Information Technology Services

Project: Self-Service

Objective 

Deploy Self-Service (Banner 9) modules to campus

Project Overview

Appalachian deployed Self-Service for administrative services and is now implementing Self-Service to give our faculty, staff and students a modern mobile-friendly interface with updated functionality.

Project Details

Some benefits of our Self-Service update include:

• For all–mobile-friendly design, improved interface and more web browser options

• Faculty and Advisor Improvements:

  • Advising Student Profile consolidates a student’s profile, education and career path to a single page that is accessible to advisors and students

  • Class Roster and View Grades functionality allow faculty to review their students’ academic profiles and schedules, communicate with students over email, print class rosters and more

  • View Grades lets faculty members and advisors view a student’s academic progress
    
    

• Student Improvements:

  • New intuitive registration and course schedule planning tools with a mobile-friendly design

  • Action item messages to remind students of important tasks that need their attention prior to registration or the start of an academic semester
    
    

• Employee Improvements:

  • Web Time Entry interface now gives a nice summary of leave balances

  • New “My Team” feature shows people that report to you

  • New “profile” page shows all contact information you have on file in one place
    
    

• Finance Improvements:

  • Better interface for creating journal entries and conducting budget queries

Status

Active

FAQ

What is Self-Service?

• Banner is our system of record for students, academic programs, financial information, HR and payroll. Banner encompasses Self-Service modules for employees and students, as well as administrative applications. 

• Self-Service includes the following:

  • Employee Self-Service

  • Finance Self-Service

  • Student Self-Service

  • Faculty & Advisor Self-Service

Why are we moving to Banner 9? 

• The Self-Service (Banner 9) upgrade is a campus-wide initiative that supports the university’s strategic goals to build a responsive infrastructure for a sustainable campus. 

• This is also a universal system-wide change; any institution using the Banner platform is upgrading, as support and maintenance of Banner 8 Self-Service will no longer be available. 

• Self-Service updates will also support more web browsers and mobile technology platforms to allow full browser support and an improved mobile experience.

What is the timeframe for implementation?

• We began delivering Self-Service updates to campus in Fall 2022 and will continue to deliver modules as they are implemented and approved. Self-Service Banner 8 (SSB8), including all related screens and links, will be permanently deactivated on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

How do I learn more about upcoming changes?

• Information Technology Services will update our campus via email, digital signage and the Google announce system as changes are made to Self-Service.

Will training be provided?

• Yes; announcements for specific training opportunities will be forthcoming based on each phase of this project. 

What are the improvements and changes taking place with course registration?

• Updates and improvements
  • New features include:
    • Modern and more mobile-friendly design
    • Visual calendar-like display during the registration process
    • Improved functionality for linked course search and registration process (i.e. lecture & lab)
    • Course location by campus (i.e. Hickory, Boone, Online/Distance Learning)
    • Schedule types (lecture, lab, internship, seminar, thesis or research)
    • Instructional methods (face-to-face, online asynchronous, online synchronous and hybrid-primarily face-to-face)
    • More detailed messaging when an error occurs
    • Visibility of drop limits and email notifications sent to student, faculty member and advisor

• Process changes

  • Class section notes
    • Course notes will no longer appear in course search results but will display in a pop-up box when a course title has been selected.
  • External links and forms
    • The platform will no longer allow live or clickable URL links due to security concerns. This means any links to pre-requisite forms or documents can still be visible, but will have to be copied and pasted into a browser.
  • Implementation of System Office drop limits 
    • Terminology change: from Career Drops to Withdrawal Credits.
    • Transition drop limitations: from 4 course drops to 16 credit hours.
      • Courses dropped in Fall 2014 and forward will be included in the calculation.
    • Prior to Spring 2025 exceptions will be honored (including lab drops). 
    • This implementation is part of App State’s integration of the UNC System Fostering Undergraduate Student Success (FUSS) process.

Who do I contact for more information?

• If you have questions or need assistance with Self-Service, contact the IT Support Services Help Desk at 828-262-6266 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • If needed, you may also contact the appropriate Banner Module Administrator.
• If you have questions about the Self-Service upgrade (Banner 9) project, contact our IT Project Management Office at group-it-pmo@appstate.edu.

Additional Resources

• • Check out our YouTube Playlist to see new applications and capabilities in Self-Service (produced by Ellucian, our Self-Service vendor).
  • Review Office of the Controller’s Banner 9 Web Time Entry training videos (login required).
  • Visit our self-help Knowledge Base for documentation with helplful step-by-step instructions, screenshots and videos.