CSS Related FAQs

  Other CSS FAQs

  BG@100 FAQs

  HCM Specific FAQs

  FMS Specific FAQs

  Applicant Tracking FAQs

 

Q: What is CSS?

A:  CSS represents Campus Solutions System. It is the Student Administration portion of the BG@100 project to implement PeopleSoft.

Q:  When will CSS be implemented?

A:  CSS will ‘Go-Live’ in a phased manner. The various CSS modules will be put into place between August 2008 and August 2009. A “Go-Live” schedule is available at: http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/cio/page50707.html with a graphical representation available at: http://www.bgsu.edu/downloads/bgsu/file47005.pdf

Q:  What modules are included in the CSS implementation?

A:  The primary modules included in the CSS implementation are: Admissions Student Records (Registration and Records) Financial Aid Student Financials (Office of the Bursar)

Q:  What is a back office?

A:  The “back office” term refers to the areas of focus for a specific conversion phase – for example, for CSS, Admissions (Graduate and Undergraduate), Bursar's Office, Office of Financial Aid, Bursar's Office are considered the primary office. Offices such as Human Resources, Office of Residence Life, Student Employment are also closely involved.

Q:  What will the Admissions Module do?

A:  Admissions will track the applicant’s record through the entire admissions process, including the final decision (admit, deny or withdraw). It will also matriculate, or formally admit, the student.

Q:  What will the Student Records Module do?

A:  Student Records will manage a student’s academic records. It will track a student’s career through graduation, transfer, or withdrawal. This module will also create course catalog and class schedules and will automate/track registration functions.

Q:  What will the Financial Aid Module do?

A:  The Financial Aid module will support the awarding of federal/local need-based aid, departmental aid, and scholarship funds. This module will calculate the cost of attendance. It will also analyze and determine need, identify qualifying programs/packages for a student and will award and deposit the aid.

Q:  What will the Student Financial Module do?

A:  The Student Financials Module will track student disbursements, charges, and both third party and collection payments. It will calculate refunds based on both university and government refund policies and it will provide a current picture of a student’s account, including account history.

 

Q:  Will CSS interact with the HCM and FMS systems?

A:  Yes, CSS will interact with the HCM (Human Capital Management) and FMS (Financial Management System) PeopleSoft systems that are already in place.

 

Q:  What will the CSS system be replacing?

A:  CSS will replace SIS (Student Information System) as the system of record for student administration. It will also replace CICS (Customer Information Control System), SAM (Student Aid Management System), in addition to the PageCenter and FOCUS reporting tools.

 

Q:  What is Academic Structure?

A:  The CSS Academic Structure is the foundation for all CSS components and defines how BGSU will operate. It is a representation of BGSU’s logical and physical structure and of students’ academic objectives. - Academic Structure Specific FAQs

 

Q:  What is Campus Community?

A:  Campus Community is the core of the CSS system. It provides a single source of data that is shared by offices across BGSU. The CSS Campus Community will provide a single data source for any person associated with the University – prospective students, students, faculty members, staff members. Campus Community will provide data to all CSS modules (Admissions, Student Records, Financial Aid, Student Financials) as well as all HCM modules (Human Resources, Payroll, Benefits). - Campus Community Specific FAQs

 

Q:  What is Self-Service?

A:  CSS will deliver Self-Service that will provide users with the opportunity to complete some services by interaction with the appropriate module. For example, the first Self-Service to be implemented will be the “Update Personal Information” Self-Service for faculty and staff. Using this Self-Service, faculty and staff will be able to update “My Addresses” and “My Phone Numbers” through MyBGSU. This Self-Service will replace the “Change My Address” MyBGSU option.

 

Q:  What are User Defaults?

A:  In CSS User Defaults allow the system to automatically set the value instead of the user manually setting up the values. Each user must set up her/his own user defaults. Setting defaults can be an efficient way to perform data entry processes. User defaults need to be checked periodically to determine if changes are required, such as term default. The Academic Institution defaulting to BGSUN is an example of a User Default.

