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Cutover Planning Underway: Timeline Options Under Review Ìý

The Buff Experience Transformation Steering Committee is actively engaged in cutover planning for the transition from Buff Portal Advising to Education Cloud. The project team is evaluating multiple timeline options and associated risks, including considerations for training periods, system readiness, finals scheduling, holiday staffing, and ensuring that over 500 advisors and student success staff receive appropriate preparation and system access before launch. Details are still being refined, and timeline recommendations will be presented to the project executive committee for review and decision in the coming weeks.

The project team is also developing detailed criteria to objectively assess system readiness before cutover. These criteria will address critical functionality—such as ensuring students can successfully schedule appointments with advisors—as well as organizational change management readiness, technical stability, and campus preparedness. The cutover plan will include contingency buffers and decision lock dates to allow for adjustments if needed. Updates on this planning work will be shared with working groups and campus leadership as details are finalized.

Build Phase Nearing Completion: Over 300 Use Cases in Development Ìý

The Education Cloud build phase is nearing completion, with Cloud for Good and campus technical teams advancing configuration and deployment activities. More than 350 use cases gathered during Phase 1A discovery have been organized into epics and features, loaded into the project management system (JIRA), and linked to active build work. This comprehensive mapping enables prioritization and ensures that the most critical functionality is implemented before Buff Portal Advising is retired.

Integration work continues at full pace, with University Information Services teams building connections to campus source systems using approved data mappings. The project is also addressing the technical and policy considerations involved in archiving historical data and ensuring that student records are preserved for those who may return to complete their degrees in the future.ÌýÌý

Adoption Leads Engaged: Survey UnderwayÌý

The Adoption Lead cohort is actively engaged in shaping the system to meet real-world needs. A survey has been distributed to the advising community and Adoption Leads to gather detailed use cases related to student group functionality and current usage patterns. This input will inform system configuration and help ensure that Education Cloud supports the diverse ways advisors and student success staff work with students across campus.

Persona-Based Communications in DevelopmentÌý

Working groups are developing targeted communication and engagement strategies tailored to different campus roles and personas. These efforts focus on equipping student success supporters with practical knowledge and leveraging key change enablement drivers to support a smooth transition. As these strategies are finalized, you can expect more tailored messaging and resources aligned to your role and responsibilities. Ìý

Share Your FeedbackÌý

If you have not yet completed the BuffET Feedback Interest Form, we encourage you to do so. We are seeking input from students, staff, and faculty to help shape the system and ensure it meets the needs of those who will use it. Students who participate in feedback activities may be eligible to receive an Amazon gift card. Ìý