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Department of Information Technology

Banner SaaS

Migration Project

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Seton Hall University’s migration to Banner SaaS is a major step in strengthening the reliability, performance and overall efficiency of our systems and data.

By moving to a modern cloud-based platform, the University will benefit from improved integration, greater scalability and reduced maintenance demands. This transition will help maintain a secure and resilient technology environment while supporting a more agile, connected and future-ready institution that can better serve students, faculty and staff.

Why We’re Migrating

Seton Hall University’s migration to Banner SaaS positions the institution on a modern cloud platform that better supports evolving academic and administrative needs. The move will streamline operations, improve system reliability and reduce the effort required to maintain core technologies. With Banner SaaS, the University will be able to deliver tools that are more responsive to the needs of students, faculty and staff while creating a stronger foundation for future growth.

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Project Leadership

Meet the dedicated teams leading our modernization initiative with expertise and commitment to success.

Project Sponsors and Executive Steering Committee

Seton Hall University has appointed project sponsors and an executive steering committee, represented through the Digital Transformation Committee, to guide the Banner SaaS migration. This group, made up of leaders from diverse academic and administrative areas, provides strategic direction, monitors progress throughout the implementation and keeps the project aligned with the University’s long-term goals. Their involvement helps confirm that decisions support the needs of students, faculty and staff and that the University moves smoothly to the new cloud-based environment.

Project Sponsors

Paul Fisher
Chief Information Officer
Erik Lillquist
Interim Provost & Executive Vice President
Katie E McCarthy
Interim Vice President, Enrollment Management

Project Team Leaders

Project Team Leads are the functional experts who bring the Banner SaaS migration to life within their respective areas. They translate institutional goals into practical steps, ensuring that each department’s needs are represented and addressed. Serving as connectors between their teams and the project’s leadership, they help guide decisions, coordinate testing and training efforts, and promote clear communication throughout the process. Their hands-on involvement is essential to achieving a smooth, coordinated, and successful implementation across the University.

Student Team Leads:

  • Autumn Bucior, Assistant Provost for Academic Services & University Registrar
  • Javonda Asante, Senior Director of Financial Aid

Human Resources Team Leads:

  • Joy Hayward, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
  • Kurt Rotthoff, Associate Provost of Strategy & Finance

Finance Team Leads:

  • Susanne Kunigelis, Assistant Vice President for Financial Systems
  • Joseph A Genova, Assistant Vice President for Accounting and Deputy Controller

Reporting Team Leads:

  • Bonnie Burkhardt, Analyst
  • Asim Rehman, Director of Academic and Student ES Information Systems

Technical Team Leads:

  • Matthew Stevenson, Executive Director of IT Architecture and Infrastructure
  • Vivek Persaud, Director of Integration and Development

Data Governance Team Leads:

  • Connie Beale, Executive Director of Institutional Research and University Accreditation
  • Paul Fisher, Chief Information Officer

Project Management

The IT Planning and Communication Office provides the structure and momentum behind the Banner SaaS migration. This team oversees project coordination, manages timelines and milestones, and ensures that governance standards are consistently maintained. From initial planning through post-implementation, the IT Planning team drives collaboration, accountability, and progress, keeping the project on track and ensuring a successful transition to the new system.

Members

Sanjay Singh
Senior Project Manager
Chrissy Sandella
Director, IT Planning and Communication

Project Status

Project Status

Status as of  –3/30/26

Overall Health – On Track

Completion – 24%

 

Key Dates

Initiation Date: 7/01/25

Kickoff Date: 7/31/25

Go Live Date: 7/12/27

 

Project Health Indicators

Overall

Scope

Schedule

Budget

Resources

 

Project Timeline

Project Planning - 100%

Define project scope, objective and resources

7/2/25 - 9/4/25

Design Phase- 21%

System design and architecture planning

7/24/25 - 06/10/27

Build Phase- 9%

Development and configuration

9/26/25 - 7/1/27

Validate Phase- 3%

Testing and validation

11/18/25 - 7/15/27

Deploy Phase- 0%

Launch

1/19/27 - 1/05/28

 

 

Recent Updates

March 2026

In March, the Banner SaaS program continued to move forward and is currently in Yellow status. While work is progressing, a number of dependencies are beginning to impact timing and will need to be addressed in the coming weeks to keep the project on track.

The project is now shifting from planning into early execution. Integration work advanced, with several key connections between Banner and other systems moving into development, and teams began hands-on work following initial training sessions to prepare for upcoming system testing. At the same time, teams are reviewing how current processes will function in the new system and identifying opportunities to streamline and improve them.

Plans for upcoming testing have also been adjusted to focus first on ensuring that critical academic data, including Degree Works, is accurate and ready in the new environment. This approach will allow for more effective, comprehensive testing in later phases, when multiple systems and processes are evaluated together. These adjustments do not impact the overall project timeline.

The next several weeks are important to maintaining progress. Priorities include finalizing key data needed for testing, confirming system readiness, and continuing development work, all of which will help stabilize the project and support a return to Green status.

February 2026

In February, the Banner SaaS program continued to move forward and entered Yellow status as the project team worked through several key areas of planning and alignment.

During the month, progress focused on strengthening the overall foundation for the next phase of the project. This included enhancing governance processes, further defining integration plans, and continuing discussions around reporting capabilities and system configuration. Teams also continued early testing and validation activities, helping to confirm how Banner will function in the new cloud environment.

As part of this work, the team gained additional clarity into areas that require more detailed planning, particularly around automated processes and reporting. In response, targeted action plans were put in place to address these areas, with clear ownership and next steps established.

These efforts are helping to position the project for a successful transition into build and testing activities, while maintaining alignment with the overall timeline toward the July 2027 go-live.

January 2026

In January, the Banner SaaS program continued to move forward and remains on track toward the July 2027 go-live. Work this month focused on preparing for upcoming system testing and ensuring campus teams are ready for the next phase of the project.

The project team completed an early round of system preparation that allows Seton Hall teams to begin reviewing and validating Banner in the new cloud environment. This step helps confirm that core student, finance, and administrative processes are working as expected and provides valuable time to identify adjustments before broader testing begins.

Progress also continued on degree audits and reporting, two areas that are essential to supporting advising, compliance, and day-to-day decision-making. Initial reports are now being developed, and teams are working together to ensure reporting needs are well understood and aligned with how the University operates.

Planning also advanced around how Banner will connect with other campus systems, including Slate. These discussions are helping clarify how information will move between systems and ensuring a smooth experience for students, faculty, and staff once the new environment is in place.

No significant issues were identified this month, and the project remains on schedule.