The Challenge
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) faced operational challenges caused by fragmented systems and manual, paper-based processes across HR and payroll functions. Limited data quality and reporting capabilities made it difficult to achieve consistent visibility across systems and respond efficiently to institutional needs.
Core employee lifecycle processes relied heavily on paper, including onboarding, time-off requests, and open enrollment. These manual workflows increased administrative effort and created inconsistencies in how information was collected and managed.
Several compensation and employment activities, such as activity pay and work study, were maintained through Excel spreadsheets, requiring significant manual effort. Student employment applications, particularly for seasonal programs such as summer camps, were time-intensive for staff, with limited self-service capabilities for applicants.
Together, these conditions placed added strain on administrative teams and limited CMU’s ability to scale processes or improve the employee experience.
Key Highlights
CMU partnered with Avaap to modernize its HR, payroll, and financial operations by adopting standard Workday functionality and establishing a stronger foundation for long-term system management.
The approach focused on replacing paper-driven and spreadsheet-based workflows with Workday-delivered capabilities, helping streamline processes while reducing reliance on manual intervention. Avaap worked closely with CMU to support adoption and ensure teams understood how to effectively use and maintain the system.
A key emphasis of the engagement was enabling CMU’s staff to manage and govern their own data. Through training and collaboration, Avaap helped functional teams build confidence in managing configuration and reporting, reducing dependency on IT, and supporting a more sustainable operating model.
With Workday in place, Colorado Mesa University has taken meaningful steps toward simplifying HR and payroll operations and improving the overall employee experience.
For the first time, employees have access to self-service functionality for key HR processes, replacing paper forms, and improving accessibility.
These improvements have helped strengthen data consistency, increase visibility, and position the university to support ongoing operational needs better. CMU continues to build on this foundation as additional Workday capabilities are introduced, including future projects focused on financial and workforce planning.
Through its partnership with Avaap, Colorado Mesa University established a strong foundation for long-term success with Workday. By combining expert guidance with hands-on collaboration, CMU gained the tools, knowledge, and confidence to sustain and evolve its HR and payroll operations—positioning the university for continued innovation, improved employee experiences, and future growth.
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