Website      Products      Demos      Events      About      Stay In Touch      Support
December 2015 | Issue #38
Current Releases: SM 8.0.032 (11/19) | AW 3.5.024 (11/18)
ACEware Systems Newsletter - Information to Run Your Program
ACEware Employee Spotlight: Sharon Brookshire
We thought it would be neat to really show what ACEware Systems is made of: A great staff. This month, we're highlighting Sharon Brookshire.

Sharon started working as Vice President of Operations  two years ago this month. She develops marketing pieces and writes proposals for schools in search of a registration software solution. Sharon also helps with planning the annual ACEware Users' Conference, manages accounts payable and receivable, and represents ACEware at exhibits (she'll see you at LERN, right?).

Prior to working for ACEware, Sharon earned  Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education. During graduate school, she worked at Kansas State University Continuing Education. After completing her graduate program, Sharon was offered a full-time coordinator position with Continuing Education as a youth and on-campus program coordinator. She progressed to the coordination of international events, and then was appointed to the role of Director of Conferences and Noncredit Programs. In total, she served 18 years in CE at K-State.   

In her tenure with K-State, Sharon experienced the challenges that ACEware customers have as coordinators, registrars, and administrators. She knows how vital it is to have software that supports your day to day work and provides the data you are asked for daily. She recognizes how many hats our customers are wearing, how understaffed they are, how many hours they spend in meetings, how they are required to self-support, and mostly how dedicated they are to what they do.

Sharon's raised two children. Her son, Mathieu, will celebrate the big 30 in January, and her daughter, Caitlin, is 26. Sharon also enjoys her two adopted canines named Sophie and Bentley.

In her spare time, Sharon  enjoys mentoring and supporting emerging professional women and single mothers. It's a challenging world out there for both, and if they can gain anything from the lessons she's learned in career and life, she's glad to lend a hand.

If Sharon can find the time to sit and read, that's what she'll do. She enjoy walks on the prairie, bird watching, and browsing antique shops for odds and ends to decorate her home.

Contributed by Matthew J. Olson and Sharon Brookshire

Reinvigorate Invoice

How often do you issue an invoice only to find out later that it wasn't for the right amount? Maybe the invoice was for the wrong class, or some adjustment was made to the registration.

Whatever the reason, you had to void the old invoice and reissue a new one to get the amount corrected. But in doing so, you had to reset the payment date, the payer information, and so on. Then Chuck asked the question: "Isn't there an easier way?"

The answer is the Reinvigorate Invoice button added to Student Manager 8.0.032. This has a wizard-like approach to voiding the old invoice, telling the system why it was voided, and then putting in a new amount for the updated invoice. The invoice number, date, and payer information is copied over from the old one to the new one for you.  How easy is that?

For more information, see your technician or consult the help guide. Also note that 8.0.032 full of other new goodies, too. See the SM link at the top of the newsletter (where the version information is) for the full list of new features.

Contributed by Matthew Olson
Student Manager vs. PCI Compliance
creditcards_scatter_laptop.jpg
Definition of PCI: The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a proprietary information security standard for organizations that handle branded credit cards from the major card schemes including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and China UnionPay. Private label cards - those which aren't part of a major card scheme - are not included in the scope of the PCI DSS.

One question we get a lot: Is Student Manager PCI Compliant. The answer is easy:  We don't have to be.

Explanation: Student Manager and ACEweb do not pass registrants' credit card information within the software. Student Manager version 8.0 only allows for Payment Redirect Services, which means that at the time you want to enter a credit card, whether within Student Manager or online through ACEweb, you will not be entering Credit Card information into our software. Your Payment Provider will return the Authorization Number and Transaction ID but the vital PCI data is not passed.

Previous versions of Student Manager did have a relationship with NON Redirect Payment Services. We have ceased working with these so the PCI Compliancy falls on your Payment Service.

A full list of Payment Services we work with at ACEware Systems is located at: http://www.aceware.com/products/links/


Contributed by Michael Lowry
20th Annual Users' Conference
May 18-20, 2016 - Manhattan, KS
Be sure to  register for the ACEware Annual Users' Conference before you leave for your winter break! It's your last chance to get the early registration fee!  

The conference provides you and your team the perfect opportunity to connect with your ACEware team and other professionals using ACEware software for hands-on learning experiences. You'll receive:
  • Networking opportunities with colleagues who share your commitment to lifelong learning.
  • Best practices to maximize the use of your software.
  • Tips and tricks to improve work practices and grow your program immediately.
  • One-on-one consultation opportunities with ACEware professionals.
  • Opportunities to shape the future development of your software.
Attend a pre-or post-conference workshop on May 17 to receive six hours of in-depth training on a topic of your choice including:  

We have limited space in these sessions, so don't delay!

We look forward to seeing you in The Little Apple for some big ACEware learning and networking opportunities.  

Contributed by Sharon Brookshire
ACEware visits Lakeland Community College
 
Say hello to the Lakeland Community College team, an ACEware customer for eight years!  Lakeland is eager to upgrade to the SQL server version of Student Manager, but before doing so, they decided to spend two days learning about all of the new features in Student Manager and ACEweb.  

We're always excited when schools contact us requesting private training for their Student Manager team. We applaud them for investing in staff development to make sure they are using their software to its fullest extent.
 
Let your tech know if you'd like to also invest in private and customized training. We'd be glad to get you a quote and schedule a visit!  

Contributed by Sharon Brookshire
ACEware Heads to the Big Easy
conference_attendees.jpg
If you are heading to the Annual LERN Conference this week, be sure to stop by the ACEware exhibit to say hello to Chuck and Sharon. They want to know how things are going with you and your ACEware software and hear your wish list items for new features and new functions.

If you won't be at LERN, you can still share your software wish list items at any time here.

Contributed by Sharon Brookshire

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season.  Our sincere thanks for your loyalty this past year, we've had a wonderful time working with you!  Watch your mail for a gift from ACEware!  
We look forward to serving you next year.

Here's to your continued success!

Your ACEware team,

- Chuck, Sharon, AJ, Cheryl, Jason, Lauri, Lindsey, Matthew, Mike, and Stein
Aceware Systems
Quick Links


Catch up on the ones you missed 

New help videos for Student Manager 


Our Casual Side
 


Contact Us
Phone
Voice: 800.925.2493
Fax: 785.537.6811

eMail
Tech Support: support@aceware.com

Mail
ACEware Systems, Inc.
7480 Dyer Road
Manhattan, KS 66502

 

We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about this newsletter, please contact sharon@aceware.com

.
Aceware Systems
800-925-2493 | matthew@aceware.com | http://www.aceware.com
 


Like us on Facebook   View our videos on YouTube   View our profile on LinkedIn   Find us on Google+