Concurrent Sessions VIII | April 15 | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM ET

CS 8A | CS 8B | CS 8C | CS 8D | CS 8E (ACUPA)

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CS 8A | The Bare Necessities:  Evaluating and Implementing an ERP at a Small Institution

Description

In this session, you will learn how Wofford College evaluated and successfully implemented a large-scale ERP system and hear about how their SIS phase of the implementation is going so far. This is often a challenge at smaller institutions, but you will learn how Wofford took a newly developed strategic approach that played to their strengths. Budget management, project management, change management, go-live, production support, and overall campus ownership of the process will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand an approach to evaluating ERP systems with minimal resources.
2. Learn one method for implementing a large-scale ERP system at a small, private institution.
3. Learn how to have a successful go-live with a focus on change management and campus ownership.

Speakers

Trey Arrington, Assistant Vice President for IT, Wofford College 

Trey is the AVP for IT and CIO at Wofford College located in Spartanburg, SC, overseeing the IT Services Department. Currently, Trey is leading as the Project Manager for Wofford's implementation of Workday. Prior to Wofford, Trey was the VP for Operations at Spartanburg Methodist College for 8 years, where he oversaw the Campus Technology Department, In-House Dining Services, and managed the relationship with Barnes and Noble College, piloting their First Day Complete book program. Along with higher education experience, Trey has served in senior leadership positions in the healthcare and manufacturing industries. He serves on several steering committees and boards within higher education. Trey earned his BA in Information Management from The University of South Carolina“ Upstate and his MBA from Louisiana State University.

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CS 8B | Succession Planning - Securing Your Organization's Future

Description

Successful organizations understand the critical nature of planning for the future.  When leadership transitions are not properly managed the consequences can cause issues that weaken the team, disrupt day to day business operations, present a significant loss of knowledge and sometimes result in damage to the reputation of the organization.   This session will explore the vital importance of succession planning and provide some strategies for developing internal talent and preserve the Colleges/Universities intellectual capital.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the reason we plan for succession.
2. Learn best practices for grooming internal succession candidates.
3. Discover strategies for preserving institutional knowledge.

Speakers 

Michelle Burwell, Director for Student Financial Services, Morehouse College

Michelle Burwell serves as the Director of Student Financial Services at Morehouse College, where she brings extensive expertise in both financial operations and student accounts management. As a seasoned enrollment manager, she guides strategic initiatives to support student success through effective financial services administration. Ms. Burwell holds a Master of Science in Jurisprudence from Seton Hall University School of Law and an MBA from Felician University. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.Her comprehensive educational background in business, law, and administration complements her professional role in higher education financial services leadership.

Dr. Lamario Primas, Associate Vice President of Student Financial Services

Dr. LaMario Primas is a born and raised Milledgeville, GA native who has a sincere passion for Higher Education, student service and the community-at-large. Dr. Primas has over 15 years of experience in Higher Education in both faculty and staff roles.  He currently serves as the Associate Vice President of Student Financial Services at Morehouse College where he oversees the Financial Aid & Scholarships and Student Accounts departments. During his tenure, Dr. Primas and team have administered estimating over $148 Million in federal, state, and institutional aid to students. In addition, his team boasters a less than 5% student accounts receivable for 2 consecutive years.

He is a proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University where he earned a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership. Dr. Primas’ drive and passion are refueled each year during commencement exercises as it continues to reignite the torch of student service. He is also a United States Navy. Outside of education and community service, Dr. Primas enjoys spending time with his wife, Mrs. Chenoa Primas and 3-year-old daughter, Chloe Marie Primas, family, and friends.

Mr. Jonathan Jordan, Director of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships

Jonathan Jordan is the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships at Morehouse College, bringing over a decade of experience in financial aid administration, student support, and operational excellence. Prior to his role at Morehouse, he served as the Associate Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships at Texas A&M University – Commerce. There, he managed state and federal loan reporting, supervised loan delivery systems, and contributed to long-term strategic planning to improve student access to financial resources.

