Alliance recap - A great event, a great announcement and a great week of board activity!
Alliance Conference
Each year I find the week of the Alliance Conference to be the most productive week of the year for the HEUG as an organization! This year of course is no exception!
The event itself, attracting over 4200 individuals from 24 countries around the world is impressive. But more impressive are the numerous opportunities for members to network and engage in productive conversations with each other. With over 550 educational (session) opportunities to learn, the Alliance conference is the most productive education event of any Oracle User Group.
Additionally, by bringing over 250 people together during the Product Advisory Group Summit, this also ensures we stand out to Oracle from both a strategic advantage but addressing tactical opportunities as well.
Oracle Announcement
The HEUG was further asserted as the ‘voice of higher education’ to Oracle when Joanne Olsen delivered her perspective and appreciation during Sunday night’s opening session.
Our collaborative partnership was even more evident, as Oracle made their major announcement during the Monday morning Roadmap session, given by Mark Armstrong, Vice President Higher Education Development, and Steve Miranda Executive, Vice President Applications Development.
The announcement focused on three key areas:
- Campus Solutions Cloud Offering The Cloud-based Student Information System, for customers who are transforming their business to incorporate Cloud/SaaS deployment.
- Campus Solutions 9.2 – The direction to further invest in a simpler, more productive user experience, with more tailored, efficient application life-cycle management process in parallel with core ERP offerings
- Higher Ed “ready” core ERP Cloud and HCM Cloud applications. The investment in significant enhancements in both solutions.
These announcements are sure to create some buzz in Higher Ed, so we encourage you to read the Oracle Executive Summary, and look for more information on HEUG online in the coming months.
Board Activity
Board members had the opportunity to meet with Prospective HEUG Members, new HEUG Members, and many international members from the Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Mexico. On Wednesday, the Board of Directors held their monthly meeting in person to work on some key items such as HEUG By-Law changes, Strategic Direction of HEUG, and the delegation of duties for HEUG of Board Directors in the coming year.
Also, new board members Michele Thibideau (Butler University) and Terence Houser (University of Michigan) were welcomed. We also recognized several board members for their commitment and service.
Once again this was a great event, and I look forward to working our newly selected Board of Directors, as we help to continue to tell our story to Oracle for our members!