Broad staffing changes carry ripple effects for the St. Kate’s community
By Ella Tracy
Throughout the 2025 calendar year, St. Kate’s University leadership engaged in a “comprehensive review of the institution’s financial position, focusing on reducing the [budget] deficit and achieving long-term stability.” In light of their review, significant staffing changes within the IT (Information Technologies) and Admissions departments have occurred. According to University Leadership, these changes “were guided by the goals of improving service delivery, aligning with strategic priorities and ensuring student and community needs remained central to all actions.”
The Wheel followed up with several members of University Leadership - Lauran Hundshamer (VP of Enrollment & Marketing, Admissions), BJ Miller (Chief Financial Officer), John Pyle (Chief of Staff), and Sarah Voigt (Director of Communications) - to unpack these staffing changes.
What was the timeline for the changes that occurred?
After a multi-month evaluation, St. Kate’s [partnered] with Collegis Education to strengthen and modernize our IT infrastructure. The transition began in June, with Collegis assuming responsibility for day-to-day IT operations while also providing the capacity to flex up for technology projects and major system improvements, something that would not have been feasible without significant new staffing. This partnership allows us to maintain stability in operations while accessing specialized expertise and scalability when needed.
We reviewed a proposal from Carnegie Sextant in the spring and spent several months determining the best approach to strengthen enrollment operations. The result was a transition of certain processes to a partner organization while keeping key admissions roles and decision-making within the University. Staff were supported through a six-week transition period, with opportunities for internal placement and continued collaboration across teams.
How were employees phased out/outsourced groups phased in?
The transition with Collegis began in mid-May 2025, when Collegis leaders started meeting with St. Kate’s IT staff to understand systems, workflows, and campus needs. A structured knowledge transfer process took place through May and June, with some University IT staff members remaining longer to ensure smooth handoffs and service continuity. Employees who did not move to Collegis received individualized support, including severance packages.
In our Admissions area, we began the transition with Carnegie Sextant in August. The expanded scope with Carnegie Sextant became effective at the end of September, following a smooth transition and knowledge transfer. For those employees who were transitioned out of their roles, they received a 6-week notice. With the new team structure, and new roles created to support this structure, along with other position opportunities within the University, we had 6 employees transition to new roles within the University. Three employees transitioned out of the University.
What were the motivations to outsource instead of keeping on-site? What university strategic goals are supported by staffing changes?
As we look forward and anticipate the challenges to come as higher education faces increased scrutiny and diminished federal funding support, it is clear that our continued work as a University will require much more of us than our Admissions team alone can accomplish. Across all departments, the opportunity to reimagine how we might support students, faculty and staff in new and creative ways while also strengthening our overall financial stability was the primary motivation.
Which (if any) departments still have staff on site?
Most day-to-day IT operations transitioned to Collegis Education beginning in June 2025. The University currently maintains three on-site Collegis employees who provide daily, hands-on support, along with student employees working in the Tech Hub to assist peers and faculty. This on-site team is complemented by a virtual Collegis team that provides specialized expertise and around-the-clock support, ensuring responsive service for the St. Kate’s community.
In Admissions, a portion of the work transitioned to an external partner to expand outreach and streamline application processing. Several admissions staff remain employed by St. Kate’s, focusing on employer partner recruiting and collaboration across the College for Women and Graduate programs. This blended model helps sustain strong personal connections while improving service capacity.
Specifically:
Greg Steenson will be focused on employer partner recruitment, working closely with advancement and Dr. Joo to create bespoke certificate options for large employers (guaranteed admissions) .
Lindsay Borkin moved into an Operations Manager CFA role.
Jade Rundquist moved into an Operations Manager Graduate College role.
Evan Dahl moved into an Operations Coordinator role.
Andrea O'Connell moved into thean Associate Director of Admissions in the CFW role.
Our student workers were not affected.
From conversations with current students, the most significant pressure or conflict points that have arisen relate to IT (wifi, HelpDesk, ServiceNow, etc). How are they being addressed, or what is the plan moving forward?
The St. Kate’s Technology team is reviewing this feedback to identify trends and
implement timely improvements. In addition to the input gathered during the student session, we also analyze HelpDesk survey responses to ensure a comprehensive understanding of student needs. Each of the areas identified has active initiatives underway to enhance the overall student experience.
For Wi-Fi, a full review of coverage and performance is in progress. The IT team is assessing high-traffic and low-signal areas to prioritize necessary upgrades and access point adjustments. Recommendations and proposed actions will be discussed with the St. Kate’s Leadership team, to achievewith the goal of achieving more consistent and reliable connectivity across all key areas of campus.
We have also launched the Personal Support Center, which now provides students with 24/7 access to technical assistance via phone or chat. This enhancement ensures that students can receive immediate support with login issues, connectivity problems, or other technology-related concerns at any time, without waiting for standard business hours.
For ServiceNow, efforts are focused on streamlining workflows to improve follow-up and resolution of open tickets. This includes refining ticket routing processes and enhancing communication with students to ensure they receive timely updates when issues are resolved or additional information is required.
Collectively, these efforts are designed to strengthen the responsiveness, transparency, and accessibility of IT support for all students moving forward.
