After two years of development and campus-wide work, Newman University has launched its new student information system, Jenzabar One (J1), to benefit students and the broader campus.
The streamlined platform, J1, manages everything from student enrollment, advising and grades to billing and financial aid distribution — all in one platform.
Celebrating the implementation team’s hard work
With so many operations affected by the switch from Empower, Newman’s previous student data system, a “go dark” period limited finance, advising and registrar functions for a little over a month.
But on Nov. 5, members of the J1 implementation team — led by Valerie Hennings, presidential advisor for strategy and innovation, and Icer Vaughan, chief information officer and operations manager — gathered to celebrate the end of this period. The milestone drew applause, a few tears and acknowledgment of employees’ diligent behind-the-scenes work.
“I want you all to know just how proud I am of this entire team,” Hennings said during the celebration. “I’m sure I’m not alone in that, at some point in the past two years, (the questions) ‘How are we going to do this?’ and ‘Will this day actually come?’ have probably crossed your mind.”
Now that the long-awaited day has arrived and J1 has launched, the implementation team will soon begin training sessions with faculty, staff and students. In the meantime, the team continues to monitor and make fixes as needed to ensure the system runs as efficiently as possible.
“J1 allows us to use data in ways we’ve been needing to,” Hennings said. “As an institution that is growing, we now have a system that can serve as a foundation for all that we’re aspiring to be and become. I’m also excited that our students are going to have a one-stop shop where they can get all the information that they need when it comes to their life here at Newman.”
She added, “I could not be more proud to be part of the team that did that.”
A streamlined process for students
From a historical perspective, the J1 implementation represents another leap forward for Newman’s technology capabilities.
Sister Susan Welsby ‘73, ASC, a member of the Newman Board of Trustees, recalled working in Newman’s Computer Center for 15 years. There, she witnessed the very first in-house computing system. Nearly 50 years ago, that system featured big cabinets, drawers and “spinning platters,” she said.
“One drawer was for the operating system, one was for administration and one was for academics,” Welsby said. “We had 15 megabytes of data storage, and I wrote my own code to program the registrar’s office and the business office. So we turned a significant page then, and now we’ve turned a significant page again.”
On behalf of the board and the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, Welsby expressed her gratitude for the team.
“I’m so proud to have been part of this committee, and I thank you for all that you’ve done,” Welsby said. “This is a significant moment for Newman.”
A ‘tremendous change’ for Newman
Vice President of Academic Affairs Alden Stout also emphasized the group’s hard work and dedication to the massive undertaking. Stout described the team dynamic as “palpable,” sharing that it “makes me proud to be at Newman knowing we have people who care.”
“I don’t think most people quite appreciate the level of work that you all put into this, your devotion to this institution and the transformative power it’s going to have,” Stout said. “We’ll be able to use data to track students (and help) lead to their success.”
He added, “Newman can’t thank you enough for what you’ve contributed. This will be a tremendous change for Newman.”
View the full J1 implementation timeline
Learn more about the J1 implementation process at Newman University.
