Committee recommends Metro State supplemental to finish student information system; members flag high consulting costs

The Joint Technology Committee recommended funding a $2,450,000 supplemental from Metro State University of Denver to complete a multi‑phase student information system (SIS) transformation.

Kevin Taylor, chief information officer at Metro State, told the committee the project is in its final phase — a roughly 30‑month implementation — currently in testing and configuration, with a planned move to production and a go‑live for fall 2027 registration. "We are in the testing and configure phase now... we're planning to do, what we're calling a move to production, but it's really when we're going live about a year from right now," Taylor said.

Committee members asked for clarification on the fiscal‑year label on the request and were told the request repurposes funds from an earlier phase and is net neutral overall. Several members expressed support: Senator Bazely praised the university’s management and said the cash‑fund request made approval easier.

Vice Chair Tatone and others voiced concern about consulting expenses. "It just seems like it's outrageously expensive... it just feels like this is just something like a cash cow for these companies to make money off of everyone," Tatone said, while still supporting the project's continuation.

The committee approved recommending the supplemental 6–0. The request is cash‑funded from university general fund reserves; future capital appropriations, if any, would follow normal budget and capital review processes.