CEMI is a strategic, multi-year initiative that will unite Cornell’s diverse campuses through modern, integrated systems by 2029. While each campus has its unique culture, we share common goals for efficiency and community building. 

The Journey So Far

Summer 2024: Began partnership with Huron Consulting to assess our readiness and understand community needs  

Fall 2024: Established program governance and completed cross-campus discovery

Winter 2025: Launched key readiness initiatives  

Spring 2025: Begin system selection process 

Key Phases

This timeline reflects Cornell’s commitment to community-driven transformation. Our success depends on active participation from across our campuses—working together to redesign our processes, shape our new systems, and envision how we’ll work in the future. 

Through this collaborative approach, we’re also ensuring everyone has the support, training, and resources they need to adapt successfully to these changes. By combining our community’s expertise with structured ways to prepare for, transition to, and embrace new ways of working, we’ll transform how we work together to accomplish the university mission more effectively. 

Year-by-year timelines

May – December 2024

Foundation Building

Established program governance and team structure  
Engaged leadership and stakeholders for all campuses to complete an assessment of the current state of systems, pain points, and opportunities through technical discovery and functional analysis sessions 
Drafted roadmap and cost estimates  

January – March 2025

Readiness Initiatives

Identified and launched the initiatives necessary to ensure that processes, functions, and technology are selected and aligned for successful transformation.

April – December 2025

Readiness Activities Continue

Bring together all campuses to understand needs, processes, and technologies to build a solid foundation for seamlessly working together across all campuses.
Core Systems: ERP selection, chart of accounts, data and analytics, gap applications  
Community Experience: CRM strategy, student experience, donor engagement  
Infrastructure: Identity management, enterprise tools  
Process Alignment: Business processes, financial controls, job architecture