Case studies
University of the Cumberlands discovers the winning combination of Workday and TouchNet
How the University of the Cumberlands streamlined solutions under one platform, saving time for staff and improving the student experience
It was clear to administrators that the campus needed to make a change.
Frustrated with complicated, siloed solutions and a lack of accessible data, it was time to switch Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Would it be possible to find an all-in-one platform that not only benefits staff but students as well?
Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky with more than 20,000 students, the University of the Cumberlands had a disappointing experience with its previous ERP. It was clunky, inefficient, and overly complex. “It was very complicated to figure out what goes where. We wanted to simplify,” said Derek McIntosh, Director of Student Accounts.
Accessing data was another pain point. Staff had to jump through hoops to access information, making it feel impossible to see trends and set goals. “We need easy access to our data to figure out what direction we need to go in,” McIntosh said.
It was time for a change, but administrators didn’t want to lose their trusted commerce solution, TouchNet. “It works,” said McIntosh, “and we wanted to keep what was working.”
Maintaining consistency while fostering growth
By switching to Workday, the university could save time, reduce friction and continue to use TouchNet. And with multiple solutions, like Workday Student and TouchNet’s Bill+Payment, staff get a 360-degree view of their student body’s finances, including on-campus transactions, financial aid, fees and more.
Meeting new goals with an all-in-one solution
Now that they have an all-in-one platform, staff are applauding the tangible time savings that come with it. “The staff really, really love it,” McIntosh said.
Staff can now set up automated fee assessments for an entire academic year in just one sitting — and they can do so during the less hectic summer months. The integrated sandbox environment saves time as well, allowing staff to test custom reports and ensure they return the intended results.
Plus, administrators can now access the right data and unlock visibility into how students are engaged with the institution, which allows them to use predictive analytics to better support the student population.
Students are loving the new system as well. “The biggest thing we hear from students is that it’s all laid out for them. Their courses, financial aid — it’s all there,” said McIntosh.
“There’s no clicking around, no wondering what to do — that’s a huge benefit for students.”
— Derek McIntosh
Director of Student Accounts at the University of the Cumberlands
The university can also configure automated action items for each student in their profile. Whether they need to register for classes or submit a fee, students can do so in just a few clicks. And thanks to TouchNet, they can make payments quickly and easily, anytime, anywhere.
Administrators can now enjoy the ease of use and breadth of capabilities they were craving from their last system. And two years into the partnership, the university is still very happy with its decision to make the switch. “We like to be innovators,” McIntosh said, “and that’s ultimately why we chose to go with Workday.”
