Voyager is the name selected for this new system and represents ETSU’s continuing journey towards operational excellence. The new system is based on Oracle’s industry-leading Fusion Cloud web platform – a modern suite of cloud-based applications encompassing human resources, finance, and payroll abilities.
The system will be efficient, intuitive, and easy to use. Some key features that make this system user-friendly include:
- Intuitive interfaces
- Self-service
- Robust reporting
- Forecasting
- Dashboards
PROJECT GOALS
The new system will meet the following requirements:
- Leverage industry best practices available in modern cloud system.
- Deliver a system without customization.
- Improve business process and continuity.
- Improve employee engagement and hiring process.
- Leverage technical advancements and innovations of a cloud solution.
- Leverage real time data analytics.
- Utilize efficient mobile capabilities.
PARTNERSHIPS
ETSU is partnered with Oracle and HighstreetIT for the duration of this project. Oracle is an innovative, world-class, global company and provides industry best practice HR and finance processes in cloud-based applications. HighstreetIT is a consulting partner that focuses exclusively on Oracle implementations and brings extensive experience to the Voyager project. With the right partners, this project can be realized and serve as an integral component of one of the main pillars of the ETSU Strategic Plan “Go Beyond” – Pillar VII Fiscal Responsibility and Operational Excellence. This pillar is designed to ensure that operations are efficient and support an affordable high-quality educational environment.
GOVERNANCE
Project Governance is the set of rules, procedures and policies that determine how projects are managed and overseen. These rules and procedures define how decisions are made during projects. As part of the oversight process, project governance also determines the metrics by which project success is measured. These concepts are applied to the Voyager initiative by select ETSU staff. This is accomplished by using executive sponsors, a steering committee, and various functional teams.
Project Update - November 13, 2023
ETSU teams in ITS, Human Resources, and Finance have been working diligently for months to streamline and refine our business processes and roll out the new Voyager Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform on January 1, 2024. After consultation with President Noland, CIO, CFO, Assistant VP for Human Resources, other campus leaders, and the deployment partner, the system's launch is rescheduled to July 1, 2024. This updated timeline provides:
- Additional training and testing time for employees.
- Project alignment with the start of the new fiscal year.
- Delayed transition to a bi-weekly payroll for all employees.
- More robust solutions related to grant and sponsored program award management.
- Time to incorporate much-needed updates to the employee classification and compensation system.
- Opportunity to further align the Voyager project with the recommendations and outcomes of some of the groups currently undertaking efforts related to the university's strategic plan, including the Academic Restructure Committee and the Strategic Resource Realignment Committee.
The Voyager Team is working to update this website to reflect the new information and timeline. Contact voyager@etsu.edu with questions or concerns.
Project Staff
March 2023 Kick-Off Event. Pictured, From Left: Jeremy Ross; David Smith; Matt Smith; Dr. Karen King; Ben Echols; Ryan Seale; Rob Archer; Karen Glover; Travis Brooks; Dr. Brian Noland; Ashley McBee; Lori Erickson; Margaret Pate; Christy Graham Not Pictured: Lindsey CampbellExecutive Sponsors
Dr. Karen King
Chief Information OfficerInformation Technology Services
Margaret Pate
Senior Associate Vice PresidentBusiness and Finance
Lori Erikson
Assistant Vice PresidentHuman Resources
Executive Project Support
Dr. Brian Noland
ETSU President
Christina Graham
Chief Financial Officer Business and Finance
Jeremy Ross
Chief Operating OfficerAdministration
Project Leaders
Rob Archer
Information Technology LeadAssistant CIO - Enterprise Software & Services - Information Technology Services
Michel Beaver
Change Management TeamAssociate V.P., Tax & Revenue - Business and Finance
Travis Brooks
Training LeadTechnology Development Coordinator - Information Technology Services
Lindsey Campbell
Change Management Lead ETSU Online Student Specialist - Information Technology Services
Ashley McBee
Finance Co-LeadDirector of Grant Accounting - Business and Finance
Ryan Seale
Finance Co-LeadExecutive Director of Financial Systems & Technology - Business and Finance
David Smith
Human Resources LeadDirector of Human Resources Services - Office of Human Resources
Matt Smith
Project Management Lead ERP Project Manager - Information Technology Services
On March 22, 2023, there was a successful campus-wide kick-off for Voyager. Campus representatives from Information Technology Services, Human Resources, Finance, and the President's Office presented an overview of campus impacts and the Voyager system. The recording is available here.