The paint on the walls is barely dry, but the initial Queen’s University Administrative Systems Replacement (QUASR) project team members are hard at work in their new location. Their headquarters are on the sixth floor of a building on Princess at Division streets, just five minutes from campus. The office has an open design, and every team has its own pod, complete with a central table for meetings. The space also has two conference rooms for large meetings and training, and shared workstations for students and others who are there temporarily.

“The theme of the project is collaboration, and we’re reflecting that in our work environment,” says QUASR Program Director Jim Carse. “We had people working in about a dozen locations throughout the Queen’s campus, and now that we have a functional, collaborative work environment, we can ramp up for the project at hand.”

 

The project is massive. The team is replacing the computer administration systems at Queen’s – human resources, student, finance, research administration and information services – some of which are 30 years old. The new, integrated system will improve service delivery, reduce operational and financial risks, and lay the foundations to bring the university’s systems up to the highest standards. It will also incorporate a host of new applications that departments have needed for years. The project will take an estimated 250,000 hours to complete, with the input of hundreds of individuals.

Team members from across the university will continue to move into the new office over the next few weeks. The first milestone of the QUASR project is expected to be completed in November and other phases will follow over the next three years.

“We’re excited about being together and it’s full steam ahead from here on in,” says Mr. Carse.