Focused, disciplined & future-ready

Behind every online class, research project, student appointment and payroll deposit is a network of digital systems most people never see. At Concordia, Instructional and Information Technology Services (IITS) is the team that keeps it all running.

In 2024-25, that work became even more complex. Demand for technology grew across teaching, research, student services, and administration, while financial pressures left little room for error.

“This year was less about expansion and more about making careful choices,” says Philippe Delisle, associate vice-president, Information Systems and CIO of IITS. “We had to decide where to focus, how to sequence work, and which initiatives could move forward, or needed to slow down. Those choices marked a deliberate shift.

“We’re working in a more disciplined, purposeful way,” adds Delisle. “It’s about continuity, transparency, efficiency and making sure technology continues to support the Concordia community for the long term.”

Choosing carefully to protect what matters most

With needs emerging across the university, IITS couldn’t move everything forward at once. Trying to do so would have stretched teams too thin and increased the risk of service interruptions in areas that students, faculty and staff rely on every day. Instead, the team strengthened how priorities were set.

“We created shared criteria for every request,” explains Delisle. “Does this support teaching, research or student services? Do we have the capacity to do it well? What value will it bring to the community?”

This approach made decisions clearer and more transparent. Some projects moved ahead immediately. Others were phased over a longer timeline. A few were paused so focus could remain on the systems the university depends on.

“Being open about those choices helped us prioritize consistently,” says Delisle. “It meant we could focus on what mattered most and make sure our commitments were delivered reliably and with care.”

Managing financial pressure with care

Budget pressures didn’t slow the work; they shaped it. Rather than cutting across the board, IITS launched Elevate IT, a program to make targeted investments that would simplify systems, improve efficiency, and reduce long-term costs, all while protecting essential services.

“Elevate IT helped us treat budget compression as something to manage carefully, not just react to,” explains Delisle. “We tracked financial goals alongside project milestones so we could see progress, understand dependencies, and adjust when needed.”

The approach made savings visible, reduced the risk of unintended impacts, and set the stage for Concordia’s upcoming IT Strategic Plan.

Supporting teaching and learning

In the heart of academic life, IITS stabilized and modernized core platforms. Moodle moved to a cloud-based environment, improving reliability and scalability. Online assessment and examination systems were strengthened, making it easier to deliver secure, flexible evaluations during peak academic periods.

“These systems are at the heart of learning,” says Delisle. “Upgrades don’t just make teaching and studying smoother; they help Concordia work more effectively with partners provincially and nationally. Our job is to keep them stable and ready whenever the community needs them.”

Improving student and alumni services

IITS also focused on systems that affect students directly. Health Services implemented a new Electronic Medical Record system, replacing paper forms and improving continuity of care. Modernization of the Bursaries and Awards platform continued, including work-study functionality to reduce manual processing and improve accuracy.

Enhancements to the Student Information System and Student CRM expanded self-service options and improved reliability for students, staff, and alumni.

Enabling research and faculty work

IITS laid the groundwork for new research tools. Planning progressed for a Research Information Management System, which will centralize research administration, compliance, and reporting. Updates to the Faculty Research Information System improved support for teaching assignments and research personnel.

Collaborative workshops defined a multi-year roadmap for the next-generation Explore platform, increasing research visibility and long-term planning.

“These are long-term investments,” says Delisle. “They help create a more connected research environment and reduce administrative burden over time.”

Strengthening core administrative systems

Enterprise systems underpin day-to-day operations. This year, SAP RiseUP reached major milestones, migrating Unity (SAP) to the cloud and improving performance, security, and resilience for finance, HR, and payroll. Upgrades to systems like Gazelle supported fundraising, while improvements to audiovisual systems and data reporting helped units plan and make decisions more effectively.

Modernizing the IT foundation

Within IITS itself, work continued to strengthen the backbone of Concordia’s digital environment.

The transition from hardline phones to Microsoft Teams advanced, modernizing campus communications while retiring costly legacy systems. At the same time, the Windows 11 upgrade rolled out across classrooms, labs, and managed devices to maintain security and continued Microsoft support.

In parallel, infrastructure modernization and service management improvements reduced long-term risk and costs, while positing the University to retire legacy platforms.

Keeping the community secure

Cybersecurity remained a constant priority. Improvements were continuously made to increase the detection of threats, strengthen monitoring, and accelerate response times in a rapidly changing threat environment. Updates to Identity and Access Management, Mobile Application Management, and data classification strengthened data protection and supported compliance with provincial requirements.

“IT Security work is often invisible,” says Delisle, “but it’s essential to maintaining trust and ensuring our community can learn, work, and connect safely.”

Ready for what comes next

Looking ahead, the team’s attention turns to implementing Concordia’s new IT Strategic Plan.

“As we move forward, we’ll keep balancing ambition with what’s realistically possible, managing risk carefully, and focusing on the areas where technology can make the biggest difference for our community,” adds Delisle.

“Our goal is simple: to make sure technology continues to support our community. By staying disciplined and community-focused, we’re building a digital foundation that will serve Concordia today and into the future.”