Suitability of of Campus Solutions - Student Lifecycle Project

University of Glasgow did not have the information requested.

Dear University of Glasgow,

My colleagues who have seen and used the Campus Solutions system delivered by the Student Lifecycle Project are horrified with the prospect of using this system. In their view the new package is inferior to Websurf. The new system is not intuitive; it is cumbersome to use; lacks many functionality and the screens are full of spelling mistakes. My colleagues strongly believe that those involved in implementing this system did not have adequate knowledge of our needs. They have built the system in isolation and without any proper consultation with those who will use the system.

We all know that this project has repeatedly failed to meet its milestones and this has caused a great deal of embarrassment for those involved. It is now becoming apparent that to avoid further embarrassment those responsible for this project will provide us with an incomplete system, just to tick the box. This will result in delivering a not-fit-for-purpose system which will create substantial additional work for students, academics and administrators in schools and colleges. Considering the above:

- How will you determine that the system, when implemented, will address the needs of the academic community, students and the University as a whole? Please provide documented evidence of your approach.

- Was the academic community ever consulted prior to implementing this package? If so, please provide all documented evidence.

- Is there a plan to improve this system?

- If there is such a plan, please provide its milestones and describe the process by which you will identify the areas that need developing. I am also interested to know of the allocated budget for this.

- How will you measure success or failure of this project?

- Who is/are responsible for implementing this package?

Yours faithfully,

John Ferguson

FOI Office, University of Glasgow

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Ferguson

Further to your Freedom of Information request, dated 22 June 2011 timed 17:48, please find letter of acknowledgement attached.

You will find that the University's acknowledgement of your information request is in PDF (Portable Document Format) file(s) attached to this email.

The PDF file format is used for electronic distribution because it preserves the look and feel of the original document complete with fonts, colours, images, and layout. To open a PDF file you can download a free program called Acrobat Reader and install it onto your computer by clicking on to the following URL:

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/...

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office

Direct Line: +44 (0)141 330 3111
Fax: 0141 330 4920

Gilbert Scott Building
University of Glasgow
University Avenue
Glasgow G12 8QQ

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Helen Paterson left an annotation ()

The spelling mistakes are actually American spelling.
We followed the Americans to Afghanistan, Iraq and now to Campus.
“It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal”
Henry Kissinger

FOI Office, University of Glasgow

9 Attachments

Dear Mr Ferguson,

Please find attached the University's response to your Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 request dated 22 June 2011 timed 17:48 hrs.

You will find that the University's response to your information request is in PDF (Portable Document Format) file(s) attached to this email.

The PDF file format is used for electronic distribution because it preserves the look and feel of the original document complete with fonts, colours, images, and layout. To open a PDF file you can download a free program called Acrobat Reader and install it onto your computer by clicking on to the following URL:

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/...

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office

Direct Line: +44 (0)141 330 3111
Fax: 0141 330 4920

Gilbert Scott Building
University of Glasgow
University Avenue
Glasgow G12 8QQ

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Dear University of Glasgow,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of University of Glasgow's handling of my FOI request 'Suitability of of Campus Solutions - Student Lifecycle Project'.

You have not fully answered the following questions:

- How will you determine that the system, when implemented, will address the needs of the academic community, students and the University as a whole? Please provide documented evidence of your
approach.

You have not answered the question. The question was not about gathering requirements. I simply asked how will you determine that the system, when implemented, will address the needs of the academic community, students and the University as a whole?

- Was the academic community ever consulted prior to implementing this package? If so, please provide all documented evidence.

Your reply indicates that there was no contact with the academic community since early 2009. Please confirm this.

- How will you measure success or failure of this project?

Again you have not answered the question. You have
provided a list of potential benefits/objectives but how will you determine that this project will deliver these benefits?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/su...

Yours faithfully,

John Ferguson

FOI Office, University of Glasgow

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Ferguson

Further to your Freedom of Information Request for a Review, dated 23 July 2011 timed 01:04 hours, please find letter of acknowledgement attached.
You will find that the University's acknowledgement of your Request for a Review is in PDF (Portable Document Format) file(s) attached to this email.

The PDF file format is used for electronic distribution because it preserves the look and feel of the original document complete with fonts, colours, images, and layout. To open a PDF file you can download a free program called Acrobat Reader and install it onto your computer by clicking on to the following URL:

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/...

Yours sincerely,

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Office

Direct Line: +44 (0)141 330 3111
Fax: 0141 330 4920

Gilbert Scott Building
University of Glasgow
University Avenue
Glasgow G12 8QQ

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Helen Paterson left an annotation ()

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

FOI Reviews, University of Glasgow

1 Attachment

Please find attached the University's response to your request for a
review.

John Ferguson left an annotation ()

Dr Anne B Mitchell, Corporate Project Manager, does not seem to know the difference between “performing a task” and “determining the quality of the performed task”. This is embarrassing!

Louis Seaman left an annotation ()

This sums up our feelings:
"http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/glasg... entry 117 says:

"I had a look at whatdotheyknow.com and studied FoI requests related to the Student Lifecycle Project and MyCampus. I am absolutely horrified and shocked by the sheer number of FoI requests and the fact that despite all these warnings the University did nothing to stop this costly and useless project. Members of the Student Lifecycle Project Board must be sacked for mismanagement of this project and misleading the University about its outcome. Members of the University Senior Management Group must be reprimanded for failing to realise the simple fact that this project was going nowhere. Members of the University Court must learn that they should take their duties and responsibilities seriously and do not approve, without solid justification, whatever the University Management puts in front of them. They should stop being a rubber stamp."