MAIS Overview

History

In 1998, the University of Michigan began implementing new University-wide information systems to manage its financial, physical resource, student administration, and human resource management functions. These systems, called M-Pathways, consolidated most of the University's numerous information systems into two relational databases, reducing the need to repeatedly re-enter information and increasing the opportunity to share information easily across campuses and between schools, colleges, the health system and administrative offices.

Because the M-Pathways systems support processes that cross organizational boundaries, they have precipitated changes in procedure and policy. In addition, they have tightly linked our administrative processes and the technology that supports them.

Recognizing that the integrated, University-wide information systems required a different type of organization than any that currently existed, a new organization, dedicated to the management of the University administrative information and technology resources, was created. Michigan Administrative Information Services (MAIS) began functioning on July 1, 2000.

Organizational Structure

Michigan Administrative Information Services consists of five conceptual functions:

• Leadership and Administration, which sets direction and effective management.
• MAIS system divisions (Financial, Human Resource Management, and Student Administration) which coordinate with the central offices to align M-Pathways application development with U-M business processes.
• Shared Services, which supports all U-M staff members who use MAIS-supported systems and provides integrated information delivery across the MAIS system divisions.
• Technical Infrastructure Operations (TIO), which provides reliable and efficient system operations.

A Service Organization Philosophy

MAIS is a service organization that supports all academic and administrative units, including the health care system, and regional campuses, in their use of institution-wide administrative information systems. MAIS deploys the systems and maintains the technical infrastructure for M-Pathways, Development/Alumni Constituency, and other systems that house information used in administering the University.

MAIS works with U-M faculty and staff members to help them utilize the systems to improve the University's operating efficiency and to make use of institutional data to support decision-making. The three system divisions -- Financial, Student Administration, and Human Resource Management -- lead this effort. These MAIS divisions work closely with the central administrative offices to support their services to the University community and to define and implement effective end-to-end business processes. Along with the MAIS Shared Services Division, they help users align unit business practices and systems with the M-Pathways systems, and they serve as business integration units across all the administrative departments and offices using the institution-wide systems.

In addition to supporting the services delivered by central administrative offices and the schools and colleges to the faculty and students at the University, MAIS also delivers services to system users directly. Examples include the extensive user help desk support and onsite consulting services to help users work successfully with the administrative systems. These user support services also provide feedback to MAIS regarding coordination issues between system functionality and users' business processes so that process improvements and increased system utilization across campus can be achieved.