HR & Payroll System Upgrade
In early 2026, Stanford will launch Sequoia, our new HR and Payroll system. Learn more about what that means for you and where you can find support during the transition.
A transition of this scale impacts all employees, including faculty and managers. As we prepare for the change, the Cardinal at Work website will be your central resource for information, updates, and support materials. This webpage will be regularly updated as more details become available.
What's Happening
- This significant upgrade is part of the broader Renew-Extend-Replace (RER) initiative to modernize Stanford’s core systems.
- Sequoia will replace outdated technology and bring key HR, payroll, and talent functions into a single, streamlined platform.
- Related program and process improvements will enhance consistency and transparency across schools and units.
The Sequoia Experience
Sequoia is designed to provide all employees easy, direct access to workplace HR needs — offering a modern experience that simplifies how you access information, complete tasks, and find support. This new experience is shaped by four key enhancements:
- Direct access to manage your workplace needs without unnecessary handoffs
- A modern user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation
- Integrated processes that eliminate repetitive steps
- Connected resources that bring workplace tools, info, and support together in one place
Key Actions You'll Find in Sequoia
Sequoia makes it easier to get things done by giving you direct access to personal updates, pay details, timecards, performance tasks, and more — all in one place. And when you need additional support, the new HR Service Center will be there to help, offering a clear, streamlined path to answers. Explore a few of the key tools and features you’ll find in Sequoia below:
Basic Employee Data
Information about you (name, address, etc.) and your job (job title, compensation, job descriptions, position management, etc.)
Performance Management
Tools for setting goals, holding check-ins, gathering multi-source feedback, and completing year-end performance reviews.
Time Tracking
Submit timecards, record vacation and sick time, and track paid time off accruals with ease.
Career Profile and Growth Planning
Talent profiles to support your internal mobility, succession planning, and career development across Stanford.
Pay and Tax Documents
Access new W-2s and view the processing and distribution of your pay. Historical W-2s (pre-2026) will continue to live in Axess.
Recruiting Resources
Post job requisitions internally and externally, helping attract top candidates more efficiently.
Systems Being Replaced or Retired
- Axess: HR-related tasks (like time cards and viewing direct reports’ information) will move to Sequoia. Axess will still exist and continue to host resources like the Tuition Grant Program (TGP) and STARS.
- GPS: (Grow and Perform at Stanford): Will no longer be used after the end of the 2025/2026 performance period.
- Taleo: Recruiting and candidate screening will move to Sequoia; Taleo will retire in January 2026.
- PeopleSoft: Stanford’s primary HR system will transition away from PeopleSoft in January 2026, and additional functionality will be evaluated for retirement over time.
HR & Payroll Transition News & Updates
Stay up to date with the latest program, process, and system news related to the implementation of Sequoia.
News
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Sequoia: The story behind the name
There’s meaning behind the name – learn how the name Sequoia reflects the strength and future focus of Stanford’s new HR and Payroll system. -
Meet Sequoia: 5 things to expect with Stanford’s HR and Payroll system upgrade
Set to launch in early 2026, Sequoia represents an effort to modernize our workplace technology and the workflows that support it. -
Introducing Sequoia
Stanford’s modern HR & Payroll system launching in 2026
HR and Payroll System FAQ
Your school or unit HR team is a great resource to help you understand upcoming changes specific to your area. You can also reach out directly to University Human Resources at universityhr@stanford.edu.
Our current system, PeopleSoft, is outdated and reaching the end of its life. This requires a transition to Sequoia, which allows us to use modern, cloud-based technology. This is one of the first in a series of system replacements through Stanford’s broader Renew-Extend-Replace (RER) initiative, a university-wide effort to modernize and strategically replace aging enterprise systems.
Yes, though you are not on your own to learn it. A series of trainings will be provided in 2025 and 2026, tailored to specific system roles (such as manager, recruiter, employee). Many of the core functions and tasks will feel familiar but the training can help you understand how the workflows are integrated and provide tips to help you get the most out of your experience.
Many of the current functions in the Employee Center part of Axess will transition into Sequoia, including timecard management. Axess will still exist; it will continue to host the Stanford Training and Registration System (STARS) and a few other applications for now. For staff with academic responsibilities, the Student section and Instructor-Advisor section will remain in Axess.
Extensive training resources, guides, and Stanford HR support will be provided to ensure you can find what you need, navigate the new system, and understand the related process and program changes.
You will learn more as additional information about specific changes is shared in the coming months. If you have immediate questions, please contact members of your HR team.