CORE INFORMATION SYSTEM REPLACEMENT
CISR Project – Southern Oregon University
Project Launch Date: January 1st, 2024
What is the CISR Project?
The CISR Project in essence is a project that will be replacing Banner as the core information system (HR, Financials, Payroll, Student Information, etc.) at SOU. Thus, the name C.I.S.R.- Core Information System Replacement.
In addition to Banner, SOU intends to replace a host of other systems that are used to either fill in for areas that Banner does not address, to augment Banner in some way, or to address things in a more user-friendly way than Banner does. This collection of Banner and these other systems is what we are calling the Banner Ecosystem.
Examples of these other systems are:
- Millenium FAST (budgeting and planning software);
- PeopleAdmin Recruiting (used for job recruiting);
- PeopleAdmin Performance Management (used for automating performance reviews, etc.);
- COGNOS (Reporting and Business Intelligence platform used for Banner data);
- Oracle (The database management system behind Banner);
- Perceptive Content (Document imaging and storage system);
- Additional systems are also being evaluated and could be added to this list in the near future.
The replacement for Banner and these other systems is a product named, Workday. Workday was chosen against other competitors for its considerably more advanced approach, and its adoption across not only higher-ed but all industries and its cost.
The project to implement Workday and retire Banner and its ecosystem began on August 1st of 2022. SOU has chosen an implementation partner named Alchemy. Alchemy was chosen due to their 100% focus on Workday and their 100% focus on higher education customers and deployments.
The project will take roughly three years to complete. The first year will address human resources, financials and payroll. The second two years will address the rollout of Workday Student to replace the student modules in Banner and other systems.
Why the Change?
SOU has been relying on Banner since approximately 1990 (Banner Student, Finance and HR were implemented in phases.). Over those 30-plus years, many things have changed. Not only has technology improved dramatically, but the ability to create more efficient and effective processes with technology has also increased dramatically. Moreover, the ownership of the Banner product has changed multiple times as well.
SOU’s contract with Banner’s vendor comes due in 2024. Thus before simply renewing the contract, it was decided in the Summer of 2020 to evaluate the marketplace to determine if better solutions were available. After a lengthy and comprehensive analysis, it was determined that better solutions are now available and that these next-generation solutions can provide significantly more functionality using more effective processes, they can also cost institutions less money that what is currently being spent to run legacy systems such as Banner.
SOU evaluated several competitors and ultimately chose Workday over other competitors. The reason was that Workday has been gaining the most traction in the market, it has a comprehensive solution and it will cost less than the Banner Ecosystem currently costs SOU. This cost difference only includes the actual invoices paid to the ecosystem’s vendors versus what SOU will be paying Workday. Although, SOU does expect to gain even more savings in the future as we become more efficient after deployment.
Project Endorsements
“So much of benefits are done manually via a spreadsheet that payroll HAS to have a conversion and backup documentation with the benefits officer on a “specific day” of each payroll run to know the amount to deduct from individual paychecks. Currently, if the benefits officer was not available to provide detailed information, payroll would be stuck.”
“This issue may become largely eliminated. Workday appears to base all deductions on a table that can handle almost any scenario automatically. VERY different from what we do now!”
– Debbie Jones, Business Services
Project Updates
Workday Org Charts
Imagine having the ability to dynamically and effortlessly explore the relationships between different departments, teams, and individuals at SOU. Well buckle up and get ready for Workday Org Charts! It’s like having your own personal map of working relationships, showing who’s in charge, and who’s collaborating!
This feature will allow you to view the hierarchy of departmental, divisional, and supervisory relationships. With just a few clicks, you’ll unveil a fascinating web of interconnected roles, jobs, and positions that make up the SOU landscape.
CISR Project Timeline
Southern Oregon University
Workday – Phase 1: Finance and HR
PLAN – Summer Term 2022:
Initiate project
Start planning and examine current & future states
Build system foundation
Introduce change management
Begin leadership engagement
ARCHITECT – Winter Term 2023:
Host Foundation Alignment Sessions
Plan for and navigate large-impact changes
CONFIGURE & PROTOTYPE – Spring/Summer Term 23:
Confirm SOU comfort level with the system
Build and test the system
Convert data to Workday
Plan Employee Training
Start C/SR Network
TEST – Fall Term 23:
Complete End-to-End Testing of the system
Develop a transition plan from Banner to Workday
Develop Training Materials
User Readiness Review
DEPLOY – Fall 23/Spring 24 Term:
Train Employees
Go-Live!
Convert Data
Implement Sustainability Plan
(*What happens beyond go-live?)
SOU Information Technology
Southern Oregon University IT Department
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
Phone: 541.552.6900