Rolling out a faculty activity and evaluation system isn’t a quick “flip-the-switch” project—it’s a strategic transformation. Most universities are juggling legacy systems, paper forms, and unit-specific processes that make standardization challenging. CIOs need a secure, governed, and interoperable environment that still respects the unique realities of each academic department.

A bespoke implementation approach is the key. By pairing thoughtful configuration with strong academic partnerships, institutions can unify faculty data, streamline accreditation reporting, strengthen security, and build trust across campus. From phased rollouts to disciplined data migration, the right partner helps CIOs deliver a scalable, institution-wide solution that improves accuracy, reduces operational risk, and supports faster, fairer decision-making.

Many CIOs are asked to “just build” a homegrown faculty activity system—usually after years of storing sensitive academic records in spreadsheets, shared drives, or tools never designed for institutional data. The request sounds simple, but the reality is far more complex. Security gaps, escalating IT workload, inconsistent department needs, and the risk of knowledge loss all make the build-versus-buy decision a strategic one.

Evaluating your approach through security, total cost of ownership (TCO), and long-term resilience helps CIOs avoid multi-year rebuilds, reduce operational risk, and ensure faculty evaluations rely on governed, trustworthy data.

Annual faculty reviews are meant to strengthen conversations about contributions, goals, and growth—but at many institutions, the process has become a time-consuming administrative burden. Faculty spend hours re-entering information that already exists elsewhere, while chairs and deans sift through scattered, inconsistent data. The result is a review cycle defined by inefficiency, duplication, and frustration.

Modernizing the process with an integrated, automated system transforms reviews from paperwork into meaningful dialogue. By centralizing faculty activity data, eliminating redundant entry, and providing consistent, accurate information for leaders, institutions can shift the focus back to impact, development, and strategic alignment.

Today, data-driven decisions are more important than ever.

Governing boards, university faculty, staff, and students all expect decisions about the future of the academic enterprise to be informed by up-to-date and accurate data. Academic Analytics’ faculty activity reporting platform empowers institutions to move beyond reactive reporting and embrace proactive insight.