Expert guidance and hands-on support

Colleague Application Managed Services

When it comes to Ellucian Student, powered by Colleague, you want support from a company that understands how Ellucian is evolving its solutions and options for clients. We do just that. Then, we assess if—and how—newer solutions like Colleague SaaS, Colleague Self-Service, Ellucian Experience, Ellucian Insights, and Ellucian Journey should play a role in your institution’s future. While Ellucian continues to guide clients toward SaaS at a steady pace, the timing of that move should ultimately align with your institution’s unique circumstances. At CampusWorks, objective evaluation of risk and timing is one of our core strengths. In fact, one-third of our team has worked directly with Colleague and Ellucian, which gives us deep insight into both the company’s direction and the realities its customers face. Now, we want to understand your reality—and how we can help.

Increasing the Impact of Your IT Organization

One of the most pressing challenges IT organizations face today is the widening gap in talent and retention—especially in roles that require deep expertise in ERP, SIS, and CRM platforms. The turnover is real and has prompted CIOs to adopt new, strategic approaches. The struggle to find and retain professionals with the right mix of technical skills, customer service acumen, and campus-specific knowledge can undermine even the most solid IT departments. Application managed services directly address this challenge by giving institutions immediate access to experienced professionals who can step in quickly, sustain progress, and continue optimization efforts without losing momentum on critical projects.

Talent to Manage Through Disruption

Application outsourcing can be invaluable in three key scenarios: 

1. Transitions between vendors – Whether you’re sustaining two systems during a multi-year transition or navigating the complexities of decommissioning and implementation, dual maintenance and project oversight are critical. 

1. Migrations from on-premise or hosted solutions to SaaS – Even when staying within the same vendor family, moving to SaaS involves extensive data clean-up, reduction of customizations, assessment of SaaS functionality, and the opportunity to eliminate third-party tools to drive down costs. 

1. Persistent staffing challenges – When hiring and retaining talent with such specific skills becomes unsustainable, a managed services partner fills those gaps efficiently. 

When it’s time to upgrade or migrate, the road may be difficult—but once it’s clear that transformation is the right path, moving forward quickly and precisely becomes a strategic advantage. 

Strategic Choices – Stabilize, Optimize, Move to SaaS, or Modernize

The option to outsource becomes even more critical during periods of transformation. Whether you’re shifting from legacy systems to modern cloud platforms or integrating siloed data sources to improve the student experience, transitions place heavy demands on internal teams. In these situations, CampusWorks acts as a stabilizing force that enables institutions to “stay afloat during turbulent times” while ensuring uninterrupted service delivery for students and staff. Our model includes legacy system support, interim staffing, expert project management, and collaborative guidance that bridges the gap between where you are and where you’re going. With both short-term relief and long-term strategic leadership, we help you navigate change without compromising service quality. 

Process Matters – Our Approach

One of CampusWorks’ key differentiators is our holistic, process-based approach. We don’t just manage systems—we evaluate how those systems interact with departmental operations and institutional objectives. Through objective assessments, benchmarking against best practices, and thoughtful integration planning, we ensure IT infrastructure is not only stable but continuously evolving. Each engagement includes outcome measurement, stakeholder alignment, and the development of practical, sustainable support models. Our vendor-neutral recommendations are based solely on what works best for your institution and campus community. 

Colleague Application Managed Services also support a high level of collaboration—an essential element in institutions where silos can often impede progress. CampusWorks becomes a seamless extension of your team, and it’s not uncommon for college presidents to comment on how well our consultants integrate with campus culture. This trusted partnership builds momentum and fosters smoother change management. Whether we’re helping IT reconfigure student systems or aligning operations with enrollment strategies, our strength lies in combining expert service with human connection. 

What Can You Expect?

Application Managed Services contracts with CampusWorks typically include: 

• Comprehensive System Support
  24/7 system monitoring, administration, backups, disaster recovery, and regular software upgrades. 

• Functional & Technical Consulting
  Expertise in Admissions, Financial Aid, HR, Payroll, General Ledger, Registration, and Self-Service. 

• Cloud & Migration Services
  Assistance with cloud transitions, system migrations, shared services, and business process redesign. 

• Data & Reporting Solutions
  Support for analytics and reporting tools including Power BI, Informer, Argos, SSRS, and Business Objects. 

Ultimately, the decision to outsource application and ERP management is about more than just filling skill gaps—it’s about empowering your institution to operate with agility, security, and confidence. As the EDUCAUSE community has highlighted, the complexity of higher education IT continues to grow. In this environment, flexible, expert-driven partnerships are essential. CampusWorks meets this moment not only with talent and tools, but with a deep commitment to mission-driven institutions. Let us become your trusted partner—seamlessly integrated, fully aligned, and ready to help you succeed.