Open source, or freely available, software has been gaining in popularity since the late 1990s. Today, Linux is a credible, free, and widely-used computer operating system. Providers of critical middleware such as database management systems and Internet application servers offer open source versions of their products. Application software released as open source is now available to higher education institutions. From Sakai (a course management system), to Kuali (a financial management system) to e-Portfolio (an electronic portfolio management system), open source alternatives to vendor licensed software are offering significant advantages in terms of controlling software costs; increasing the quality of service; providing software that is reliable, secure, scalable; and, finally, is affordable to institutions of any size.

Recognizing the substantial advantages this alternative offers to higher education, Informs has developed the first open source student services system, SIS^J2K (Java for the 21st century).

To remain competitive in today’s higher education landscape, institutions must meet the complex challenge of providing scalable, self-service capabilities that focus on the constantly shifting needs of all student services users. You need a system that allows for flexibility and expandability while remaining reliable, secure and cost effective.