Banner Basics

Banner is:

The name for a series of software products for administrative applications purchased from the SCT Corporaton.   It is Unix-based and uses the Oracle relational database management system.   Banner modules provide many benefits to the UI community:

• timely processing with complete information available online
• distributed, paperless transactions
• flexibility and lower processing costs

Banner software allows the UI to focus on two vital processes: recruitment and retention of quality students.

Banner Modules

• Alumni/Development
• Employee Web
• Faculty Web
• Finance
• Financial Aid
• Human Resources
• Student
• Student Web

Understanding Banner Accounts

All University of Idaho employees receive Vandal Numbers and PINs they use to access the Banner web interface (also called the Web for Employees) at http://vandalweb.uidaho.edu. The Banner Web for Employees allows employees to access their own payroll information and in some situations change their personal records online. This account should not be confused with Banner Forms access!

Banner Forms is the interface into the University’s information system (called Banner) for specific HR, Finance, Student, Alumni, and Financial Aid operations. Training classes are required to gain access to Banner Forms and only some employees in each department need Banner Forms access. If you have questions about whether or not you need Banner Forms access, please speak to your supervisor.

If you definitely need Banner Forms access, you will likely want to begin the training as soon as possible. The first required class is called Banner Navigation. Most often, this class is offered by a trainer in your department, division or college. Otherwise, you can attend a training session offered at least once a month by Human Resource Development. If no one in your department knows who the Navigation trainer is for your department, either contact Derek Johnson (derekj@uidaho.edu, 885-3860) or sign up for Navigation class using Train Track. Once you have completed Navigation, you will receive your Banner Forms account and can take further training to gain more access. Your Navigation trainer can advise you on what further training you may need. All classes are scheduled in Train Track.

Train Track: https://www.training.uidaho.edu/traintrack/banner.asp

For more information on Banner Forms: www.uidaho.edu/banner

Banner Navigation Training

Banner Navigation, which includes FERPA training, is required for all users before they may use Banner or sign up for any other Banner training.

In the Banner Navigation Class students learn:

• The federal FERPA and Idaho Code laws which govern the right to privacy in regard to the information contained in Banner.
• Sign on and password information.
• Basic Banner Navigation skills used throughout all modules of Banner.

Board appointed faculty and staff should refer to the Train Track for more information on taking Banner Navigation classes.

Irregular Help employees must be sponsored by a board appointed employee. They may also use the Train Track to learn more about Banner Navigation training. Students working Irregular Help will also have their Novell accounts modified to permit access to Banner forms and their department's shared directories when their sponsorship memo is received.

STAR employees may not get Banner Training nor a Novell Account until they are hired. After the hiring department has posted a STAR employee's Irregular Help pay source to Banner HR, the STAR employee must go to the ITS Help Desk with picture ID to request a Novell account be set up. STAR employees that do have a Novell account at the time of training must still go to the ITS Help Desk after hiring, so their Novell account can be properly set up to allow access to their department's shared directories.

Some users require additional access beyond that granted in conjunction with Banner Navigation and subsequent Banner training classes. Users that need to do letter generation or are developers should request these privileges through the appropriate system support person, or contact the ITS Database Administration team security contact for assistance at (208) 885-2076 or e-mail dba@uidaho.edu.



Security - Picture Identification Required

Much of the information contained in the Banner database is confidential and access to this information is regulated by federal FERPA standards and internal control procedures deemed necessary by the university's external auditors. New users to Banner will be given the passwords for their personal accounts when they attend the Navigation training class. In order to protect this confidential information, and those that access and update it, all users taking Banner training classes must bring with them picture identification. Trainers will not permit training class attendance without it. Trainers will verify the identity and sign off on the class list that the trainee was in the session. Those not attending attending will have the access revoked following class.

Should an account be misused, these procedures will ensure that the university can hold the account owner responsible for any misuse. This also protects an account owner who signs up for a class but does not attend from someone who atends a training class in their name.

Questions regarding these policies can be forwarded to ITS Database Administration at (208) 885-2721 or e-mail dba@uidaho.edu.



Query Training Classes

Following Navigation training, sign up for Alumni/Development, Finance, Human Resources, and/or Student module query training by visiting the Train Track.



Special Training

If you are unable to attend a regularly scheduled training session or would like specialized assistance related to processing needs in your own office, call the appropriate number listed below to arrange special training.

• Alumni - (208) 885-7091
• Financial Aid - (208) 885-6312
• Finance - (208) 885-2140
• Human Resources
  • Board Appointed - (208) 885-3609
  • Temporary and Irregular Help - (208) 885-3609
• Student - (208) 885-2029

Finance Module Maintenance Training

Prerequisites:

• Banner Navigation Training
• Finance Module Query Training

To sign up for Finance Maintenance Training, call (208) 885-2140.



Human Resources Module Maintenance Training

Prerequisites:

• Banner Navigation Training

To sign up for Human Resource Service Time/Leave Entry or EPAF classes, visit the Train Track.



Equipment Needs

Internet Native Banner (web-enabled forms) minimum Requirements:

Windows 2000/XP
Computer/Processor: 133 MHz or higher Pentium-compatible
CPU Memory: 64 MB recommended minimum

Client/server
Minimum requirements:

Pentium or higher
Windows 98 - CPU Memory: 96 MB RAM
Windows NT - CPU Memory: 128 MB RAM
Windows 2000 - CPU Memory: 128 MB RAM

Suggested:

Pentium II or higher
Windows 98 - CPU Memory: 128 MB RAM
Windows NT - CPU Memory: 256 MB RAM
Windows 2000 - CPU Memory: 256 MB RAM

Supported Client Operating Systems:

Windows 2000
Windows XP

Windows ME: At the present time, we cannot support any Oracle products under Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition.

Windows XP: Oracle is not supporting client/server forms 6i on Windows XP. Hence Banner 6 is supported only on the web for Windows XP It is supported using Oracle Jinitiator (1.1.8.x or 1.3.x)

Web Browsers for Banner 6 Internet Native forms (INB or Web Enabled Forms)

Internet Explorer 5.x , 6x
Netscape 4.X, 6.2, 7.2, 8.0

Web Browsers for Banner 6 Self Service (Web For Products)

Internet Explorer and Netscape versions 4x and higher.

The following versions are recommended:

Internet Explorer 6.X
Netscape 7.2, 8.0
Internet Explorer for the Mac 5.1

MacIntosh users need at least a PowerMac.
 

Banner 7 Equipment Needs

This section outlines the recommended configuration for desktops connecting to Banner 7. In this version of Banner, access to both the application and Banner Self-Service (VandalWeb) are made through a desktop browser. The client-server interface of Banner 6 is no longer available. Access to Banner will be similar to the interface currently available through http://banner.uidaho.edu.

NOTE: These interface requirements will also apply to the FAMIS (Facilities) and Trust and Investments applications.

Internet Native Banner (web-enabled forms) and Banner Self-Service (VandalWeb):

Windows 2000/XP:
    Computer/Processor: 1GHz 
    CPU Memory: 512 MB recommended minimum
    Disk Storage: 150Mb
    Screen Resolution: 1024x768

Recommended Browsers:
    Internet Explorer 6.X
    Safari 1.2 (Mac OS10)

Additional Information

PostScript must be installed on laser printers, and they MUST be connected to the UI Network for consistant Banner printing.

Users may call the Bookstore's Computer Store at (208) 885-5518 to inquire about ordering new equipment.