 

Q:  What is Add to Favorites?

A:  The Add to Favorites tool is a great way to access frequently used pages. In order to add a page to your favorites, you must first be located on the page you wish to add as a favorite. Click the “Add to Favorites” hyperlink located on the Universal Navigation Header. Another option for adding to favorites is to select the My Favorites component from the main menu. This option will allow you to enter a unique description for the favorite item.

 

Q:  What is a BGSU ID#?

A:  This is a number assigned to each person associated with BGSU. It is a 9 digit number unique to each individual that will stay with them regardless of their relationship to BGSU (applicant, student, BGSU employee, etc.).

 

Q:  If a previous student is returning to BGSU as either a student or employee will they still have the same ID#?

A:  Yes, an ID # will stay with an individual regardless of their relationship to BGSU.

 

Q:  What is the difference between a BGSU ID# and a P#?

A:  For those who were assigned a P#, the number will remain the same except that the P is replaced with a 0. The process of replacing the P# with a BGSU ID# began with the implementation of the HCM system in 2004. While some auxiliary systems may continue to request a P#, the PeopleSoft system of record will generate and use BGSU ID#'s.

 

Q:  What does National ID mean?

A:  A National ID is referring to a Social Security Number. Dependent upon security access and location within CSS, this information may be masked.

 

Q:  How do I obtain access to CSS?

A: Access to CSS may be obtained by completing appropriate training and submitting a CSS Security Access Request form. Upon approval of the request, a user may access CSS. It is also possible to reference provided information via Self Service links in MyBGSU.

 

Q:  How to I log in to CSS?

A:  Information regarding access to CSS is provided once CSS Security access has been approved and implemented.

 

Q:  Can I also access FMS when logging into CSS?

A:  Due to the FMS system access one database and the HCM and CSS system accessing another database, the login for FMS and CSS are not integrated - they are separate logins.

 

Q:  What browsers are recommended when accessing CSS at BGSU?

A: Supported browsers include: Safari   2.0.4   Mac OS X Safari   3.0.4   Mac OS X MS Internet Explorer   6   Windows XP MS Internet Explorer   7   Windows XP MS Internet Explorer   8   Windows XP Firefox   1.5   Windows XP Firefox   1.5   Mac OS X Firefox   2.0   Windows XP Firefox   2.0   Mac OS X Firefox   3.0   Windows XP Firefox   3.0   Mac OS X

 

Q:  Will SIS information continue to be available?

A: Information in SIS will continue to be available for viewing. Access to SIS was changed to View Only as of July 1, 2009.

 

Q:  Will Focus access continue?

A:  Currently their are now plans to discontinue Focus however, users should be aware that Focus reports accessing data in SIS will not have up-to-date information provided via these reports.

 

Q:  What is RMS?

A:  RMS is the Residence Management System.  This is a separate system running in conjunction with CSS for use by the Office of Residence Life.  RMS will be used to provide: a web based system for managing campus housing housing and meal plan selection options for students self-service features more effective room management and allocation of rooms and resources

 

Q:  How will students benefit from RMS?

A:  RMS will enhance the student experience with: self-service room selection web-based system providing instant access "one-stop" shop for room and meals new students ability to preference rooms returning students ability to preference rooms roommate preference and pull-in Learning Community enrollment Theme Community enrollment

 

Q:  How does RMS work with CSS?

A:  The systems cooperatively process information such as: Bio/demo data for admitted students (by term) and current students--name, student ID, permanent address, phone and email Academic data--level, cumulative hours, a GPA "code", current term and academic program and plan Housing deposits and payments being downloaded from CSS to RMS Emergency contact information A category code to help indicate what group they might be a part of:  Learning Communities, Fraternities and Sororities, previous on-campus housing, etc. On-Campus address interface from RMS to CSS once room assignments are confirmed in RMS.  This is an add/change/delete interface that will update the 'RESH' address type in CSS Room assignments originating from the RMS system are uploaded to CSS.