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Five years ago, when Frank Phillips College (FPC) hired Run Business Solutions (RBS) to manage their Information Technology department, attention was the last thing they wanted.  They simply wanted their systems to work dependably with the assurance that their data was secure and protected. 

 

That was then.  Today FPC uses state of the art Microsoft platforms to drive communication and collaboration with students, faculty, staff and partners via various web portals connected to the core information systems.  These solutions are the result of the strategic plan implemented by Run Business Solutions.  "Hiring an outside firm to manage our IT department was a risky decision.  At the time it was unheard of in public higher education.  The results speak for themselves.  I'd put our systems up against any other college." says Jud Hicks, Vice President for Administrative Services at FPC.

 

FPC, recently had the pleasure of hosting ADv TECH, a company from South Africa, to evaluate the academic and financial ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems at FPC.  Delegates from ADv TECH chose Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas over hundreds of others schools because of their innovative approach and rapid adoption of the systems. Hicks was on hand along with key members of his staff to discuss their implementation of CAMS (Comprehensive Academic Management System) from Three Rivers Systems, Inc. headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and how they are currently using the system.

 

ADv TECH governs 19 campuses with 26,000 students in attendance throughout South Africa. The group, being led by John Deeb, has been looking for solutions that help colleges and universities to communicate with their students through portals to manage the entire student lifecycle from admissions and registration to financial aid and alumni relations.

 

FPC implemented CAMS as their ERP system in 2007. “CAMS fit perfectly into our Microsoft based portal strategy. It integrates with Dynamics GP, our accounting solution, out of the box.  The conversion to CAMS has been a tremendous improvement to the strategic operations at FPC enabling them to process information more quickly and to dramatically improve the way they serve their students,” said Drew Terrell, President of RBS. 

 

"When we devised our strategy, we certainly never expected any recognition.  The goals were simple, affordable solutions that work.  That's it.  This stuff was supposed to be in the background, under the radar, just working.  So to be recognized by national and global companies like Three Rivers and ADvTECH as an example of how to do technology right is exciting.  Probably not what you'd expect to find in Borger, Texas.  It certainly rewards the hard work of the entire team at FPC and RBS." Hicks said.

Run Business Solutions is a business and technology consulting firm based in Amarillo which serves over 80 clients in various industries in the region.