Jump to Main Content


Return to Top

I. GENERAL

Administrative Information Services Department (AIS), located at Room 2 Administration Building (telephone 353-4420) is responsible for providing administrative information system processing support to Michigan State University colleges and departments, and for the development and implementation of University management information systems.


Return to Top

II. REQUEST FOR SERVICES

A. Programming Services


AIS provides a variety of programming and system design services in support of the administrative functions of the university. Questions about the services available should be directed to the AIS Service Desk at 353-4420 extension 311.


The MSU department requesting programming services from AIS will need to submit either an MSU Project Proposal form or a Request for Application Services (RAS) form. The MSU Project Proposal form is used when you believe the total amount of effort (including both information technology and functional office) is likely to exceed 160 total hours. The RAS form is used when the total amount of effort is likely less than 160 total hours. For more information and to view instructions go the AIS Programming Request website: http://www.ais.msu.edu/progreq.htm.


Return to Top

B. Signature Digitization


Signatures may now be digitized for a fee for use on output from AIS supported printing systems. Depending on the use of the signature, two (2) security levels will be observed.


Level 1:

Signatures for forms or output that have no security requirements will be permanently stored in AIS computing systems for applications development and production printing. The client will sign a release, and the release will be retained as the documentation of authorization.


Scheduled productional use of the signature can be made without client intervention.


Level 2:

Signatures for forms or output that have security requirements will be handled in the following manner:


a. Secured forms and signature storage


All secured forms and signatures will be permanently housed on a special printer floppy disk. This floppy disk will be given to the client and must be supplied to AIS for printing. No backups will be maintained in AIS for secured forms and signatures.


b. Production printing of secured forms


In addition to scheduling the job(s) necessary for creation of secured form output, the client will schedule a time for printing of secured form output. At the scheduled time the client will present a secured floppy disk to AIS Operations. The secured output will be printed. The client will remain present for the entire printing operation. At the conclusion of printing, the operations staff will delete and verify deletion of all secured files.


Return to Top

C. Production Services


Production Services request clients supply a "Standard Request Memo"; at least three (3) days prior to the desired run date. The client must fill out the request form with the client supplied setup information and deliver it to the receptionist in Room 2 Administration Building, located at the ground level. Output from a job will be available at AIS on the morning following the run date.


Any jobs that require preprocessing, such as uploading of diskette data by AIS, will require additional lead time depending on volume of work to be completed. This time may be determined by contacting the AIS OCC service desk, extension 207.


"Standard Request Memos"; for existing productional jobs (jobs not requiring programming support) should be obtained from AIS. A unique "Standard Request Memo"; exists for each productional job run in AIS. Standard Request Memos for jobs U0002AD8 and U0001AD8, which produce address mailing labels, are found in the AIS Manual Of Business Procedures section on Mail Distribution Labels.


Return to Top

D. Equipment Repairs


Client Department Equipment


Client departments are responsible for repairs to their equipment. AIS will investigate problems with client department equipment and if it is determined the cause of the problem is in AIS equipment, AIS will secure repair service at no charge to the client department. Problems should be phoned to the AIS Help & Support Center, extension 311. The following information should be provided:

  1. Machine type.
  2. Machine location.
  3. Contact person.
  4. Office address and phone number of the contact person.
  5. Description of problem or service required.

Time spent by AIS personnel on problems determined to be caused by client department equipment will be billed to the client department at an hourly rate (two hour minimum). Additionally, any vendor charges incurred by AIS while investigating problems caused by client department equipment will be passed on to the client.


Return to Top

E. AIS Access Procedures


Administrative Information Services (AIS) provides a major vehicle for bringing information and data processing functions directly to the client community. Through the use of predefined transactions and software products such as DYL280 and SAS, clients are able to access and maintain their own data, and other institutional data relevant to their business functions.


This section describes the procedures required to obtain operator authorization to access the AIS administered systems and the various applications available through them.

  1. AIS Administered System Access
    1. An operator sign-on (Accessor ID or ACID) and an AIS-issued password are required for an operator to use the AIS mainframe. For non-mainframe systems, a user ID and password are required.
    2. The request for system access should be communicated to AIS using an Access Request Memorandum (ARM) form. An authorized “Security Contact” from the college or administrative office must sign the ARM form. Additional copies of this form are available by calling 353-4420, ext. 311 or by going to the website http://www.ais.msu.edu/security.htm .
    3. The ACID or user ID and password will be communicated in writing to the individual requiring the system access.
  2. Application Access Procedure
    1. In order to access any of the application systems available through AIS, approval from the application steward must be obtained. Contact the AIS Help & Support Center (353-4420, ext. 311) for assistance.
    2. The request for access must be signed by the Security Contact for the unit and sent to AIS. AIS will forward the request to the application steward for authorization before providing the requested access.
    3. The access request may be for a single individual operator or for an entire unit. If access is granted for the unit, future requests can be made directly to AIS without specific authorization from the application steward for each request. These direct requests must be communicated to AIS using an ARM form. The individual within the unit who has been authorized by the application steward to request this access for his/her unit must sign these requests.
  3. Client Based Computing Access Procedure

  4. AIS client based computing services provide tools, training and assistance for client offices that need direct access to administrative data, in order to write their own reporting programs or transfer copies of data to departmental computer systems.