Jonathan holds a Master of Science in Management from Texas A&M University – Commerce and has certifications in Operational Excellence, SAP, and Six Sigma Green Belt. His expertise in streamlining processes and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations has driven successful implementations of financial aid management systems and outreach events that engage hundreds of students and families.

Earlier in his career, Jonathan served as Assistant Director of Loans & Special Programs, managing loan systems and aid administration for competency-based education programs, and as a Financial Aid Advisor, where he oversaw work-study programs and provided student advising. He is also an accomplished public speaker, having presented at professional conferences and led discussions on workplace diversity.

A dedicated mentor and community leader, Jonathan has volunteered with affinity groups, specifically the African American Male Mentorship Program and served on university boards, demonstrating his commitment to student development and equitable access to education.

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CS 8C | Future in Focus: Data-Informed, Practical Strategies to Address the Perceptions, Motivations, and Priorities of Today’s Students

Sponsored by 

Data and insights tell us that campuses must make student-focused adjustments to the student experience to remain successful in the increasingly competitive higher education landscape. This is especially critical in light of the unique challenges Gen Z students face: loneliness, mental health struggles, social isolation, and concerns about being prepared for the future.Every two years, Sodexo conducts the Student Lifestyle Survey to identify what motivates students to enroll in ”and remain at ”a college or university. Join us as we explore the results of Sodexo's 2024-25 Student Lifestyle Survey, which takes a deep dive into students' and parents' perceptions around some of the most pressing issues in higher education today. Learn about evolving views regarding the value of a college degree, the changing role of technology in campus life, the importance of cultivating a sense of belonging on campus, students' desire to develop the soft skills that will help them succeed in the workplace, and more. We'll also share practical strategies for applying these insights to create welcoming, inclusive campuses that align with students' priorities and reduce common barriers to success.

Learning Objectives

1. Design campus programs and services that nurture authentic engagement and create the optimum environment for student recruitment, retention, and long-term success.
2. Understand how campuses can better align programs and services to the needs of today's future-focused students.
3. Learn about what drives today's future-focused students to pursue higher education and what they're looking for when choosing a college.

Speakers

Tina Livingston, Vice President for Finance and CFO, East Texas A&M University

Tina has over 22 years of experience in Texas higher education. Prior to stepping into her CFO role, she served as the Associate Vice President and Chief Budget Officer for A&M-Commerce. She began her career at Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she oversaw the budget and student accounting

Tracy Baker, Sr. Director Partnership, Strategies and Solutions Sodexo

Tracy has been a member of the Sodexo team for more than 25 years. With a balance of operations and support roles in service development, marketing and communication, and operations across a variety of segments within Sodexo, Tracy brings a holistic view of what kinds of strategy would best serve campus communities in her role. Tracy understands the relationship between food, service and quality in delivering an exceptional student experience for both clientsand consumers.

 

Sarah Baker, Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration, East Texas A&M University

Sarah Baker, CPA, has provided over 18 years of professional accounting to the Texas higher education landscape, and is currently serving as the Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration & Controller at East Texas A&M University. She previously held the position of Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting at the University since September 2013. She has been with ETAMU as a full-time employee since 2006, serving in various accounting roles throughout her time. She has served as the Grant Accountant, Senior Accountant, Financial Reporting Coordinator, and Director of Reporting. Currently, she oversees payroll, student accounts, accounts payable and travel, general accounting, property management, post award grant administration, state accounting, reconciliations, and the accounting for the associated philanthropic organizations, the Foundation and Alumni Association.Sarah enjoys playing racquetball, swimming with her son, skeet shooting and has recently taken up quilting. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Winnsboro and helps with the children’s ministry.

