Gap Apps: Readiness Initiative
Think of gap applications as the digital equivalent of duct tape solutions—custom, homegrown tools created by colleges, departments, or units to handle tasks that the university’s core systems couldn’t do. Over time, Cornell has developed hundreds of these applications, each solving a specific need but collectively creating a complex web of shadow systems that are increasingly difficult to maintain and secure.
As part of CEMI, an analysis is being done to understand why the gap applications were needed in the first place. This analysis will help ensure the future enterprise systems include the essential functions our community requires, supporting CEMI’s goal of creating comprehensive, integrated solutions.
Approach
A dedicated team is working to catalog the gap applications and understand their purposes to identify:
- Which functions are truly unique to Cornell
- Which features must be included in the university’s new enterprise systems
- Where we have common needs across units
- Where process redesign or consolidation might be needed
This detailed inventory will inform the requirements for new enterprise solutions, ensuring the university doesn’t lose valuable functionality in the transition.
Next Steps
CEMI will use these insights to guide the selection of new enterprise systems and ensure critical functions are included in core platforms. The goal isn’t just to eliminate custom applications, but to create an environment where they’re rarely needed because the core systems effectively support Cornell’s complex needs.
As common as possible, as different as necessary.
“As common as possible, as different as necessary” is the guiding principle to reflect the CEMI vision for administrative and financial systems across our campuses in Ithaca, New York City, and Doha. Common solutions will allow information to flow seamlessly among campuses, enabling everyone to easily get the answers they need. We’ll maintain unique solutions only where truly necessary.
Shaped by the Cornell Community: Get Involved
Contribute your skills and experience to CEMI (“See Me”). Community members know the current processes and systems best—and what it’s going to take to change how we do things. Please submit the form for your campus to be added to the contributors list and receive quarterly updates:
- Get Involved –Ithaca-supported campuses (Cornell NetID login)
- Get Involved –Weill Cornell Medicine-NYC (CWID-NYC login)
- Get Involved –Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar(CWID-Qatar login)
Visit the Program Teams page to meet more of the Cornell community members shaping the CEMI program.