U-M has launched a multi-year effort to modernize its core business systems, marking a significant step toward streamlining institutional management of finances, human resources and student administration.
The initiative will replace the university’s legacy Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, systems, such as M-Pathways, with a modern, cloud-based platform designed to better support campus operations today and into the future.
These systems are used by thousands of faculty and staff across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses and Michigan Medicine, including its regional network.
M-Pathways has served U-M for more than two decades and has become increasingly complex and costly to maintain. It requires heavy customization and maintenance, and the vendor plans to end support for the product.
Meanwhile, broader changes in higher education and healthcare have accelerated the shift toward more flexible, secure and data-driven platforms.
A modern ERP system would help standardize processes, improve data access and reporting, and reduce the burden of maintaining highly customized legacy technology.
The ERP modernization effort will unfold over several years and include multiple phases, beginning with strategy development to solidify the university’s approach, validate key assumptions and prepare for future decisions such as vendor selection.
Future phases will include pre-planning, detailed planning and implementation, with input from units across all campuses and Michigan Medicine helping to shape key decisions along the way.
University leaders emphasize the modernization effort is institution-wide and that engagement from faculty, staff and leadership will play a central role throughout the process. Opportunities for input will be available at each stage, including through feedback channels and structured engagement activities.
ERP vendor demonstrations
ERP vendors will present their systems during demonstrations scheduled for the weeks of June 15 and June 22. The hybrid sessions are available to community members across all campuses and Michigan Medicine and will provide an opportunity to view system capabilities, ask questions and share feedback.
The sessions will offer limited in-person seating. Find registration information at erp.umich.edu.
