SAIS Finally Junked

New system replacement eyed by year-end

by Casandra Peñaverde

After 12 years of users suffering from technical issues, the Student Academic Information System (SAIS) is set to be finally replaced at the end of the semester, marking the end of the long systemwide campaign to junk the information system.

The new Information System for Key Operations on Learning and Academic Resources (ISKOLAR), announced by the UP Manila University Student Council (UPM USC) on Sept. 15, is being developed by the UPM Information Management Services (IMS).

The transition from SAIS to ISKOLAR follows a March 20 memorandum from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), directing all constituent units to phase out the long-criticized ‘legacy’ system.

High cost of a failing system

SAIS was developed under former UP President Alfredo Pascual as part of the P724.9 million eUP project, spearheaded by then UP Assistant Vice President for Development Jaime D.L. Caro. Despite a hefty budget of P37.7 million allocated to SAIS, the system failed to deliver.

Piloted in 2013 at UP Manila and UP Open University, SAIS has faced ongoing technical issues that have led to frequent delays, chaotic enrollment processes, and incomplete tuition fee assessments.

During its implementation in 2014, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the College of Public Health (CPH) reverted to the Computerized Registration System (CRS) after a series of glitches that prevented students from enrolling in their classes.

Over the years, classes have been delayed due to inadequate system performance with SAIS, leading to disruptions and security concerns within the system. Persistent errors have also eroded confidence among students and faculty, and prompted urgent calls for a system change.

SAIS was then rolled out to other constituent universities, with UP Los Baños bearing the weight of its failed implementation. Students and staff alike aired their frustrations through walkouts, demanding action from university administrators who have largely remained unresponsive to grievances, sparking a systemwide campaign to #JunkSAIS.

The Academic Management Information System (AMIS), like ISKOLAR, was introduced to address the issues of its predecessor. However, AMIS faced similar failures during its pilot run in 2022, with students struggling to access the new enlistment module and finalize classes, and repeating the cycle of technical setbacks.

Two years after its launch, AMIS still struggles with system errors and lack of available slots for students, causing registration delays.

What ISKOLAR hopes to offer

To ensure a smooth transition, the ISKOLAR Technical Working Group (TWG) plans the release of the system in three phases, beginning with a basic implementation that mirrors SAIS. Future phases aim to enhance functionality and incorporate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, which could significantly improve user experience.

The new platform aims to minimize the need for in-person interactions with the Office of the College Secretary (OCS) and program advisers.

Additionally, the user survey revealed plans for key features which include queueing for program advising, online advising room, sharing of grades with the program adviser, posting of enlisted courses for review and approval by the program adviser, scholastic standing status, and access to print own copies of Form 5.

The OCS, according to the ISKOLAR TWG survey, will move several applications online, including those for leave of absence, readmission, shifting, transferring, and graduation. The targeted features also aim to allow students to apply for graduation requirements like college and university clearance directly through the system.

Health services will also be streamlined with plans to make the annual physical exam (APE) results available online.

A feature that will allow Return Service Agreement-pledged (RSA) students to request their penalty computations through ISKOLAR is also being considered.

The migration is underway as a user needs survey was completed in September; user testing is scheduled for October; and full data migration from SAIS is expected by November.

Although the junking of SAIS is a welcome development for UP constituents, the University maintains the call for a better and reliable system, and hopes that this change is a step towards finally addressing the lack of slots in courses and faculty in the nation’s premier state university.