As part of the university’s Administrative Modernization Program, Oregon State University employees will no longer use the workforce management platform EmpCenter to track time and leave, and will instead use Workday.
According to Vice President for University Relations and Marketing Rob Odom, the AMP is focused on shifting the university toward a single, integrated, cloud-based platform rather than relying on standalone tools like EmpCenter.
“By moving to Workday, OSU is positioned to operate with greater agility and alignment to institutional goals, strengthening the university’s ability to deliver on its mission with greater impact and at a lower cost,” Odom said.
According to Odom, Workday simplifies the user experience, reduces the need for duplicate data entry and manual processes and expands access to real-time information.
“The transition will impact all employees, regardless of role, by introducing updated tools and workflows for everyday activities such as managing personal information, submitting requests, and accessing key data,” Odom said. “Employees will have greater visibility into information that supports planning, decision-making, and day-to-day operations, reflecting a move toward more data-informed practices across the university.”
According to Odom, following Workday’s implementation, the university will continue to refine the process, address issues and enhance elements over time.
Looking ahead, with the retirement of EmpCenter, university employees – both hourly and salaried – can expect changes in the coming weeks.
According to an email sent to university employees, the last day for hourly employees to submit time entries and time-off requests in EmpCenter is June 26 at 8 p.m. For salaried employees, the last day to report time-off and submit time-off requests is June 29 at 8 p.m.
For hourly employees, between June 27 and July 5, all time entries must be recorded on paper timesheets.
Beginning July 6, all time and absence entries will be submitted through Workday.
According to Odom, each employee will receive an OSU-specific Workday login link via email beginning on June 29. Login links will be fully active on July 6. The email will include a Day One Checklist to guide employees through the new system, and additional resources will be available on the AMP SharePoint site.
Employees have access to training resources, including instructor-led courses, on-demand materials, in-system help text, and recorded demos and sessions, Odom said. OSU will provide 24/7 self-service support via the ChAMP chatbot.
“We are training a team of 321 Workday Foundational Liaisons – OSU colleagues that have volunteered as “phone a friend” resources across OSU units and departments to provide localized support for completing common tasks and finding information in the new system,” Odom said.
According to Odom, starting in July, enhanced support will be available through office hours and a dedicated support team working with the Service Desk and functional experts to provide real-time assistance.
