About Voyager

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OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Voyager is the name selected for the new system and represents ETSU’s continuing journey towards operational excellence. The new system is based on Oracle’s industry-leading Fusion Cloud web platform – a modern suite of cloud-based applications encompassing human resources, finance, and payroll abilities.

The system will be efficient, intuitive, and easy to use. Some key features that make this system user-friendly include:

• Intuitive interfaces
• Self-service
• Robust reporting
• Forecasting
• Dashboards

 

PROJECT GOALS 

The new system will meet the following requirements:

• Leverage industry best practices available in the modern cloud system.
• Deliver a system without customization.
• Improve business process and continuity.
• Improve employee engagement and hiring process.
• Leverage technical advancements and innovations of a cloud solution.
• Leverage real-time data analytics.
• Utilize efficient mobile capabilities.

 

PARTNERSHIPS

ETSU is partnered with Oracle and Huron Consulting Group for the duration of this project. Oracle is an innovative, world-class, global company and provides industry best practice HR and finance processes in cloud-based applications. With the right partners, this project can be realized and serve as an integral component of one of the main pillars of the ETSU Strategic Plan “Go Beyond” – Pillar VII Fiscal Responsibility and Operational Excellence. This pillar is designed to ensure that operations are efficient and support an affordable high-quality educational environment.

 

GOVERNANCE

Project Governance is the set of rules, procedures and policies that determine how projects are managed and overseen. These rules and procedures define how decisions are made during projects. As part of the oversight process, project governance also determines the metrics by which project success is measured. These concepts are applied to the Voyager initiative by select ETSU staff. This is accomplished by using executive sponsors, a steering committee, and various functional teams.

 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Simplification & Standardization: Processes will be designed based on leading practice functionality as delivered by Oracle Cloud systems.
• Transformation: The future state design will not be constrained by the status quo. All business processes will be "on the table" and ETSU will focus on the possible. 
• Accountable Governance: We will create a dynamic environment that embraces change, with leadership ensuring accountability and stakeholder well-being through inclusive decision-making.​
• Transparency & Inclusion: We take the needs of stakeholders seriously, and we will consider suggestions from the ETSU community. However, there should be no expectation that any given suggestion or recommendation will be adopted. ​
• Clear Communication: We are committed to making information about this initiative readily available to the ETSU community during the project and after “go-live.”
• Measurable Results: Transformed processes will be measured via qualitative and quantitative key performance indicators to track ongoing performance and identify continuous improvement efforts.

 

WHAT IS THE NEW SYSTEM?

 

Archived Information

• June Project Status Update

  ETSU is currently less than 30 days from the Voyager launch, and the project details below highlight numerous achievements and milestones, as well as the remaining areas that are currently undergoing refinement. This summary represents countless hours of tireless dedication from all members of Voyager’s implementation team, as well as valuable coordination and input from various other members of the ETSU community. 

  These areas represent the culmination of a year or more of research and development: 

  

  • Testing cycles help identify and resolve issues, validate workflows, and ensure the system performs as expected before launch.  
  • Unique test scenarios help confirm that the system works not just in ideal conditions, but in the nuanced, day-to-day realities of university operations. 
  • Items configured can include user roles, security settings, workflows, approval paths, data fields, business rules, and more. Configuration aligns the system with ETSU’s processes. 
  • Parallel payroll testing involves running payroll in both Banner and Voyager systems at the same time to compare results and confirm accuracy before fully transitioning to the new system. 
  • Integrations are the connections that enable Voyager to securely share data with other internal or external systems. This includes systems like Edison for benefits, Parking Services for payroll deductions, various retirement vendors, and other integrations that are necessary to efficiently process checks, taxes, and other functions that rely on external systems.
  • Day 1 Reports are essential pre-built reports available at launch that provide immediate access to key data like payroll summaries, budget status, or employee details, which support daily operations from the first day of system use. 
  • Training Campus on Voyager:  
    • Campus training sessions include instructor-led training for certain roles, including Business Managers, Campus Representatives, and Supervisors. 
    • Training materials will total nearly 200 items once all are approved. At this time, all training materials are built and in their final round of testing. They will be available to campus soon on the Voyager Training website.  
    • Oracle Guided Learning (OGL) is Voyager’s built-in help tool and is nearly 100% ready.  
    • User Acceptance Testing (UAT) scenarios are specific tasks or processes that ETSU end users have tested and confirmed work correctly in Voyager. 

