Scaling Student Success: Advancing Snowflake and Workday in Parallel

Many higher education institutions assume they must complete their Workday implementation before tackling data modernization, analytics, or student retention initiatives. Avaap and Xavier University are proving otherwise.

Join this client conversation to learn how Xavier designed and implemented a modern student retention data model on Snowflake while simultaneously deploying Workday. Rather than waiting for a fully mature ERP environment or perfect data, Xavier took a pragmatic, collaborative approach that accelerated insight delivery and established a strong foundation for long-term student success.

During this session, hear from:

• Sheri Thomas, AVP and Chief Information Officer, Xavier University
• Kimberly Moore, VP of Student Affairs and Chief Success Officer, Xavier University
• Annaleah Morrow, Ph.D., VP of Customer Success, Avaap

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

• Explain how to advance student retention analytics during an active Workday transformation
• Describe how to structure a collaborative partnership to design and deliver a scalable, modern data solution
• Identify practical first steps for initiating retention analytics efforts, even without a fully mature data strategy
• Apply approaches for navigating data quality challenges while continuing to move modernization efforts forward
• Understand how cloud platforms like Snowflake support earlier and more scalable data foundations
• Summarize key lessons for advancing operational transformation and data strategy in parallel

Attendees will leave with practical insights, implementation considerations, and a clear understanding that data modernization and Workday transformation do not need to happen sequentially. With the right approach, they can progress together to deliver faster, more meaningful results.