As URI moves to Workday, the project is focused on a clear set of priorities to help the system work well for everyone. These priorities aim to improve how we use data, make everyday tasks simpler, support secure access, and set up Workday in a way that’s sustainable and easy to maintain over time.
Project Timeline
The Workday implementation will be a multi-stage project, spanning over 18 months. For more on the project timeline visit the the Program Progress page.
- Readiness Stage: May to December 2025
- Planning Stage: January to April 2026
- Architect and Configure Stage: Begins spring 2026
- Testing Stage: Begins winter 2026
- Go-Live: Fall 2027
Guiding Principles
Guiding principles help define key criteria for making decisions about the Workday project, promote accountability, encourage innovation, and ensure alignment with organizational priorities and values. These principles are intended to help support the achievement of project goals in a timely and cost-effective way while still meeting the essential requirements of URI and its community. Unless there is a significant and compelling reason to deviate from them, these principles shall take precedence in all project planning and decision-making.
Best Practice over Past Practice
URI will embrace a forward-looking design that prioritizes established best practices to support the campus community.
Communication and Transparency
URI is committed to sharing project updates through websites, meetings, stakeholder engagement and direct communication.
Strategic Alignment
URI will examine the costs and benefits of our decisions to ensure alignment with the University’s strategic priorities in support of operational excellence.
As Common as Possible, as Different as Necessary
URI will standardize and simplify our processes as part of our implementation, reserving complex configuration as an exception.
Accessible and Inclusive
URI is committed to accessible and inclusive technology implementation and user support, through inclusive outreach, training materials, activities, and resources.
Future Forward
URI will design a sustainable, flexible and scalable system to support our operational needs and campus community, both now and in the future.
Workday First
URI will prioritize Workday features and functions unless legal, regulatory, or critical operational requirements necessitate a different approach.
Download the Guiding Principles as a PDF
Program Objectives and Priorities
Workday was selected as the ERP solution to modernize URI’s administrative technology and transform our work from aging systems into the future. Our implementation of Workday will:
Streamline Processes
Replace outdated systems with standardized, efficient workflows that lay the groundwork for operational excellence.
Unify Systems
Integrate core administrative functions across human resources, payroll, finance, grant accounting, and faculty appointments to improve data accuracy, transparency, and accessibility.
Enhance the Employee Experience
Expand self-service capabilities and simplify everyday tasks to improve usability and reduce administrative burden.
Support Data-Informed Decisions
Deliver timely, reliable data that empowers informed decision-making at every level of the university.
Ensure Long-Term Sustainability
Transition to a secure, cloud-based ERP platform that is consistently updated and reliably supported.
Enable Flexible Tools
Deploy modern, integrated tools that support collaboration, adaptability, and the evolving needs of the university.
Align with State Systems
Coordinate with the State of Rhode Island’s Workday implementation to ensure compatibility and promote shared efficiencies.
Project Scope
The Workday project scope is cross functional and includes human resources, finance, payroll and academic management at the university. Functions include:
Human Resources
- Core HR Functions and Employee Self Service
- Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding
- Compensation Management
- Employee and Labor Relations
- Employment Management
- Absence and Time Off
- Time Tracking
- Organizational Management
- Learning and Professional Development
- Performance Management
Financials
- Accounts Payable, Expenses, and Travel
- Procurement and Strategic Sourcing
- General Accounting
- Grant and Effort Reporting
- Accounts Receivable
- Asset Management
- Budgeting and Financial Planning
- Encumbrance Accounting
- Cash, Banking, and Revenue Management
Payroll
- URI Casual and Internal Payroll
- Payroll Accounting
Academic Management
- Faculty Appointments
- Faculty Data Management
- Leave Tracking and Management