MIS is an abbreviation for Management Information Systems.  This term refers to the computer systems; hardware and software used to collect, process and output or report information.  The MIS Department is relied on to provide technical assistance to all tribal offices including the health and wellness center.  There are many areas in which the department provides support. 

The Computer Support Specialists are responsible for the daily maintenance of desktop computers, laptops and peripherals such as printers.  They also help departments by making suggests on how to better utilize hardware and software and by making recommendations for upgrades when necessary.  Last year the MIS Department established a Help Desk line for support and the Specialists field all calls coming in to it. 

The Applications Specialist is responsible for developing and conducting training courses for Stockbridge-Munsee Community employees to learn how to use all of the capabilities of their computer software.  This includes Microsoft Windows and Office and any other software purchased by departments.  The classes are held in the casino’s training room. 

The MIS Site Coordinator at the health center oversees all the computer needs of the staff at the clinic.  In addition to providing desktop support, he is also responsible for administering the network servers.  He must be familiar with all applications that are unique to the health center such as the patient records system and pharmacy system, to name a few. 

The Webmaster is contracted part-time to maintain the tribe’s two websites: Mohican-nsn.gov  and Mohican.com.  The job mainly consists of answering or forward requests for information received from guests and updating employment postings, calendars and any other dynamic information provided on the sites.  Mohican-nsn.gov is now the main site for the tribe and Mohican.com  is used as a home page for all tribal businesses. 

There are two Student Workers that help the MIS Department staff while attending college.  The tribe’s Student Worker works closely with the Computer Support Specialists to provide day-to-day support to employees.  The Health Center’s Student Worker reports to the MIS Site Coordinator at the Health Center and acts as a backup to his many responsibilities.  They are a great asset to the MIS Department and, in the process, are gaining some valuable experience in the field of information technology. 

The MIS Administrator directly supervises all MIS staff except for the Student Worker at the Health Center who reports to the MIS Site Coordinator.  The administrator is responsible for assigning work orders and projects to MIS staff and monitoring progress, maintaining the department’s budget, administering the network for the Administration Office, providing specifications and approving all computer equipment purchases, processing telephone and cell phone changes and assisting in planning for all future technology needs of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. 

Some projects that the MIS Department is currently involved in are:

• Developing a network infrastructure to make it possible for employees to share data and resources.

• Implementing broadband internet including setting up an e-mail server and web server to bring services in-house that was previously outsourced.  Employees will be trained on the use of Outlook for e-mail and calendaring.

• Providing technical recommendations for the building of the new assisted living facility.

• Integrating several software applications with Great Plains, the tribe’s financial and human resources software, to eliminate double entry of data.

• Researching wireless networking technology.

• Providing hardware and software recommendations to departments for budgetary purposes.