CSU, Chico SAP’s First University Competency Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2000
Ann Walker
530-898-4143
CSU, Chico SAP’s First University Competency Center
A $250,000 computer equipment grant from Hewlett Packard to California State University, Chico’s College of Business enabled the university to become the first SAP University Competency Center.
Through the agreement, CSU, Chico will share its curricular materials and instructional technology with other universities throughout the United States. The goal is to train other universities to integrate the Internet-enabled enterprise software system into their business curriculums. Ultimately, these schools will operate independently of CSU, Chico and become partners in developing additional business-process-oriented curricula.
“The designation as a UCC by SAP America evidences the unquestioned leadership role of the CSU, Chico College of Business curriculum in the SAP University Alliance Program,” said Jim Mensching, CSU, Chico professor of management information systems.
The University of Missouri was the first school to participate in the program. CSU, Chico provided application services for the fall 1999 semester, and Missouri is now operating independently of CSU, Chico assistance. Four schools are currently under contract with CSU, Chico for application services including Bentley College, DePaul University, Grand Valley State and Auburn University. Partnerships are under negotiation with several other institutions, including Temple University, the University of Michigan and Youngstown State.
SAP America is one of the country’s largest applications software companies. CSU, Chico began using SAPÕs enterprise-wide software in 1996.
In 1998 CSU, Chico won the first SAP University Alliance Research Award for its work demonstrating curriculum modules for the integration of SAP into existing business classes.
CSU, Chico has a priority of incorporating information system technology in its business curriculum. More than five years ago, the university implemented the Business Process Curriculum Initiative (BPCI) to change the orientation of business courses from a functional perspective to one that emphasizes business processes. Traditionally, business courses are subdivided into functional categories including management information systems, marketing, accounting and finance. The BPCI’s mission is to integrate these functions and emphasize how they work together, rather than separately, in the operation of a business.
“It’s important to emphasize business processes in a business curriculum because thatÕs the way business works,” said Ray Boykin, professor of production operations management and faculty director of SAP programs at CSU, Chico. “We’d be doing a disservice to our students if we did it any other way.”
The College of Business is also participating in a cooperative inter-university business simulation with John Carroll University, the University of South Dakota, Central Michigan University, and Louisiana State University scheduled to begin fall 2001.
Each university will assume a role in a fictitious business-to-business marketplace including manufacturer, supplier and customer. The students will conduct business on the Internet through the mySAP.com marketplace portal, which will be hosted by CSU, Chico.
Through the simulation, students will gain technical expertise in configuring a SAP system for the fictitious company and gain a better understanding of the integration of the business supply chain by actively participating in one.
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