Cornell University is working to bring administrative data and systems together across its campuses, with updated goals that include reducing manual work, improving decisions and expanding the use of automation and artificial intelligence. University leaders outlined the work at an Aug. 26 town hall for the Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative, or CEMI.
The initiative covers administrative functions including finance, human resources, student services, research and engagement with alumni and donors. Its leaders said the changes are intended to give staff more time for teaching, research, patient care and other work, though the town hall did not set a completion date for the overall program.
Provost Kavita Bala said information needed for decisions is now assembled manually across multiple systems. More consistent data and administrative foundations could help Cornell's colleges and campuses collaborate and respond to changing needs, she said. The current research administration work is focused on processes and systems after an award is made; leaders are also evaluating how emerging technology could affect future options.
Donor records and finance integration
Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development Fred Van Sickle described a separate project to improve how Cornell tracks its relationships with alumni, donors, parents, friends and other supporters. The university is using the Kindsight Ascend platform to bring together records from multiple communities and systems into a more complete view of engagement.
The project aims to reduce manual steps for advancement staff and connect with Workday Finance so information can flow between donor-engagement and financial systems. The town hall described that integration as work in progress, not a finished universitywide transition.
Revised goals for an ongoing program
CEMI's revised goals include administrative excellence, a more seamless experience for people who use Cornell systems, trusted data for decisions, reliable foundations, automation and AI, better use of resources and stronger governance. The initiative spans Cornell campuses and is designed to modernize systems that support students, faculty, staff and other university communities.
Implementation Manager Steve Kish said the university is treating modernization as continuous improvement rather than a single technology installation. Teams across campuses, colleges and units will need to keep adjusting processes as regulations, technology and institutional needs change, he said.
The university posted a recording of the town hall for people with Cornell credentials, with separate login options for Ithaca-supported campuses and Weill Cornell Medicine. It also directs questions and offers to participate through its CEMI Hub.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.