In a world where change is constant and expected, Saint Mary’s University is positioned for growth and innovation by going to the cloud. Cloud computing or “the move to the cloud” with the Ellucian Banner ERP system was successfully and seamlessly completed in March 2022, and paves the way for modern, secure, and adaptable services for SMU students, researchers, academics, administrators, and community, from any location on the globe.
Saint Mary’s University is only the second institution in the country to move all Ellucian Banner-related data and products to the cloud.
“Building on its strong tradition of accessibility and community engagement, Saint Mary’s is a leading example for institutions on the path to digital transformation. Now live in the cloud with Banner, Saint Mary’s has added flexibility and agility to meet the evolving needs of its community, with a modern experience that today’s users expect and deserve,” said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. “We are proud to partner with Saint Mary’s and honoured to support its students and staff through this significant development in their journey.”
“Moving our data and supports to the cloud is the smart decision” says Michelle Benoit, Vice-President, Finance and Administration. “This move gives us significantly enhanced security, better integration, and facilitates our ability to better meet the needs of those we serve in our global community.”
This bold move is part of the strategic investments in information technology first announced in 2021 when the university signaled a multi-year digital transformation.
“The future requires that we continue to innovate,” says Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President Academic and Research. “Befitting a university with global reach, we will be able offer global access to university services and supports anywhere in the world with access to the internet.”
In upcoming phases, as additional software and tools are added, the online experience will evolve and resemble the App Store where students, faculty and staff can access any university services they need on any device. A single point of entry or sign-on will make it easier for users to find courses, marks, registration documents, online academic advising, and even health and wellness services.
Cyber security has been greatly enhanced as the new hosting environment is SAS 70 compliant, achieving the highest standards, and all data is now fully encrypted.
“With global cybersecurity threats on the rise, it was imperative we make this move to the cloud as it provides a greatly enhanced secure environment,” says Todd Williams, Chief Information Officer, Saint Mary’s University.
While there are obvious gains for students, the entire university community benefits from cloud-hosted systems and tools, as IT staff can leave the safe storage of data and the upkeep of servers to others and concentrate on higher-value services for faculty, staff, students and administrators alike.