Johns Hopkins UniversityEst. 1876

America’s First Research University

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Projects

The initial SSEI assessment phase resulted in 50 key recommendations to achieve JHU’s desired future state vision. The SSEI project team adopted a phased approach due to the extensive nature of the recommendations, resulting in three main phases with distinct focus areas (as illustrated on the below timeline):  

 

 

    • Phase 1A: Graduate Admissions and Career Services 
    • Phase 1B: Shared Services (Registration, Financial Aid, Student Accounts / Billing) 
    • Phase 2:  Digital Experience Platform (DXP), Advising Technology (Stellic), and SIS Replacement Discovery
    • Phase 3: SIS Replacement Readiness, Student Experience Research & Design, Events Calendar

Current Projects

Student Information System (SIS) Replacement

The SIS Replacement Project at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is a strategic initiative to replace the aging Matrix Student Information System (SIS) with a modern, efficient, and secure platform. This transition addresses critical challenges, including security vulnerabilities, outdated technology, and administrative inefficiencies, while aligning with the university’s One University vision. The current system limits cross-departmental collaboration, data governance, and user experiences, impacting student services, staff productivity, and institutional reputation. A modern SIS will enable JHU to leverage advancements in technology, such as AI and automation, to enhance global competitiveness, operational efficiency, and the educational journey of students.

 

Guided by principles of divisional autonomy, modernization, and market competitiveness, the project aims to unify systems, improve data security, and enhance decision-making capabilities. The implementation strategy involves pre-work activities to align stakeholders and modernize workflows, a rigorous vendor selection process, a phased implementation over 3-4 years with structured oversight, and post-go-live optimization to ensure seamless operation. This transformation will position JHU as a leader in technology-driven education, future-proofing the institution while improving experiences for students and staff.

Goal: Develop a future vision for enrollment management and student financials, identify key requirements for selecting a new SIS, and implement changes to the current business model where possible to have an immediate impact and prepare for the new SIS transition. 

Timeframe: August 2023 to June 2027  

Current status: initializing the pre-work for SIS replacement. Data gathering, initial project planning and preparation.  

Accomplishments: completed the discovery phase, developed comprehensive business case and strategic roadmap for guiding the SIS Replacement process. 

Events Calendar

The SSEI User Experience Research & Design Team is partnering with Student Affairs on a project to enhance awareness of and access to campus events and student organizations across all JHU divisions and levels. The goal is to improve and enhance a key foundational aspect of the JHU student experience, address pain points with current systems and tools, and increase access to meaningful reporting to support students and staff activities. We are assessing how current tools (e.g. Hopkins Groups, 25 Live) are utilized and integrated, as well as researching available tools on the market, with the goal of providing a recommended approach forward (~ summer 2026).

Goals:

  • One University Approach to support events calendaring and student organization management, to improve the student experience
  • Improve attendance tracking and reporting, integrating with the University Data Warehouse
  • Facilitating and enhancing integrations between systems

Project Team:

  • Brittini Brown, Associate Vice Provost for Student Engagement, Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs (VPSA)
  • Megan Miller, Strategic Initiatives Manager, VPSA
  • Olivia Keithley, Associate Director for Assessment, VPSA
  • Emily Ades, UX Designer, SSEI / Technology Acceleration Group
  • Kim Le, Sr. Business Analyst, SSEI

Timeline: Fall 2025 to Spring 2027

Current Status: information and requirements gathering throughout Spring 2026.

Previous Work

Stellic

Goal: to simplify and streamline multiple disparate information systems and processes so that academic advisors, faculty and other staff may accurately and effectively support JHU students throughout their academic journey. 

Executive Sponsors:

  • Janet Schreck, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
  • Amynah Mithani, former Associate Vice Provost and University Registrar
  • Rachelle Hernandez, Vice Provost of Student Affairs
  • Tiffany Mfume, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Retention Initiatives
  • Irene Zvagelsky, IT Enterprise Director, University Information Systems (UIS)

Project Team:

  • Brian Henley, interim University Registrar
  • Sloane Hanley, Director of Student Retention
  • Kim Le, Senior Business Analyst, SSEI

Timeframe: Spring 2022 – Fall 2025

Accomplishments:

  • Initial student launch of degree audit and academic planning features to all undergraduate and master’s programs across the JHU enterprise
  • Cross-collaboration between the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) and Student Retention to provide training and support for users of Stellic as we transition towards operations

Additional Resources:

Career Services

Goals: provide and expand access to a consistent baseline set of career services, tools and resources to improve the student experience across JHU.

