UWSP: Computer students overhaul surplus system

University Relations and Communications, 715-346-3046, Fax 715-346-2042, www.uwsp.edu/news

A class project at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has increased efficiency and productivity at UWSP’s Surplus Property Office, saving the university and state taxpayer’s money in years to come.

Jeremy Hill of Madison, Ensui Chen from China, and Bryan Schmidt of Fox Lake, computer information system (CIS) majors from Professor Dan Goulet’s Applied Software Design class (CIS 480), took on the challenge of computerizing the surplus operation. The class is a capstone course that gives CIS majors an opportunity to tackle real-world projects in a professional environment as consultants. The project team met with the client in business attire for progress reports, meetings and presentations. Other teams worked on projects for the Stevens Point Public Schools and Sentry Insurance.

Since 1995, the Surplus Property Office has disposed of the large amount of university property that each year is catalogued as obsolete, unusable in present programs, overstock or outdated. The growing operation now incorporates surplus items from the Stevens Point Public Schools and will soon do the same for Portage County and Mid-State Technical College.

“The office has had more sales over the past 10 months than in the previous 8 years,” says Surplus Program Manager Fred Hopfensperger. “Sales this year will top $100 thousand dollars. The operation handles an estimated 10 tons of surplus materials per month.”

According to Hopfensperger, the students’ efforts moved the operation from the 19th century to the 21st century. Previously, the system relied on paper forms, a slow and outdated Web site, and cumbersome inventory tracking. Functioning as a professional consulting firm, the students wrote special computer programs that coordinate the Web site, inventory and sales, resulting in a system that is all digital, paperless and user friendly.

For example, UWSP departments can declare surplus equipment using an online form and enter it into the inventory instantly. When an item is sold, the cash register automatically removes it from inventory and integrates information for the database. The manager can view up-to-the-minute sales and inventory at a glance.

Hopfensperger is enthusiastic in his praise for the students’ work and professionalism, and for the efforts of Dan Goulet in setting up the project. He adds that through his work with students, he is more confident and knowledgeable about using the computer in his work.

“I can’t say enough about the students’ efforts – they did a fantastic job,” he says. “Dan Goulet engineered a truly first-class experience for them to test their skills.”