Issue/Question
I have some questions about the Colleague SaaS project.
Environment
Resolution
Project Summary
Macomb Community College is preparing for an important modernization of Colleague, the system that supports many of our day-to-day services for students, faculty, and staff. By moving Colleague to Ellucian's cloud-based SaaS platform, the College will gain a more modern, reliable, secure, and flexible foundation for the future. The project will also introduce improved reporting and analytics, easier electronic workflows, modern mobile-friendly experiences, and new AI-assisted capabilities designed to make information easier to find and routine work easier to complete.
This is more than a technology upgrade; it will transform the way we work. It is an opportunity to simplify how we work, improve the experience of our students and employees, and position the College to take advantage of new capabilities as they become available. The transition will happen gradually, with training, communication, and hands-on support throughout the project so employees have time to learn and adapt with confidence.
The project is expected to begin in July 2027 and continue through December 2029, with some preparation activities beginning earlier. As the project moves forward, the College will share regular updates, milestones, training opportunities, and information about what changes to expect.
What is Colleague?
Colleague is the College's core system for many important services, including student records, financial aid, registration, human resources, payroll, and finance. In many ways, it works behind the scenes to support the services students, faculty, and staff use every day.
What is SaaS (Software as a Service)?
SaaS is a modern way of delivering software through the cloud. Instead of the College maintaining the system on campus, Ellucian hosts and manages it for us. This allows Macomb to benefit from a modern platform that can be updated and improved more easily over time.
What is "the cloud"?
The cloud simply means that the system and its information are securely hosted in professionally managed data centers rather than on servers located on campus.
For Macomb, moving Colleague to the cloud means:
- Our system will be hosted in secure, professionally managed data centers designed for reliability and continuity.
- Ellucian will take greater responsibility for maintaining the underlying technology and keeping the system current.
- Employees will be able to use modern, browser-based tools with secure access 7 x 24 x 365.
Why are we moving to SaaS?
Moving to Colleague SaaS will help the College:
- Modernize a core College system that has served Macomb for approximately 25 years and provide a stronger foundation for the future.
- Improve reliability, availability, and business continuity so important College services remain dependable.
- Receive new features, improvements, and security updates more quickly and consistently.
- Strengthen security and help the College keep pace with changing technology and compliance needs.
- Make work easier and more effective. New capabilities will include improved reporting and analytics through Ellucian Insights, more advanced electronic forms and approval workflows, and AI-assisted tools that can help employees find information, complete routine tasks, and reduce manual work.
What is the project timeline?
The project is scheduled to begin in July 2027 and is expected to be completed by December 2029 (2.5 years). Some preparation activities may begin as early as January 2027. This phased approach gives the College time to plan carefully, involve employees, provide training, and make the transition successfully.
Will the system look different?
Yes, but the changes will be introduced gradually. Employees will begin using cleaner, more modern, mobile-friendly screens that are designed to be easier to navigate. While the core data and processes will remain familiar, some tasks may look different or become more streamlined.
Training, demonstrations, and hands-on support will be provided throughout the project so employees can become comfortable with the new tools before they are expected to use them.
How will we stay informed?
Once the project begins and more details are known, the College will establish a regular communication schedule to share progress, upcoming milestones, training opportunities, and what employees can expect next.