Cayuse chosen as Ohio University’s new research administration software

The Division of Research, the Department of Finance, and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) are proud to announce that Cayuse has been chosen as the new electronic research administration software, replacing the current platform, LEO, after a rigorous evaluation process which included members from across the Ohio University community. 

The decision to choose Cayuse officially began in January 2023, and since then, this cross-collaborative group has begun the work to implement Cayuse into the research infrastructure of Ohio University. The full implementation of Cayuse will include many areas of research and financial operations and will be phased in over the next several years, fully implemented by the end of 2024.

What is Cayuse?  

Cayuse is a cloud-based electronic research administration software that operates on a single platform with a modern web-based interface. It integrates numerous modules to provide a centralized solution for all of OHIO’s research needs. Globally, Cayuse is employed by over 650 research organizations, making it a proven solution for connected research.

For David Koonce, the interim vice president of research and creative activity and dean of the Graduate College, the implementation of Cayuse and the retirement of the current electronic research administration software, LEO, heralds an exciting opportunity. 

“LEO was conceived years ago in an era when commercial research administration systems were in their infancy,” Koonce said. “While it has served us admirably, the time has come for us to embrace the agility, expansiveness, standardization, comprehensive reporting, and integration capabilities offered by a contemporary system. I am thrilled that Ohio University will be able to harness the full potential of Cayuse's advanced functionality and robust support to further expand our research endeavors.” 

Through Cayuse, faculty and staff will have a virtual hub that: 

• Maximizes efficiency by consolidating many of OHIO’s sponsored program systems in one place. 
• Minimizes risk with streamlined compliance management. 
• Streamlines administrative workflows related to sponsored projects, protocols, funding and more. 

Why Cayuse?

The current electronic research administration software, LEO, has served OHIO faithfully for over 19 years. However, as OHIO advances in its march for research excellence, there is a pressing need for a modern research administration software that will evolve to meet OHIO’s research demands. Cayuse, as a cloud-based, third-party software, is backed by a comprehensive support team from Cayuse, LLC, ensuring OHIO’s growth as a research institution, now and in the future.

Furthermore, Cayuse offers research faculty and administrators new capabilities not available with LEO. For example, Cayuse offers a centralized dashboard for all the research needs, the ability to directly integrate with other applications to streamline the administrative oversight of awards and grants, and additional modules that will modernize several administrative processes in areas that have not been able to upgrade their procedures.

Be on the lookout for more information to come

More information regarding the implementation plan for the new Cayuse system and the transition from the current LEO system can be found on the Cayuse Research Administration Software webpage. The goal for the transition is to minimize disruption and support researchers in adapting to the Cayuse system.

To facilitate a smooth transition, the Division of Research, the Department of Finance, and the Office of Information Technology are committed to:

• Providing training and support via documentation for transitions to Cayuse. 
• Offering support opportunities for feedback throughout the Cayuse implementation. 
• Evaluating and determining a transition period that minimizes adverse impact.

A plan for the rollout of each phase and the associated modules, commonly asked questions, and a space to ask any other questions or provide feedback via a dynamic FAQ can be found on OHIO’s Cayuse Research Administration Software webpage.