ERP Vendor Demos: A Major Step Toward Oberlin’s Future

The ERP Taskforce has reached an exciting milestone in our journey to modernize Oberlin’s core administrative systems. With guidance from our consulting partner, BerryDunn, we hosted in-depth demonstrations of two leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.

What Happened

Two strong contenders presented 2 full-day demonstrations each:

Ellucian Banner SaaS
April 23–24

Workday
April 30–May 1

These scripted sessions showcased how each system handles key functions, including student records, HR, finance, and sandbox testing. The goal was to see how each platform performs in real-world higher-ed scenarios and whether it could meet Oberlin’s needs for the future. As we reflect on this important phase of the project, our CIO Marcel Mutsindashyaka shared the following perspective:

“These ERP demos are a once-in-a-generation chance to rethink how we work at Oberlin. We've been using our on-premise Banner system for 30 years, and now we have the opportunity to choose what will carry us forward for the next few decades. I encourage everyone to stay curious, ask questions, and think big about what’s possible. I’m incredibly thankful to our ERP Taskforce, campus partners, and everyone who’s contributed so far. I’m proud of the collaborative spirit and forward-thinking mindset our community is bringing to this process, it’s exactly what will help us make the right choice for Oberlin’s future.”
- Marcel Mutsindashyaka, Chief Information Officer. 

Who Participated

Attendees included the ERP Taskforce and functional leaders from across campus—faculty, staff, and students—who represent every division involved in the project. 

If you’re unsure who attended from your division or want to follow up on the sessions, feel free to reach out to your Taskforce representative or contact Heather Spellman, the project manager.

What’s Next

The demos were a key part of our structured evaluation process, which continues with:

• Individual feedback from demo attendees
• Module scoring by functional area leaders
  (Registrar, HR, Finance, Financial Aid, CIT)
• Executive review, where final recommendations will be presented to the President and senior leadership in May

This thoughtful approach ensures that any new ERP solution supports our mission and prepares us for a more connected, data-informed, and AI-ready future.

Questions?

Contact the ERP Project Team at erp@oberlin.edu. You can also visit the ERP Initiative page to learn more.