Students team up with business and government to design software

Students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's J.D. Edwards Honors Program in Computer Science and Management have completed the design and implementation of eight major computer software solutions for sponsoring organizations in Nebraska.

As part of the Design Studio course, student teams use knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to partner with businesses and government agencies to develop real-world software that meet the clients' needs.

Each design team will provide a 10-minute overview of their work between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. April 21 during a year-end Design Studio celebration in the Kauffman Center Great Hall, 14th and U streets. The event is free and open to the public but please RSVP by calling (402) 472-6000.

The eight software solutions completed by the UNL students are summarized as follows:

* Allied Strategy: Student teams helped Allied Strategy to implement key parts of a software offering that will be introduced to a beta-client in the spring of 2005. The software is designed to facilitate transfer of verification information, such as motor vehicle and credit reports, from reporting agencies to the clients such as the insurance industry.

* Lincoln Electrical System: Students created a central "Gas Transaction System," a Web-accessible transaction management system to manage contracts for purchases of natural gas used in electricity generation.

* Mutual of Omaha: Creation of a personal computer-based pricing system for insurance premiums and annuities. The system will increase efficiency through less manual data entry and manipulation, enhanced usability through a user-friendly environment, and improved competitiveness.

* Stanley Senior Technologies: The Arial wireless system is used in many hospitals to help alert hospital staff if a patient needs assistance. Student-designed software improves response time and enhances patient care.

* State of Nebraska Department of Property Assessment and Taxation: Student teams evaluated and redesigned assessment processes to provide better access to Nebraskans.

* University of Nebraska Foundation: Software interfaces with existing Web-based financial systems to add capability for university faculty and staff to request transfers and payments from their funds automatically. The system replaces paper-based processes with a more efficient, automated alternative.

* UNL Office of Equity, Access and Diversity Programs: Creation of an online training system for search committee training. The system allows more consistent and convenient training both on- and off-campus.

* University of Nebraska Office of the President: Creation of the "NU Contact" system to provide Web-based access and management of contact information. The system will save hours of manual labor needed to manage mailing lists.

CONTACT: Anne Sweet, Director of Operations, J.D. Edwards Program, (402) 472-9097