  The system has been through numerous rounds of testing. While everything won’t be flawless on day one, the core functionality is in place. July 1 marks the beginning of a new chapter in ETSU’s history as the business processes of our campus will be transformed and modernized through the countless valuable and lasting improvements that Voyager will bring to the entire University.  

• Voyager Cutover Dates

  A cutover plan is essential because it helps minimize disruption and contributes to a successful transition. Our cutover plan is part of many efforts to reach a successful go-live. Please see below for key Business & Finance and HR dates to know. This information is also posted on the Human Resources page within the Voyager website. Unless otherwise specified, the cutoff for every date listed below is 4:30 pm.

  To view additional non-Voyager related Fiscal Year End dates, you can also visit the Financial Services/Comptroller page.

  Activity	Date
  eBucs: Purchase Orders (including Travel and all Reimbursement Forms) Freeze Date	6/2/2025
  FYSA (Fiscal Year Salary Allocation) Form Request Deadline	6/10/2025
  Banner: New Grant Agency Cutoff	6/13/2025
  FYSA Form Received by Payroll Deadline	6/13/2025
  eBucs: Contracts Completed Deadline	6/16/2025
  eBucs: Deadline for Receipts	6/19/2025
  eBucs: Deadline for Payment Requests	6/19/2025
  eBucs/Banner: Invoice Entry Freeze Date	6/20/2025 - Noon
  Cutoff for New Sponsored Awards and Existing Award Modifications (Sponsored Billing Cutoff as of 5/31)	6/20/2025
  Banner: Disbursements for Students Cutoff	6/20/2025
  Banner: Accounts Receivables (and Receipts) Cutoff	6/25/2025
  TRS: Final Day for Employees to Enter Hours Worked and Leave (annual leave, sick leave, etc.) (cannot enter Leave in Voyager until 7/7/2025)	6/27/2025 - 10:00 am
  Voyager: Non-exempt Employees May Begin Entering Hours Worked or Clocking In and Clocking Out via the Web Clock. Non-exempt employees may choose to use the web clock or enter hours worked directly in Voyager.	7/1/2025
  Voyager: Employees Begin Entering Absences/Leave (annual leave, sick leave, etc.) and Absence/Leave Balances Available.	7/7/2025
  Voyager: First Biweekly Payroll Paid	7/18/2025
  Voyager: First Monthly Payroll Paid	7/31/2025

   

• Temporary Hiring Pause and HR Process Adjustments

  To facilitate the implementation of the new Voyager ERP system and the updated classification and compensation plan, there will be temporary adjustments to certain processes.

  New Hire Start Date Pause: May 15 – June 30 
  ETSU is adjusting its schedule of allowable start dates for new hires by implementing a temporary pause on employee start dates from May 15 through June 30. During this period, new hires will not be permitted to begin work except in rare emergency circumstances. Requests for any exceptions must be submitted to HR and approved by the Office of the President. This pause does not apply to hiring adjuncts, graduate assistants, or temporary positions needed for summer activities such as camps, conferences, etc. 

  ETSU’s regular onboarding schedule will resume on July 1. 

  Hiring Activities May Continue 
  Although start dates are paused, it is important to note that hiring processes will continue during this time. Positions may still be posted, candidates reviewed and interviewed, and job offers extended. The only adjustment is the hiring start date. 

  Temporary Hold on HR Actions 
  Additionally, between May 15 and June 30, HR will not process any new requests for the following: 

  • Critical salary enhancements 
  • Promotions 
  • Stipends 
  • FTE changes 

  Job audits will also remain paused until after July 1. Requests for any of the above processes may be submitted, but they will be held for processing until after July 1.  

  Please contact the Office of Human Resources (hr@etsu.edu) with questions.

• January 2025 Town Hall

  Watch Dr. Noland, Lori Erickson, and other Voyager project members provide a project update during the January 30, 2025, Town Hall.  

 

Project Staff

Executive Sponsors

 

Executive Project Support