Continuing Education asked the College Planning Council for $50,000 to hire an outside company to help upgrade their old software to City College’s Banner software.

“[Banner is] student registration, financial aid, human resources payroll and finance on one software system,” said Dan Watkins, computer applications and office management instructor.

Continuing Education split its courses last year. All non-credit courses became the Center for Lifelong Learning, while credit courses stayed in Continuing Education.

Both programs currently use multiple software to do the same job that Banner could be doing.

The current programs are “amazingly inefficient” and “incredibly time consuming,” said Priscilla Butler, associate professor for English as a second language. “It would be great if we could go to Banner.”

Jack Friedlander, executive vice-president of education programs, started this discussion at the Tuesday, Oct. 1, College Planning Council meeting.

“It’s a very intense manual process,” said Friedlander. “The sooner we move the better.”

Strata Information Group is asking for $100,000 for their services. Continuing Education hopes that the College Planning Council cover half of the fees. The other $50,000 will come from Continuing Education’s own finances.

The group would act as consultants to help handle the integration process that the college’s current staff don’t have time for.

“They want to get this implemented in a year,” said Watkins. “[Strata Information Group has] experience doing these things at other schools so we rely on their expertise.”

The College Planning Council will decide whether they will give the money to Continuing Education at their next meeting on Oct. 15.