Workday Student Phased Rollout Approach

Hamilton College is implementing Workday Student through a phased approach spanning the Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 semesters.

Workday Student Rollout at Hamilton College

Hamilton College is implementing Workday Student through a phased approach spanning the Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 semesters. Each phase of the rollout aligns with key academic and financial processes to ensure a seamless transition. Our first fully live academic year in Workday Student will be 2027-28.

This staggered go-live approach means that we will be operating in both Workday and our legacy systems during the transition period. Below is a breakdown of when major functionalities will become available, along with resources to guide students, faculty, and staff throughout the implementation.

Project Implementation Phases

The project rollout is divided into five distinct phases spanning from early 2025 through late 2027:

Phase A: Pre-Planning (February – May 2025) Focuses on establishing project teams, finalizing the master schedule, and hiring necessary personnel.
Phase B: Planning (June – August 2025) Dedicated to learning and analyzing what each specific area requires within the Workday system.
Phase C: Architect & Configure (September 2025 – August 2026) The core build phase, involving data transfer, feature development, process definitions, and security configuration.
Phase D: Testing (September 2026 – January 2027) A critical period for thoroughly testing all areas. Broad participation across teams will be key during this phase.
Phase E: Deployment (March – September 2027) The official phased rollout, executed in three distinct launch stages:
- Stage 1: March 2027 (please note this has been adjusted from February 2027)
- Stage 2: July 2027
- Stage 3: September 2027

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Deployment Stages

To ensure a smooth transition, Workday Student features are rolling out in three main phases throughout 2027:

Stage 1: March 2027 (Academic Foundation)

This initial launch sets up the core academic structure. It includes the release of the new course catalog, class schedules, and student profiles, alongside the tools needed for academic advising and course registration.

Stage 2: July 2027 (Student Finances)

This phase introduces student billing and financial accounts. Users will be able to view student financial details, make payments, and set up payment plans directly in the system.

Stage 3: September 2027 (Academic Records & Financial Aid)

The final phase handles the wrapping up of the academic term. This includes final grading, graduation tracking, transcript generation, and the processing and disbursement of financial aid.

Please note:

Timing and exact tasks are subject to change.

Updates will be shared as launch approaches. During the go-live year, certain activities will take place in Workday Student while others will still rely on existing systems. We will provide detailed guidance on where to complete specific tasks, along with training and support resources to ensure a smooth transition.

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