JJC Moves Forward with Major Technology Overhaul to Modernize College Operations

Article Summary: The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees received a detailed update on a sweeping Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project, a major initiative designed to modernize the college’s core technology and business processes. College administrators and a senior consultant outlined the path forward for replacing and optimizing systems that handle everything from student registration to financial management.

JJC ERP Modernization Key Points:

• The project aims to overhaul JJC’s core software systems for better efficiency and strategic alignment.

• Dr. Yolanda Farmer, a JJC administrator, and Teresa Fort of the consulting firm CampusWorks presented the update.

• The plan was developed following extensive community engagement, including surveys, interviews with IT leaders, and workshops.

• Key strategies for success include evolving IT leadership, improving shared governance, and aligning business processes with new technology.

JOLIET, IL – The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, reviewed the progress of a comprehensive technology modernization project that will reshape the college’s digital infrastructure and operational efficiency for years to come.

During the meeting, Dr. Yolanda Farmer and consultant Teresa Fort from CampusWorks presented an update on the college’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Optimization and Modernization initiative. An ERP system serves as a college’s digital backbone, managing critical data and processes related to student information, finances, human resources, and more.

Fort, who serves as the project lead, detailed the extensive community engagement process that informed the master plan. This included surveys, interviews with information technology leaders, and workshops to gather input from across the college. She reviewed the “technology maturity model” used to assess JJC’s current systems and outlined critical strategies for a successful implementation.

The presentation highlighted the need for an evolving role for the college’s IT leadership, the creation of an institution-focused project management office (PMO), and the importance of shared governance in making decisions. Aligning the college’s business processes with the capabilities of new technologies, rather than customizing software to fit old habits, was identified as a key to success.

Dr. Farmer concluded the presentation by outlining the next steps for the project, which will guide the college as it moves toward selecting and implementing a modern ERP system.

The initiative follows previous board action to engage CampusWorks for an enterprise architecture assessment and the development of the ERP master plan. The successful completion of this multi-year project is expected to result in more streamlined operations, better data for decision-making, and an improved user experience for students, faculty, and staff.