UI’s ISIS system to get name change due to sharing name with terrorist state

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa's student information system, commonly referred to as ISIS, will get a name change in the spring following complaints and concerns about potential confusion with the Islamic State terrorist group.

Steve Fleagle, CIO and director of UI's Information Technology Services, said the university has fielded a handful of complaints and seen concerns on social media - including from students worried about searching for the UI's ISIS website online.

'We take those kinds of things seriously and we started talking about what it would take to change the name,” Fleagle said.

The UI ISIS website houses a range of student services, including registration and financial information, university email, and course deadlines. Although changing the website's name is not technically challenging, Fleagle said, ISIS references are prevalent across campus and in numerous documents.

That prompted the IT team to take a larger look at possible solutions, Fleagle said. And it decided to take the opportunity to create a 'one-stop shop for students” by combining ISIS and the Iowa Courses Online portal - or ICON - into one combined site.

The university is considering other possible services it could provide through the new portal - like housing.

'This will put everything together,” he said.

Planning is underway, and the rollout will begin in the spring semester. The university wouldn't drop the old sites right away, because so much documentation sends students there. But, Fleagle said, the university would redirect users from the old sites to the new.

'At some point, when that traffic dies down, we could eliminate the old ones,” he said.

Fleagle didn't know how much the change would cost but said he doesn't expect it to be too expensive 'or else we wouldn't pursue it.”

The team has bounced around some new names for the combined website, but Fleagle said they haven't decided on anything and are welcoming suggestions. The ISIS name, chosen in 1978, actually referred to the Egyptian goddess and also worked as an acronym for 'Iowa Student Information System.”

Despite its history, Fleagle said the change will benefit students.

'We are using this opportunity to provide a better student experience,” he said.