The Quality Assurance Committee's major charge and emphasis is to assist each year in Beta testing SIGMA's 1st release of software for the new year start up. The committee is comprised of several volunteers that work closely with SIGMA staff in January testing the new award year software changes. Working together, they spend quality and intensive time Beta testing the changes in programs to insure a high quality product is delivered in the 1st general release to all clients.
The Beta testing process has evolved over the years to a format that allows more schools to volunteer to participate in the testing process. Prior to the release of the Sigma general release, a request for beta testers is sent to the NASU membership. Interested schools are requested to sign up on the Sigma website to participate in the testing of the Need Analysis Beta Release and/or the Loan/Pell Beta Release. Each institution who agrees to participate will receive notification from Sigma regarding the availability of the programs to be tested. Each tester will be required to update Sigma on their testing process identifying problems that require resolution or the success of their testing. Sigma will coordinate with the Quality Assurance Committee chairperson to notify the NASU membership via the NASU listserv of the results of the beta testing.