Project Team:

  • Kathleen Bovard, Director of Career and Development Office, Carey Business School
  • Rachel Gibson, Senior Program Manager, SSEI
  • Joy Saunders, Senior Business Analyst, SSEI
  • Kim Le, Project Coordinator, SSEI

Timeframe: January 2017 – September 2018

Accomplishments:

  • Implementation of Handshake, a university-wide career services platform
  • Establishment of a new organization with oversight from an inaugural vice provost of Integrative Learning and Life Design, across all levels and schools at JHU
  • Creation of an employer engagement portal
  • Worked with university and school leadership to hire two assistant directors focused exclusively on doctoral/PhD students and postdoctoral fellows and to conduct experiential learning and professional development activities for students around the university.    

Graduate Admissions

Collaborated across all JHU schools to implement Slate as a unified graduate admissions system, replacing multiple disparate platforms and establishing common processes across graduate programs for the first time.
 
Goal:
  • Unify all graduate admissions offices on a single Slate instance, replacing six instances of Hobsons/Apply Yourself, two “homegrown” systems, and one instance of Spectrum/Liaison
  • Develop and implement a streamlined experience for inquiry, events, and applications
  • Establish shared admissions processes and policies across JHU graduate schools
Timeframe: January 2018 through June 2020
Accomplishments:
  • Implemented Slate for all graduate schools, including summer programs and non-traditional credit programs at KSAS, WSE, BSPH, and SOM.
  • Designed and implemented the desired future state experience for prospective students, applicants, staff, and faculty
  • Improved experience for prospective students applying to multiple programs/schools and established more efficient processes for faculty and staff
  • Enabled improved access to richer reporting and analytics for recruiting and admissions activities

Registration Workstream

Established the University Registrar role and implemented improvements to registration processes, including a common academic calendar, interdivisional registration pilot, and enhanced course search capabilities.
 
Goal:
  • Simplify and improve registration technologies and processes across JHU
  • Reduce time and costs for interdivisional registration
  • Implement unified record/transcript system and digital diplomas/certificates
  • Create common academic calendar to replace 24+ existing calendars
Timeframe: January 2018 through December 2019
Accomplishments:
  • Hired inaugural University Registrar for Johns Hopkins University
  • Developed rolling 10-year model common academic calendar in partnership with all JHU registrars
  • Established “Registrars’ Roundtable” monthly forum for coordination and strategy
  • Launched paperless interdivisional registration pilot across BSPH/KSAS Public Health Studies
  • Implemented Semester.ly course search tool within SIS, university-wide
  • Streamlined for interdivisional registration for students, staff, and faculty supporting the KSAS Public Health Studies program.
  • Simplified transcript and diploma request processes

Additional Resources:

Student Enrollment and Account Management (SEAM)

Reimagined student service delivery by designing and implementing a shared-services organization that consolidated Records & Registration, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts areas across JHU, supported by new technology and a comprehensive performance management framework.
 
Goals:
  • Create a shared-services organization for student service delivery across Records & Registration, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts
  • Establish senior functional leadership roles for Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and Registration
  • Implement Student Case Management solution and workflow/document management technology
  • Redesign business processes and transition staff to new organization
  • Build performance management framework to monitor SEAM experience and partnerships
Timeframe: January 2018 – June 2022
 
Accomplishments:
  • Created and staffed four key university-wide leadership roles: Assistant Vice Provost and University Registrar; Assistant Vice Provost for Financial Aid; Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Services; and University Director of Student Accounts
  • Launched Student Case Management solution and expanded workflow/document management technology
  • Assessed and redesigned 90 business processes related to in-scope areas
  • Identified roles and responsibilities between central and school-based resources
  • Completed organizational design and transitioned over 70 staff to SEAM
  • Established three-part performance management framework: Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with all schools; SEAM Dashboards covering Support, Satisfaction, Operations, and Workforce metrics; and Service quality surveys to close the loop with students
  • Built culture of continuous improvement and enhanced accountability to students and partner schools

Additional Resources:

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