CEMI 104: Imagine Working Easier or Faster
Before committing to the Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative (CEMI or “See Me”), university leaders conducted readiness activities in Fall 2024. The results confirmed that Cornell community members are not only open to changing the status quo—they’re eager for it.
Not only have Cornell community members discovered new ways to accomplish their tasks, they are open to changing their approach. In their own words, participants at every campus expressed their dedication and pride in being part of the university’s mission and in their own work:
- Mission-Driven Commitment
Across all campuses, people are deeply dedicated to Cornell’s mission and ready to support it in every way they can. - Pride in Their Work
Individual pride in daily tasks fuels the university’s broader success. Community members see their roles as essential to Cornell’s achievements. - Everyday Innovation
Innovation thrives at every level. People are quick to recognize when tools fall short—and just as quick to create better ways of working. - Openness to Change
Despite Cornell’s long-standing traditions, stakeholders expressed genuine excitement about simplifying systems and improving the digital experience for everyone.
CEMI Teams Work in Tandem
Many Cornell’s community members are engaged in parallel activities designed to help prepare for and implement the new processes and tools introduced through CEMI.
In addition to working on a single system to unify every campus’s core administrative workflows and data in human resources, finance, budget, and eventually student services, and a shared a shared Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, CEMI teams are analyzing the many processes and applications that are used to connect legacy systems and get work done. For example, a common login is the focus of the Identity Management team.
Current teams and team members can be found in the Functional Area pages and more opportunities to participate are coming in 2026.
Brainstorm and Suggest Ways to Work Easier or Faster
Think about the current processes and systems you use on a daily, monthly, or annual basis and list your ideas for improvement. Don’t hesitate to identify bottlenecks or gaps that need to be addressed.
Brainstorm with teammates about what might be done differently if more modern tools and technologies were available. Submit group and individual suggestions to the CEMI Program team. Offer to participate in an activity or team that matches your interest and availability. If time is limited, join a one-time focus group to test a design or process iteration.
Look for the Contact Hub link on the Get Involved page to submit ideas and join the CEMI participants.
Introducing CEMI
Learn more about CEMI in the other stories in this series.
- CEMI 101: What is the Digital Experience?
- CEMI 102: Streamlining Broadly Used Systems
- CEMI 103: Modernizing the Cornell Digital Experience