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CS 8D | Open Discussion of Finance and HR Policy Development

Call for Session Discussion Topics

ACUPA presenters are excited to describe the process of developing HR and Financial policies. To help the presenters provide pertinent information, please submit specific policy topics (travel policies, payment policies, financial reporting policies, hiring policies, benefit policies) or topics that are impacting the HR and Financial areas (executive orders, unionization, shared governance, etc.) Examples could be:

• The effects of faculty and staff unionization
• The effect of executive orders
• Process changes effecting travel and purchasing policies
• Developing a benefits policy
• Developing an identity theft policy that includes red flag processes

Submit Questions

Description

SACUBO members are invited to bring their questions for this panel of policy administrators from ACUPA’s Board of Directors. Based on initial prompts from SACUBO, the panel is ready to explore how universities navigate policy development across key administrative functions such as compensation planning, AI policies, and service centers. Discover best practices from peer institutions to enhance policy effectiveness at your university.

Learning Objectives

• How the relationship between HR and Finance intersects in policies at other Universities when managing compensation planning decisions.
• How different University’s managed the development and implementation of AI Policies
• How service/responsibility center Policies are developed at other Universities. (Benefits, Accounting, Purchasing)

Speakers

Leslie Erwin, Vice President, Human Resources Owens Community College

Dr. Leslie Erwin has served in key roles in higher education for more than 15 years including human resources, compliance, Title IX, diversity, equity and inclusion, student affairs and academic programming and accreditation. Her 10 years of human resources experience spans private industry, union environments and, most recently, education. She also has nine years of senior leadership experience. Dr. Erwin attained her doctorate of education in higher education administration in 2022 from Northcentral University, taking a one-year break from these studies to earn a graduate certificate in higher education compliance in 2018 from the University of Toledo College of Law. Her qualitative research focused on Title IX policy implementation, specifically with the faculty experience. She also holds a master of arts in organizational management from Spring Arbor University and a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from The Ohio State University.  She currently serves on the Board for the Association of College and University Policy Administrators (ACUPA). Her professional interests include civil rights and equity, policy administration, compliance, labor relations and employee engagement and retention. 

Ermelinda Quintela, University Policy Administrator New Mexico State University

Ermelinda Quintela, a licensed CPA with a Master of Accountancy from New Mexico State University where she currently serves the university. Over the last 35 years, she has gained a broad range of knowledge through experiences in both private and public industry, having served in various capacities within the university including policy administration, financial, operational, research, foundation, alumni, and other. Responsibilities have ranged from policy administration, including facilitating and supporting efforts of the policy steering committee, working with leaders to analyze various forms of data, strategize, develop, and maintain unit metrics, among other initiatives advancing university goals.  

Michael Jarosz, Director, University Policy Yale University

Michael has spent the past eight years in the space of higher education policy administration.  Prior to that, he worked as a litigator in private legal practice.  During his time in higher education, Michael’s team and portfolio have expanded to include a broad library of administrative policies and multiple compliance functions.  Those functions, which include evaluating requests for exceptions to policy, have informed a nuanced lens through which to view and approach certain aspects of policy administration.  Michael has been an ACUPA member since 2018 and has served on its Board of Directors since 2019.  He currently serves as the Vice Chair for Administration.

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CS 8E (ACUPA): Policy Potpourri

Description

This session is designed to allow free form exchange of questions and answers for conference participants. Individuals will have an opportunity to share best practices and learn from colleagues. The session will also provide a chance for attendees to ask questions that they may still have after attending the other ACUPA sessions. 

Learning Objectives

1. Takeaway strategies and approaches to issues or developments in your own policy/compliance practices
2. Gain answers to questions from seasoned administrators
3. Identify colleagues with similar questions, challenges, and/or experiences who may be resources to lean on post-conference

Speakers

Kathryn Scelzo, Senior Analyst, Policy and Compliance, Yale University

Kathryn joined the Yale University Policy Office in early 2022 reporting to Mike Jarosz. She is responsible for managing a comprehensive portfolio of over 90 University Policies, Procedures, and Forms, ensuring their timely review and ongoing maintenance. In addition to overseeing this portfolio, Kathryn works alongside a dedicated, dynamic team managing key compliance functions, including policy exceptions, special projects, and the development of new policies. Prior to joining Yale in 2018, she began her career in Insurance as a Business Analyst and Project Manager. Kathryn has been an ACUPA member since 2023 and has served on the Events Planning Committee since 2024.

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