Project Overview

With the transition to Workday as the core system of record for HR, Finance and Student functionality, the Alum Association and College Relations needed to identify a platform to replace Colleague’s functionality as a gift and alum engagement database. ascend, a Salesforce-based product from the vendor Kindsight, was selected as the new external relations constituent relationship management system (CRM). As the dominant player in the market, Salesforce provides configurability and integration with best in class tools, while the out of the box functionality of ascend will improve the access to information - illuminating individual and program progress, constituent insights, and the effectiveness of campaigns and appeals. 

Upon completion of implementation of ascend, we will quickly pivot to integrate third-party solutions that will complete the modernization of the external relations ecosystem, allowing us to engage, track and steward our alums, donors and volunteers more efficiently and effectively. The project is expected to be completed in late fall 2025.

Project Timeline

The target go live for core DASH products is late Fall 2025. Additional details can be found on the timeline visual below. To learn more about what specific functionality will go live when, please see DASH Systems & Data. 

What Does This Mean For Me?

Specifics around changes to business processes and functionality will be detailed in the role-based trainings in the Fall. For a high-level overview of the efforts anticipated by unit over the two-year implementation timeline, please refer to the visual aids below.

Impact on Units 

These sequenced timelines illustrate the phased rollout of key technologies and systems, aligned with stakeholder roles and responsibilities. The visual maps each team’s involvement against quarter-by-quarter milestones and deliverables. 

High effort anticipated estimates team members spend 30 to 75% of their time to the DASH program.

Primary advisory effort anticipated estimates team members spend 10 to 30% of their time to the DASH program.

Supplementary effort anticipated estimates team members spend less than 10% of their time to the DASH program.