Project Encompass to Increase Efficiency Through New Digital Systems
University selects platforms to manage student information, human resources, payroll, finance
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi is embarking on a transformative digital initiative to modernize its core technology systems for student information, human resources, payroll and financial data.
Project Encompass will replace the university's existing enterprise resource planning system, SAP, with two leading systems. Ellucian Banner will succeed SAP for student information and Workday will supplant SAP for financial, human resources and payroll.
The transition is expected to take around four years to fully implement.
"We are an institution known for its customer service, and Project Encompass will allow us to enhance the excellent service we provide to our university community," Chancellor Glenn Boyce said.
"This is much more than just an upgrade. It's a digital transformation that will enable us to thrive in a competitive landscape, a testament to our commitment to providing the highest quality education and services to our students, faculty, staff and researchers, and it is an investment in our mission, our people and our future."
More than 100 Ole Miss faculty and staff attended a June 17 launch event where Boyce emphasized the critical need for systems upgrades, noting that the university has grown significantly since SAP was implemented in 1999.
Speakers discussed benefits that an upgraded ERP will provide, such as enhanced customer service and end user experience, streamlined processes resulting in efficiency, access to real-time information to make data-driven decisions, enhanced collaboration, enhanced student and employee data security, and improved mobile application use.
"This is about more than just new computer systems – we're fundamentally transforming how the university operates through new processes and capabilities," said Steven Holley, vice chancellor for administration and finance and executive sponsor of the project.
"We have the opportunity to create a system that will provide a strong foundation for our faculty, staff and students who go here. That's the vision."
A 61-member evaluation committee and 68 subject matter experts from across campus participated in an extensive review process over the past year to select the new software partners.
Ellucian Banner is a higher education enterprise resource planning system used by more than 1,400 institutions worldwide. More than half of Fortune 500 businesses use Workday, a platform that helps organizations manage their people and money.
Noel Wilkin, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, explained that similar to how technology has changed how people bank, shop and interact, these enhancements will change how the university works.
"As a result, Encompass is not just a new system or a technical upgrade, it is a transformational initiative that will shape the future of how we work and deliver services," Wilkin said.
Charlotte Pegues, vice chancellor for student affairs, underscored the importance of Project Encompass.
"This is a very exciting time for our campus community," she said. "Today marks the beginning of a journey that will determine the success of our students, faculty and our staff.
"We have decided to embrace the possibilities of what we can do through Project Encompass."
Top: Chancellor Glenn Boyce discusses the need to replace the university's enterprise resource planning system at a campus meeting with more than 100 Ole Miss faculty and staff on June 17. The four-year Project Encompass will replace the current SAP system with two digital platforms. Photo by Kevin Bain/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services