Dear faculty and staff,

As we near the end of the spring semester, we’re pleased to share an update on Encompass, our transformational initiative to modernize the campus enterprise system that houses student information, human resources, payroll, and financial data. The implementation of Workday and Banner by Ellucian, two cloud-based solutions to replace our current in-house SAP system, is key to our continued momentum and to enhancing how we support our people, processes, and data. We encourage you to visit the newly updated Encompass website for complete background information about the initiative.

With nearly 300 employees across campus diligently working in varying capacities on Encompass, it is truly an institutional effort. Approaching one year into the project, we’re incredibly grateful for all the ways the Encompass team is helping us meet our concurrent implementation timelines:  

Last week, nearly 150 current SAP/connectU/E-form super users and department heads from across campus were invited to Workday customer showcase sessions to preview, actively engage in conversation, and provide feedback on the configuration of Workday. And, by the end of April, the Workday team will reach a significant milestone—60% completion of the implementation for Human Capital Management (HCM) and Payroll! This means that the architecture and design phase of the project will be finished, and between now and the planned launch on Jan. 1, 2026, the remaining time will focus on testing, training, and final preparations. End-to-end testing will begin in June, and a select group of the campus community will be invited to participate. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact encompass@olemiss.edu. Training for HCM/Payroll is in development and will be available beginning in September.

For the Student Information System, we have numerous teams leading efforts to implement Banner by Ellucian as well as other important supporting systems that will be integrated with Banner. The Banner system is currently in the ‘configure and build’ phase with multiple go-live dates that will align with processes for the 2026-2027 academic year. It is expected that students who apply for admission for Fall 2026 will do so using the new admissions application beginning in August 2025 and complete admissions onboarding and financial aid processing in the Banner system. Registration for Fall 2026 classes will occur in the Banner system. Most faculty will begin to interact with the Banner system later in 2026. 

In addition to our Workday and Banner teams, we’re greatly appreciative of the members of the Change Advocate Network. This engaged group includes employees from across campus representing both Workday and Banner. CAN members play a key role in building awareness by previewing key features of Workday and Banner and actively communicating with their department colleagues to keep them engaged and informed. The CAN will continue to meet twice a month for the duration of Encompass. We appreciate this group’s dedication to upholding a key guiding principle of Encompass to foster an environment of collaboration, communication, and transparency. 

To keep all employees informed about Encompass, look for a new monthly e-newsletter beginning in May. Encompass Essentials will offer timely updates on both Workday and Banner, helpful resources, and practical guidance to prepare the campus for the changes ahead. In addition to updates, each issue will spotlight key benefits, foundational terminology, team members, and upcoming engagement opportunities, such as training, showcases, and readiness events.

As we progress through implementation and towards the various go-live dates, your engagement is more important than ever. Real transformation takes more than new technology — it takes all of us embracing the possibilities of what we can achieve through our new solutions. Yes, the success of Encompass depends on the systems we implement. It also depends on you and the collective awareness, preparation, and participation of those using the systems. Your involvement, whether through training, readiness events, or simply staying informed, will shape how we successfully move forward together. Thank you for being a part of this important journey. 

Sincerely,

Steven Holley

Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance

Project Encompass Executive Sponsor

Noel E. Wilkin

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Project Encompass Executive Sponsor