Curt Cole, Vice President and Chief Global Information Officer, announced in a May 2026 Town Hall that Cornell’s Experience Modernization Initiative (CEMI) has entered a major new phase, with several core programs—led by the Workday platform—moving into the “build” stage. This phase focuses on configuring systems and defining how essential administrative processes will function across the university. For faculty and staff, the changes aim to create a more seamless, consistent experience in everyday tasks such as hiring, payroll, budgeting, and financial management across all campuses.

University leaders shared early progress, highlighting how teams are rethinking long-standing processes to reduce fragmentation and improve clarity. In human resources, work is underway to unify job structures and standardize recruiting and performance practices, making it easier for employees to navigate roles and career growth across Cornell. In finance, efforts are focused on simplifying complex workflows, reducing manual steps, and improving access to timely, reliable data to support better decision-making.

The initiative also includes complementary efforts, such as implementing a donor and engagement system and advancing data and analytics capabilities. While the primary focus remains on system design and process improvement, teams are also using AI in targeted ways to support implementation work. Throughout the process, input from the Cornell community continues to play a key role, helping ensure that the new systems reflect how work is done across the institution and deliver meaningful, practical improvements.

Read more in the CEMI news story.