The Student Systems Modernization project is evaluating how USask’s student and academic technology ecosystem can best support student success, teaching and learning, institutional priorities, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. This assessment will review the technology, processes, and services that support students, faculty, and staff across the academic journey. It will identify opportunities to improve systems, enhance the user experience, and strengthen how academic and administrative services are delivered.
Goal
The Student Systems Modernization project is not simply to evaluate technology. The project will help create a shared vision for how USask's student systems and digital capabilities can evolve to better support students, faculty, staff, and the university's strategic objectives.
The outcome will be a set of recommendations and a roadmap that provides a clear path forward for student digital ecosystem modernization.
Specifically, the project will:
- Evaluate the current student digital ecosystem and supporting technologies.
- Identify strengths, challenges, risks, and opportunities.
- Assess future needs related to data, reporting, analytics, integrations, and user experience.
- Review student information system trends and solutions across the higher education sector.
- Develop recommendations and a modernization roadmap aligned with university priorities.
USask Community Engagement
USask community engagement is a critical part of this assessment.
USask has engaged Huron Consulting Group, a leading higher education consulting firm, to evaluate the current student digital ecosystem, including Banner, related technologies, integrations, data capabilities, and business processes across the student lifecycle. Drawing on community input, leading practices, and emerging trends, the project will inform a future-focused strategy and roadmap for student and academic technology systems.
Through interviews, workshops, roundtables, technical discovery sessions, and other engagement activities, Huron and the project team will seek feedback on:
- experiences with current student systems and technologies
- strengths and capabilities of the existing environment
- challenges, pain points, and opportunities for improvement
- current and future needs related to data, reporting, analytics, integrations, and user experience
- opportunities for technology to better support teaching, learning, student services, academic administration, and institutional priorities
Faculty, staff, students, and leaders from across the university may be invited to participate throughout the project. Your insights and expertise will help ensure the recommendations reflect the diverse needs of the USask community and support a sustainable, student-centered approach to modernization.
What this project is not
This project is not an evaluation of:
- individual performance
- unit or departmental performance
- organizational reporting structures
- staffing levels or staffing decisions
Feedback gathered during engagement activities will be analyzed and reported in aggregate to identify themes, opportunities, and priorities across the institution. The focus is on understanding the current environment and developing recommendations that support the university's long-term goals.
Timeline
July–December 2026 (estimated)
Key activities include:
- project initiation and stakeholder engagement
- current-state assessment and technical discovery
- review of peer institutions and SIS market trends
- development of future-state capabilities and recommendations
- creation of a student digital ecosystem modernization roadmap
Contact
For questions about the Student Systems Modernization Project, please contact:
Wilfred Eteng,
Program Manager, Integrated Services Renewal
University of Saskatchewan
isr.feedback@usask.ca