SL Project Management

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The Student Life Project Management Office helps departments achieve their goals through structured project management, process improvement, and operational excellence. We partner with teams to deliver initiatives from start to finish, streamline workflows, and build stronger, more efficient processes. Working with Student Life leadership and staff, we prioritize efforts that strengthen services and create better experiences for students, employees, and the broader campus community. 

Projects

What's the difference between a project, consult and business process improvement?

A project includes a set of tasks with a defined timeline to achieve specific goals. It typically:

  • Involves multiple units, sometimes including those outside Student Affairs and/or vendors
  • Lasts from a few months to a year or longer
  • Is complex and benefits from strong Project Management support from start to end
  • Is not an operational support activity or routine maintenance
  • Has defined start and end dates

A consult receives high-level project management guidance and assistance. It typically:

  • Involves one unit or only a few persons
  • Lasts a few weeks to a few months
  • Is not complex, but may benefit from Project Management support in areas such as charter creation, project scheduling, and change management counseling

Business process improvement (BPI) is a structured approach to analyzing and optimizing how work gets done. It focuses on:

  • Identifying inefficiencies, redesigning workflows, and leveraging modern tools to make processes more streamlined, effective, and cost-efficient
  • Much of BPI targets routine administrative tasks, where even minor adjustments can significantly improve efficiency. If a process or procedure feels clunky, takes too long, or seems unnecessarily complex, it’s a strong candidate for a process improvement review.
  • While BPI projects can sometimes involve collaboration across multiple teams or departments, most improvements are handled through an informal, one-on-one approach between the BPI team and the process owner -- the individual responsible for performing the task being optimized.
  • You can find more about BPI, different tools, and past projects in the SL Resources Confluence space.
Have a project/consult or business process improvement idea? Submit this form and a team member will reach out to schedule a scoping meeting to learn more. Questions? Contact Tess Smith.

Project Management Training

Have questions about project management, have a project that you would like to discuss, or looking for ways to more effectively manage projects and initiatives in your unit? Schedule a training session with the SL Project Management team to get more information on topics such as:

  • How project management can assist your unit
  • Tools to help you organize
  • Developing realistic goals
  • Creating timelines and communication processes
  • Overcoming risks and hurdles
  • Developing a project plan

Reach out to Tess Smith to schedule a training session! 

Schedule a training session 

Meet the Team

Tess Smith, PMP, CSM

I have worked at the University of Colorado Boulder since 2017 and have successfully led a wide range of impactful projects at the University, including Student Affairs Crisis Response, Residence Hall Vandalism Reduction, Engineering Connections, and the University’s vaccine initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I have a Master of Science in Global and International Education from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology from Purdue University. Before working at the University of Colorado Boulder, I held roles in project management, information technology, and risk management in both higher education and numerous Fortune 500 companies.  

In the Division of Student Life, I enjoy collaborating across units to help teams achieve their project and consult goals by removing obstacles and ensuring effective communication and a detail-oriented structure. 

Tess Smith

Ryan Morse, CSM

With over 15 years of experience in higher education across five institutions, I am passionate about bringing people together to solve complex challenges and drive meaningful change.  I have been with the University of Colorado since 2017 and Student Life since 2023, where I collaborate across departments to turn ideas into action. 

I thrive on building relationships, understanding each team’s unique contributions, and ensuring initiatives are successfully completed. My goal is to create an environment where collaboration is seamless, challenges are tackled with clarity, and teams feel empowered to do their best work. 

Let’s work together to make an impact! 

Ryan Morse

Merideth Cox, MBA, MA

I’ve been the Business Process Improvement Manager at the University of Colorado since 2024, where I focus on making administrative processes leaner, more organized, less costly, and more efficient. My work centers on finding practical and technology-driven ways to make everyday operations run more smoothly for students, staff, and faculty.

I hold an MA from the University of Denver, an MBA from the University of Toronto, and am Six Sigma certified. Prior to joining CU, I worked for Purdue, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Denver, all of which helped shape my approach to business process improvement and lean management. I enjoy partnering with departments to simplify procedures, streamline workflows, and build structures that let people focus on the work that matters most.

Meredith Cox 2