What is Integrated Services Renewal?
The Integrated Services Renewal (ISR) initiative is modernizing how administrative services are delivered at USask. By improving our processes, data, technology, and ways of working, ISR is supporting our transition to a modern, cloud-based enterprise system that will bring greater consistency, efficiency, and integration across the university.
Today, many of USask's administrative systems and processes are fragmented, outdated, and difficult to navigate. ISR is a multi-year initiative designed to simplify and streamline administrative services, making it easier to access information, collaborate across units, and support informed decision-making.
Through ISR, USask will:
- Implement modern technology that can evolve with changing needs.
- Improve workflows and strengthen collaboration across campus.
- Enhance the experience for students, faculty, and staff.
- Provide better access to reliable data and insights.
- Replace more than a dozen outdated systems.
- Create a flexible foundation that supports future growth and innovation.
The result will be a more connected, user-focused administrative environment that enables USask to better support our people and advance our mission.
Benefits
ISR will create a better experience across the university by simplifying administrative services and improving access to information.
- Students: Easier access to services, information, and resources that support success.
- Faculty and researchers: Reduced administrative burden and more time for teaching and research.
- Staff: Simpler processes, better tools, and more efficient ways of working.
- Leaders: Better data and insights for informed, agile decision-making.
Initiative Phases and Timeline
ISR is a long-term modernization initiative that will continue unfolding over the coming years. Taking a phased approach allows the university to carefully introduce new capabilities, manage change effectively, and ensure each stage delivers meaningful value before progressing to the next.
This work is not starting from scratch. Since 2019, the university has undertaken extensive consultation, planning, assessment, and engagement activities to understand needs, identify opportunities, and establish the foundation for success. The phased roadmap reflects both this preparatory work and a commitment to delivering lasting improvements for the university community.
Assessment Phase
The Assessment Phase examined USask's administrative services, systems, and processes to identify opportunities for modernization and alignment. Through consultation with more than 270 stakeholders across campus, the initiative established priorities and a roadmap for improving student, finance, human resources, procurement, and other administrative services.
Key outcomes included:
- Current-state assessment
- Priority needs identification
- Future-state vision
- Transformation roadmap and business case
Phase 1: Foundation Building and Readiness Phase
Following the Assessment Phase, ISR launched six priority projects to strengthen administrative services and prepare the university for future transformation. Through planning, readiness assessments, and process improvement work, these projects help build the foundation for successful implementation and long-term modernization.
Job Architecture
Standardizing job profiles and creating a university-wide job architecture to support clearer career pathways, workforce planning, and equitable employment practices. Learn more.
Budgeting and Forecasting
Implementing an interim budgeting and forecasting solution to address immediate challenges and strengthen financial planning and decision-making. Learn more.
Enterprise Service Management (ESM)
Implementing a modern platform for service requests, knowledge management, and project tracking. Learn more.
Technology and Partner Selection
Selecting the technology and implementation partner for future HR, finance, and procurement systems. Learn more.
Student Systems Modernization
Developing a future-focused strategy for student systems, data, and digital services that supports student success, operational excellence, and long-term institutional sustainability. Learn more.
Phase 2: Human Resources, Finance, and Procurement Systems Implementation
Building on the planning and readiness work completed in earlier phases, phase two will focus on implementing the new enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform for human resources, finance, and procurement systems and processes across the university.
Key focus areas include:
- System Implementation: Deploying the new ERP platform and supporting technologies.
- Process Transformation: Standardizing and simplifying human resources, finance, and procurement processes.
- Data Migration: Transitioning data from legacy systems to new enterprise solutions.
- Training and Adoption: Equipping faculty and staff with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to work effectively in the new environment.
- Go-Live and Stabilization: Supporting system launch, issue resolution, and operational stabilization.
Phase 3: Implementation of Modernized Student Systems
The final phase will focus on modernizing student and academic technology systems to better support the student experience and the university's academic mission. Key focus areas will be identified following completion of the Student Systems Modernization Project.
FAQS
The Integrated Services Renewal (ISR) Initiative is a university-wide effort to modernize and replace aging administrative systems that support human resources, finance, procurement, students, and other core university functions. ISR is more than a technology project. It is an opportunity to improve services, simplify processes, connect information, strengthen decision-making, and enhance the experience of students, faculty, and staff across USask.
Many of the university's current administrative systems are aging, increasingly difficult to maintain, and do not fully support the needs of a modern institution. Investing now helps reduce risks associated with unsupported technology while positioning USask to improve efficiency, service delivery, data accessibility, and long-term sustainability. The initiative also builds on assessment and planning work that has been underway since 2019.
Many existing systems are aging, disconnected, and increasingly difficult to maintain. Continuing to rely on unsupported or outdated technology increases operational risk and limits the university's ability to improve services, reporting, integration, and user experience. Modernization helps ensure USask has sustainable systems that can meet future needs.
In 2026, the university’s Board of Governors approved $5 million in funding for phase one of the initiative. In addition, funding for future implementation work was secured through the university's approved financing strategy. These investments support the planning, readiness, procurement, assessment, and future implementation activities required for this multi-year modernization effort.
Phase One focuses on planning, assessment, and readiness activities. This includes issuing a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution and implementation partner, advancing foundational projects such as job architecture, procurement, and accounts payable improvements, and assessing opportunities to modernize student information and academic systems. The goal is to ensure the university is well prepared before major systems implementation begins.
ISR is focused on modernizing systems, improving processes, and enhancing service delivery. The initiative is not a workforce reduction project. During planning and design activities, the university will work closely with stakeholders to understand current processes and identify opportunities to improve how work is performed.
Faculty and staff will have opportunities to participate through workshops, focus groups, interviews, surveys, readiness activities, and other engagement opportunities. Subject-matter experts from across the institution will play a critical role in helping shape future processes, services, and system requirements. The success of ISR depends on broad participation and collaboration across the university community.
Students may not see immediate changes during Phase One, but the initiative is designed to improve the long-term student experience. Future modernization efforts will focus on creating more connected, reliable, and user-friendly systems that support student success, academic services, and access to information throughout the student journey.
ISR is a multi-year initiative that will be delivered in phases. Phase One focuses on planning and readiness. Phase Two will implement new human resources, finance, and procurement systems, while Phase Three will focus on student information and academic systems modernization. Detailed implementation timelines will be shared as procurement, planning, and assessment activities are completed.
Yes. Training and readiness activities will be a critical part of implementation. The university is committed to ensuring faculty and staff have the tools, resources, and support they need to effectively use new systems and processes before they are introduced.
The university is committed to regular, timely, and transparent communications. Updates will be provided through the ISR website, campus communications, engagement sessions, presentations, and project updates. As the work progresses, questions and feedback can be submitted to isr.feedback@usask.ca.
Questions?
Please reach out to isr.feedback@usask.ca with any questions or feedback.