Capstone Convergence is a major effort to modernize how The University of Alabama operates. Workday, a new research administration tool, and Okta are at the center of this transformation. These new systems will replace outdated tools and help create a more efficient, secure and connected experience for faculty and staff.
Workday: One System for HR and Finance
Workday brings HR and finance together into a single platform so teams can work from the same, reliable data. This reduces confusion, speeds routine processes, and makes it easier for people across units to collaborate. Faculty and staff will spend less time on paperwork and more time on meaningful work. With Workday, faculty and staff can look forward to:
- More consistent and simplified HR, finance, and payroll processes
- Access to data in real time to help you make more informed decisions
- A modern, easy-to-use interface that reduces confusion and manual input
- Easier access to common tasks like time entry, leave requests and approvals
Research Administration Suite of Tools: Supporting the Full Research Lifecycle
The new Research Administration Suite centralizes and simplifies research administration through an integrated, user‑friendly platform. Its built‑in conflict-of-interest (COI) module replaces Convercent and the UA System COI Disclosure system, reducing duplicate entry and paperwork. This streamlined approach allows faculty and staff to spend less time navigating multiple systems and more time advancing UA’s research mission. For faculty and staff involved in research, the new tools provide a connected, easy‑to‑use space to:
- Write, submit and track proposals in one place
- Manage awards and monitor compliance requirements through a single workflow
- Submit and monitor conflict of interest disclosures in one consolidated module
- Improve collaboration and visibility across research teams
Okta: Secure Access to UA Systems
UA is also adopting Okta, a leading identity and access platform as part of Capstone Convergence. This will help simplify and improve the security of the login process. Okta will help people in the following ways:
- myBama Single Sign-On (SSO): With just one secure login for all UA systems, it’s easier to manage passwords and keep university data safe
- Multi-factor authentication: This secure, user-friendly process replaces Duo while helping to safeguard faculty and staff accounts and university data
What Capstone Convergence Aims to Achieve
Through these new systems, Capstone Convergence will:
- Update administrative tasks and operations
- Standardize workflows and minimize redundancy
- Offer increased support for faculty, staff and researchers
- Align processes with UA’s long-term strategic objectives
What This Means for Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff will see changes in how they complete routine tasks, but the goal is a smoother, more intuitive experience. Training and support will be provided to ensure everyone is ready.
The foundational goal of Capstone Convergence is to strengthen the university and promote increased connectivity. It’s about building cohesive systems and providing people with the tools they need to succeed.