$1 million approved for technology upgrade

The university has already purchased software and services from the firm.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Youngstown State University will receive nearly $1 million from the state to hire a Pennsylvania firm to help with technology upgrades at the school.
Without comment, the State Controlling Board unanimously approved Monday releasing $962,153 to YSU to contract with SunGard SCT Inc. of Malvern, Pa., to provide professional services for the technology upgrades.
The university is moving forward with a system-wide replacement of administrative computer software and hardware within a three-year period.
As part of the upgrade, YSU has already purchased planning software and professional services from SunGard SCT for its core systems of finance, human resources, student financial aid and advancement, according to a memo to controlling board members.
Also as part of the upgrades, the university has already purchased hardware including servers, storage and tape drive equipment, the memo said.
Next step
In this portion of the upgrade, the university seeks to use SunGard's software and service agreements to implement the second phase of the upgrade to improve administrative software and hardware throughout the campus, the memo said.
"Because Youngstown State already has a large investment in this administrative package, a continuation of SunGard SCT's software and services is critical to the success of this project," the memo to controlling board members said.
Made up of six state lawmakers and a representative of the governor's office, the controlling board has the final say over some of the state's larger spending items.