Montclair State University announced during the last university senate meeting that $27 million dollars is being invested into the Workday app to expand it to the entire campus community and offer new features.
The Workday app is currently used by work-study students and faculty on campus to help them track their hourly pay, work hours and other work-related facilities.
Andrew Mees, the university spokesperson, explained why the university is making this investment solely in the app.
“The university already uses the Workday platform for its financial and human resources needs,” Mees said. “It will start using Workday as its student records and registration system four years from now.”
Mees further explained another reason why the institution is making the investment.
“The added capacity in Workday will replace the Ellucian Banner Student System,” Mees said. “The contract for that service is nearing its end and the decision has been made that increasing the available capability in Workday will enhance the student experience at Montclair [State].”
According to Mees, Workday will provide more accessibility.
“Students will find it easier to use,” Mees said. “Workday also provides improved security and regular enhancements. It will improve performance in areas including tracking and assuring a student’s progress towards degree and tracking progress in interdisciplinary programs that may encompass more than one college or school. It will also provide Montclair [State] faculty and staff with a fully integrated view of a student’s profile, helping to ensure more comprehensive support.”
Some students believe the administration is investing a large amount of money, however, others are hoping the investment will be worth it and beneficial for the Montclair State community.
Sarai Noriega, a senior English major, shared her thoughts on the investment.
“I think $27 million is a lot of [money] for an app, but hopefully it goes [to] good use for the app to give it the most efficient and developed update,” Noriega said.
Sarai Noriega, a senior English major, believes the investment is a lot of money, but hopes it gives the app the change it needs.
The Montclarion | Yesennia Fernandez Photo credit: Yesennia Fernandez
Noriega is a work-study student here on campus. She currently works as a building manager at the student center information desk. She also shared her familiarity with using the Workday app as she uses it for her work-study.
“I use it every other day to track my hours [and] make sure everything matches up,” Noriega said. “Adjacent to Workday I also use Humanity so I verify both hours are correct and make sure that everything is matching. Once I submit my hours I am set for the rest of the week.”
Arlin Hernandez, a senior family science and human development major, is also a work-study student who works as a building manager at the student center information desk and explained some of the features she wishes to see within the app when the investment goes through.
“I hope they use the money for better updates toward the app,” Hernandez said. “Such as sending more reminders on the app, be able to send text updates or have an easier access to see when we are getting paid. It will be easier for students to see when they work and when they get paid.”
Arlin Hernandez, a senior family science and human development major, hopes that the investment gives the workday app the best updates it needs.
The Montclarion | Yesennia Fernandez Photo credit: Yesennia Fernandez
Mees also addressed that the cost of the app will not cost more than the university’s budget.
“This project will not cost more than what staying with the current system would cost,” Mees said. “It will be included in the university’s operating and capital budgets. [The total cost is $27 million and] it will be spent over 10 years.”
Workday will soon be accessible to all students even if they are not work-study students. The new, improved version will launch on December 2022. The university is hoping the community will be satisfied with the changes.
“We hope that our campus community will appreciate the fact that we are changing to a system that better serves our students, without increasing the cost,” Mees said.
