Maintaining an on-premises ERP required significant effort to manage infrastructure, upgrades, and system performance. Leadership also sought improved analytics and a more seamless way for students to access information across multiple systems.
Franklin & Marshall College is transitioning from on-premises Banner to Ellucian Student powered by Banner while implementing Experience and Insights to expand access and reporting. This approach enables a more connected, data-driven environment.
- Improved access to information through a unified user experience
- Expanded analytics capabilities across campus
- Reduced reliance on on-premises system maintenance
- Greater focus on student experience and strategic priorities
Think about the experience you want for your students — once you focus on that, moving to SaaS becomes a clear decision."
Modernizing to Create a Single Student Experience
Franklin & Marshall College, a private liberal arts institution in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is modernizing its technology environment with a focus on improving the student experience. Serving just under 2,000 students, the college is taking a strategic approach to modernization by aligning technology decisions with its core academic mission.
When Carrie Rampp, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, and institutional leadership began evaluating their next steps, they made a deliberate decision to center the project around the student experience. Rather than focusing solely on reducing operational burden or managing system risk, the institution prioritized how students access information and interact with campus systems.
Operating Banner in an on-premises environment required ongoing effort to maintain infrastructure, apply updates, and manage system performance. At the same time, the college recognized an opportunity to expand its analytics capabilities and improve how data is delivered across campus.
To address these needs, Franklin & Marshall College is transitioning Banner to Ellucian SaaS while modernizing its broader ecosystem. The institution has already implemented Experience, providing a more unified gateway for users, and is preparing to expand the use of Insights to deliver more accessible analytics across campus.
Even before completing the full SaaS migration, the college is seeing early benefits. The launch of Experience has improved how students and staff access information, while ongoing implementation work is helping departments identify opportunities to refine processes and improve efficiency.
For Franklin & Marshall, modernization is not just a system change — it represents a shift in how the institution approaches technology. By focusing on the student experience and leveraging SaaS capabilities, the college is building a more connected, data-informed environment that supports both current needs and future growth.