    1. Access to mainframe client based computing facilities and tools is granted on a departmental basis. The initial request should be addressed to the Data Administration & Security team in AIS.
    2. A meeting will be arranged between the requestor and appropriate AIS Staff. At this time, specific requirements including files to be accessed and training materials will be discussed.
    3. The functional data steward must approve file access in writing.
    4. The request for access to a file should be communicated to AIS using an Access Request Memorandum (ARM) form. The Data Administration & Security team will assist in completion of this form.
    5. Clients who have questions concerning these services, or who wish to report a problem, should contact the AIS Help & Support Center (353-4420, ext. 311).

Return to Top

III. PRESERVATION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY AND CONTROL OF SENSITIVE FILES

  1. There exists public and legislative concern and regulation about individual rights to personal privacy. Use of computerized data processing has greatly increased the volume of available personal data, and has sensitized public awareness to the privacy issue. The issue of individual privacy and the computer, therefore, can only be resolved by regulating the client.
  2. Overall responsibility for the security of the AIS Department and all facilities located in the Department rests with the Director of AIS, who prescribes the procedures by which clients may gain access to the Department. Beyond the responsibilities of the Director, the overall responsibility for security of data and application software resides with the functional data owner as listed below:

  3. Data Bases Data Owner
    Student Information System Data Resource Administrator
    Alumni/Development University Development
    University Business Assistant Vice President for Finance
    Budget Office of Planning and Budgets
    Academic Personnel Provost
    Non-Academic Personnel Director of Human Resources
  4. Personal or sensitive information will be extracted from automated files without the specific prior written approval of the functional data owner. The AIS Department cannot honor any request for data or access to source programs without such prior written approval. The requesting client should send a copy of the release authorization request to AIS. Release authorization is normally granted on a one-time basis only for specific information or data. Should the requestor require the information on a recurring basis, the original request for the release of the data or information must specifically identify the request as a recurring authorization request.


Return to Top

IV. LONG-TERM RETENTION TAPE FILES

Long-term retention tape files which are retained for a period equal to or exceeding one (1) year will be retained in off-site storage. A second copy will be retained at AIS for productional use.

  1. Long-term retention tapes will be exercised and/or copied on a regular schedule to insure that all the data on the tape still exists and is readable.
  2. Clients will be provided with a listing of long-term retention tapes listed in data set name order on a quarterly basis. The clients will be allowed to extend retention dates on long-term tapes through the use of the Request For Application Support Form (RAS), to AIS.

Return to Top

V. METHOD OF PAYMENT

Payments for AIS services are made through interdepartmental billings against university account numbers. Units without University account numbers are billed by Departmental Receivables, a division of the Office of the Controller. These latter payments may be mailed to Departmental Receivables, or made at the Cashier's Office, 110 Administration Building.


Return to Top

VI. BILLING AND MONTHLY STATEMENTS

  1. Each month, AIS prepares the monthly billing statement, which is available in electronic form through the AIS Document Viewer. Only transactions which occurred during the billing period shown on the statement are included. Billing questions should be directed to AIS Help & Support Center (353-4420 ext 311).
  2. Department charges will be reflected on a monthly ledger distributed by the Accounting Department. The Departmental Receivables Division processes monthly statements for non-University account number holders.
  3. Charges for services rendered may not be divided between two or more accounts. Charges will be billed to the requesting department. Two or more departments sharing the cost should make their own arrangements for distribution of the charge.


Return to Top

Manual of Business Procedures - Section 240

  1. MAIL DISTRIBUTION LABELS

  2. Departments of the University may order sets of labels for mailing official communications to persons holding positions with administrative responsibility in the different departments.

    Currently there are two (2) jobs that produce campus mailing labels:

    1. The job, U0002AD8, prints Campus Mailing Labels for academic administrators, including executive management, deans, directors, and chairpersons. It is billed to the requesting department and labels are printed 33 to a page.
    2. The job, U0001AD8, prints Campus Mailing Labels for all current faculty and academic staff. It is billed to the requesting department and labels are printed 33 to a page.