Project introduction
In January 2023, Jenzabar One was selected as the new student information system (SIS), financial aid, and finance solution to be used at Mitchell Hamline.
The project originated from the desire to replace Agresso, our student information system. Implementing a new student information system has the following benefits for the school’s academic and business operations:
Data-informed decision making
An integrated system gives us integrated data and detailed metrics for decision-making regarding student success, student recruiting and enrollment, alumni engagement and fundraising, and finance and personnel. When data is not integrated and systems cannot communicate with one another, data analytics becomes unwieldy and less accurate. Different departments collect similar sets of data that are not identical, and discrepancies are difficult to resolve.
Data security
It is easier to keep data secure with an integrated system, because sensitive financial and personal data do not move across separate systems.
Operational efficiency
Mitchell Hamline can help staff work more efficiently, find more ways to automate manual work, and bring in new tools to address future needs more easily, by adopting a unified digital platform that can connect disparate systems to create a single reliable source of data.
Cost reduction
A cloud-based integration platform can reduce the costs of implementing and managing new solutions through centralized monitoring, a reduction in the amount of manual work for both ITS and end users, less dependence on hardware, and the creation of an open ecosystem.
Nimbleness and innovation
A cloud-based system allows Mitchell Hamline to leverage the latest technologies immediately instead of waiting for a refresh cycle or complicated upgrades.
Unified IT architecture
Historically, Mitchell Hamline has worked to integrate new solutions on a case-by-case basis. This has resulted in a smorgasbord of disparate solutions that have become burdensome for ITS staff to maintain, upgrade, and keep secure and connected. A cloud-based, hub-and-spoke approach provides a common pattern that will work with all systems and should be flexible enough to meet the needs of different departments and institutions.
Better service for remote employees
The cloud makes it easier to serve remote staff members. Pre-pandemic, few colleges and universities had experience managing staff who worked from home. These institutions have discovered that an effectively integrated IT system not only makes it easy to give remote employees the access they need to work effectively but also provides IT teams with the access they need to monitor systems. We want to support Mitchell Hamline’s transition to more remote work with an effectively integrated IT system.
Much of this work also ties into broader digital transformation work, which includes moving more of our on-premise infrastructure to the cloud and exploring ways to better facilitate communication and collaboration at Mitchell Hamline.
Phases
These phase activities and dates are approximate and could change as project details emerge.
Click phase for details.
Project Team
- Tressa Ries, Executive Sponsor
- Brandon Olson, Project Manager
- Kari McMartin, Business Process Manager
- Abe Godwin, IT Leadership
- Doug Cran, Common Module
- Jack Her, Admissions
- Adam Borrego, Advising and Retention
- Patty Davis, Budget and Finance
- Nick Anderson, Financial Aid
- Katie Kuehl, Registration
- Dan Nimlos, Student Life
- Kitty Atkins, Recruitment