Beginning this year, UMW will launch the implementation of Workday, a modern, cloud-based system to help us work more effectively, collaborate easily, and provide a better experience for our students, faculty and staff. Workday will replace most of our applications in Banner as the new enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, with applications across additional areas of campus. We have reached limits of our current capabilities and term with Banner, offering an opportunity to transition to a new system with more capabilities and integrations for campus.
We understand that this will be a transition for many areas, and we appreciate your consideration and feedback as we reviewed options during the fall semester. Your expertise in your areas is essential to this work, and this tool will help us develop that excellence across areas, offering a centralized system to share information and to make our work more visible and connected. The result will be a platform that is simpler, more dynamic, and more secure.
While the transition will be most visible to those who rely on these systems daily for planning and operational work, the benefits extend directly to our students. By strengthening the processes and practices that support every stage of a student’s experience—from admission to graduation—we can improve our day‑to‑day operations, enhance our interactions, and deepen our understanding of student needs and outcomes.
Implementation will occur in stages and will take time. Cabinet members and directors across several areas – beginning with finance and HR – will lead this work, supported by an implementation partner with extensive experience guiding universities through similar transitions. This partnership will provide guidance and additional staffing we know we will need, allowing us to focus on the knowledge and skills of our employees, examine our processes and practices, and make improvements as we approach this opportunity.
We also have the example and shared resources from William & Mary and Norfolk State University, which have also moved into Workday recently, and we have funding from the state to begin this upgrade. We’re joining more than 400 higher education institutions who benefit from Workday’s unified, cloud-based system for financial, HR, and student data.
This is an early notice to let you know what we’ll be working toward in 2026. As we move into pre-planning, we’ll connect with those departments who will lead the first stages. We expect the transition will take several years as we strategically move into the new system. This phased approach ensures continuity of services and gives our community time to learn, adapt, and thrive.
UMW’s Center for Teaching (CfT) actively supports and encourages faculty in providing a rigorous public, liberal arts education. Opportunities include workshops, interactive faculty research presentations, learning communities, as well as individual, small group, and departmental consultations. Whether looking to revive a tired course design or seeking ideas for a sticky teaching challenge, you can find support through the CfT.
The alumni events calendar picks up quickly in the new year with several opportunities to connect, serve and celebrate. Unless otherwise noted, alumni events are open to parents, friends, faculty, and staff as well.
As we conclude the fall semester, we want to share a brief update on the strategic action plan implementation process, which is now well underway. Our four strategic planning implementation groups have met, shared ideas, and built momentum for this initial phase of the process, and we have collected actionable items to share with the campus community in early spring. We’ll provide engagement channels and opportunities to review when we return from winter break. The steering committee will then refine the proposals for spring governance reviews, as we work with stakeholders, campus leadership and our board on next steps.
As we approach the end of the semester, we wanted to update you on the status of major maintenance projects, repairs and renovations across campus.