Introducing Sequoia

Message from Elizabeth Zacharias and Steve Gallagher sent to faculty and staff via email on April 3, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Stanford is making a necessary and significant technology upgrade by replacing our decades-old HR and Payroll system. Our current HR system, PeopleSoft HCM (Human Capital Management), is reaching the end of its life and will be replaced with a modern cloud-based system we’re calling Sequoia. 

This system upgrade is one of the first in a series of system replacements taking place at Stanford over the next 10 years as part of Stanford’s broader Renew-Extend-Replace (RER) initiative to modernize and strategically replace aging technology. Enhancements to HR processes and programs are also necessary to leverage Sequoia’s capability and support Stanford’s long-term success as an employer. Sequoia is anticipated to launch in early 2026.

HR and Payroll technology isn’t something most of us think about often, but it’s woven into many of the routine actions you take each week. Whether it’s updating your direct deposit information, requesting time off, reviewing your payslip, updating your timecard, or participating in the goal-setting and performance review process, this technology supports the day-to-day actions that keep things moving. 

Our current HR and Payroll system has served us well, but it’s outdated and fragmented. To complete basic tasks, you often have to jump between systems like Axess, Taleo, or PeopleSoft – adding unnecessary complexity. 

Sequoia will change that. Because its capabilities are far more robust and will bring more functionality into a single platform, it will consolidate many key workplace actions (time cards, performance management, personal information updates, and more), significantly reducing the need to navigate multiple platforms or workarounds we have relied on for years.

Changes you can expect:

How you interact with Sequoia will depend on your role:

• Our colleagues who work in HR throughout Stanford will experience the greatest amount of change in their day-to-day work.
• People managers will gain greater visibility and direct access to key information related to their teams allowing them to play a more active role in supporting, recognizing, and developing their team members.
• Staff will have a more cohesive and consistent platform, with simplified tools to support career growth and daily tasks like time entry, scheduling time off, and managing personal information like pay and demographic details.
• Faculty will primarily use Sequoia for tasks such as updating personal information or accessing pay documents. Faculty, including those who supervise staff, will be able to choose to use the system directly or have HR make updates on their behalf.

We recognize that change of this scale comes with challenges, and we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for everyone at Stanford and SLAC. Over the coming months, more details will be shared, including information about training, to help you feel confident using the new system and new processes.

To learn more, look for an article in the April 7 edition of the Cardinal at Work Insider, where we’ll provide additional details about what’s changing and how it will impact you.

We appreciate your engagement as we move forward and are committed to supporting you through this transition.

Best,