JJC Advances ERP Modernization with New Vendor and Two-Year Budget

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025

Article Summary
Joliet Junior College is entering the next phase of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system overhaul, with the Board of Trustees approving a two-year budget and a plan to transition to a new primary project management vendor. The comprehensive “Path to SAS” plan aims to move the college’s core software system, Colleague, to a cloud-based environment, a multi-year project focused on improving efficiency and the student experience.

JJC ERP Modernization Key Points:

• The board was presented with a two-year timeline and budget to migrate its Colleague system to the cloud (SAS).

• The plan includes transitioning from the current project management partner, CampusWorks, to a new, unnamed vendor.

• Vice President Karen Kissel will serve as the ERP Optimization Lead.

• The board approved funding for a transition period and a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software as part of the project.

JOLIET, Il. – Joliet Junior College is advancing its multi-year effort to modernize its core administrative software, presenting a detailed two-year timeline and budget to the Board of Trustees on October 15. The plan involves transitioning to a new project management partner to guide the complex migration of its ERP system to a cloud-based platform.

Dr. Yolanda Farmer, the project’s executive sponsor, outlined the next steps for the “Path to SAS (Software as a Service)” initiative, which follows the successful stabilization of the on-premise Colleague system. “We want the team to feel like we can face any challenges related to the ERP because they have your support and the administration’s support,” Dr. Farmer said.

A key change is a new project governance structure. Vice President of Administrative Services and Finance, Karen Kissel, will step into the role of ERP Optimization Lead. The college will also bring in a new primary vendor to provide project management and technical support, while retaining its current partner, CampusWorks, for a one-month transition period.

“Tonight, we’re going to ask you to approve three items,” Kissel explained, outlining contracts for the new CRM software, support from the new implementation partner, and transition support from CampusWorks.

Dr. Christopher Osygus, an IT lead on the project, walked the board through a complex timeline involving data migration, testing over 60 system integrations, and extensive report writing before a final “go-live” date, which officials hope will be sooner than the projected two-year maximum. The board approved the initial funding requests as part of the consent agenda and separate votes, setting the stage for the next major phase of the critical infrastructure project.