new portal, will launch January 2009

-- Admissions will launch August 2009

-- Student Registration will launch October 2009

-- Student academic history, transcripts, grade reporting and student self-service will launch Jan. 5, 2010

-- Human Resources: Employee self-service will launch January 2010

-- Other components will be implemented throughout the project to replace the current document imaging system and the Enterprise Data Warehouse