Community college in Reno gets tech overhaul.

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Truckee Meadows Community College recently took the first step of a huge technological leap during a test site for a new, Web-based information system called iNtegrate.

Officials said the $30 million project will dramatically change how students access records and other information at Nevada public colleges and universities.

Chancellor Dan Klaich described the change as the "the largest information technology overhaul" in the history of Nevada's higher education system.

When the new system is fully up and running, students will be able to apply for admission or financial aid and keep track of everything from what classes they need to their grades.

"Our current system is really old ... pre-Internet days," said Christopher Winslow, executive director of technology systems and co-leader head of the iNtegrate project at TMCC.

"So I would equate it in terms of cell phones," Winslow said. "Remember the big brick-sized cell phones they used 20 years ago? That's the difference."

The first phase will allow new students to apply for admission for the fall 2010 semester that begins next August.

James Brose, a full-time student who works in the Web Services Department, said when the entire student information system is running, it will allow students to access all the different information without having to log on to separate links.

It also will allow faculty and staff to communicate online in real time and see data or information students have not completed so they can help them without requiring them to come to the campus.

"I think it will make everything more convenient for everybody," Brose said.

Eventually, when all seven campuses are fully iNtegrated as planned next year, students should be able to transfer their records and other information from one institution to another with ease.

Winslow said the next phase at TMCC under the iNtegrate project will be to provide access to student financial aid information and applications in late April. That will be followed by access to student records, student financial information and academic advising.

"Students will be able to search for their classes almost like using a Google search, and they can do Amazon.com-type shopping online with a shopping cart," Winslow said. "The student can decide to take English 101, put it in the shopping cart and they'll know what it would cost and then make their transaction."

The Nevada System of Higher Education has used $20 million from investment earnings toward the cost of the $30 million project.

Students at each of the institutions will be charged $3 per credit hour to cover support and service costs for the system, Klaich said.

Fall of 2011 is the target date to have iNtegrate up and running at all seven of the state's academic campuses.

THE PAYOFF

When the plan is fully implemented, students should be able to transfer their academic records and other information from one institution to another with ease.