We will keep adding FAQs here as we get questions from people. This list will grow over time.
What is Workday?
Workday is the modern, cloud-based platform that Augsburg has chosen to manage our finances, human resources, and student records. Workday provides an easy-to-use system that looks and feels like the modern apps we use in our everyday lives.
You might also hear this project referred to as an “ERP implementation.” This is because Workday is one of the leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms for colleges and universities.
When are we moving to Workday?
We are moving in two phases. Phase 1 is Finance and HR which will be live on January 1, 2027. We will start entering time in Workday on December 20, 2026 because of how the payroll schedule works. Phase 2 is Student which will be live in March of 2028.
How will Workday change things for me?
While Workday will modernize the information environment for all faculty and staff (and eventually, all students), the extent to which you’ll notice big changes in December 2026 and January 2027 depends on your role.
- Every employee will use Workday to manage their personal data, payroll information, and benefits. Every employee will also have access to more self-service options and (new!) the university org chart.
- Employees who report time will use Workday for time tracking, absence reporting, and time off requests.
- Supervisors will use Workday for processes related to “people management,” including hiring, onboarding, approving timesheets, and performance management.
- Budget managers will use Workday for budgeting, accounts payable, tracking expenses, and other financial processes.
How will we learn to use Workday?
There will be training sessions held at various times and in various formats in December right before we start using Workday. Many of these trainings will be recorded. “How-to” guides, short videos, and office hours will also be provided to help you prepare for the transition. Our training plan includes support through January.
How much training will be required and how long will it take?
All faculty, staff, and student employees will need to attend at least one overview session, with additional trainings on specific topics by role (e.g. Workday for Managers, Time Tracking for Exempt Employees, Procurement Processes, etc). No training will last more than one hour.
Who can I go to with questions about Workday?
Before the HR time entry on December 20, you can ask general project questions of Scott Krajewski, the Workday project lead. Once we’re using Workday for our work, you should email your LFC with Workday questions. They will either be able to answer the question or connect you to someone who can answer your question.
How will I login to Workday?
Workday will be on Inside Augsburg along with the other Augsburg online services.
Who else is using Workday?
Workday is used by over 100 schools. In Minnesota alone, Hamline, Carleton, Macalester, St Scholastica, St Thomas, Dunwoody, and Minn State are Workday customers. Also, 50% of the private sector employees in MN are ployed by companies that use Workday.
Who is Avaap?
Augsburg has hired Avaap to help us move to Workday. They are a consulting company that implements Workday. They have helped 48 schools implement Workday HR and Finance and have helped 5 schools implement Workday Student. They are currently working with 29 schools on Workday HR and Finance and with 12 schools on Workday Student. They are not part of the Workday company and are independent from them.
Why are we moving to Workday?
Our current ERP, Unit4, runs on campus and the vendor is moving all customers to their cloud. Additionally the student records module is at end of life in 2026 and would need to be replaced. The benefits of having a modern comprehensive single ERP platform are worth the time and cost to move to a new solution.
What systems are being replaced by Workday?
Unit4 (formerly Agresso) as well as Records and Registration will be replaced by the end of the project. In addition, the following systems will be retired when no longer needed.
- SmartRecruiters (faculty and staff searches and onboarding)
- UKG/Kronos (time entry)
- Open Enrollment Form
- ADP (payslips)
- Webdocs Forms (HR and Academic forms)
Why can’t I do every feature in Workday on January 1st?
Augsburg chose to do an accelerated implementation of Workday in order to gain the benefit of the investment faster than a traditional implementation. We spent 8 months doing a 12 month implementation. We also chose to use standard higher education best practices in Workday. That means at Go Live some of the features have not yet been configured. To put it simply, we purchased the bells and whistles with Workday but for January 1 we will have the bells. The whistles come later. Also, we will grow into Workday as we get comfortable with it. Much like riding a bike, learning Workday will take time and practice by all of us.
Thanks to Macalester and St Scholastica for FAQ ideas.