Cloud Technology Transforming Seattle University
Introduction
Seattle University, founded in 1891, is one of the 28 Jesuit universities in the United States. Located in Seattle, Washington, near Amazon Web Services (AWS) headquarters, the university has always embraced innovation and excellence in education. To enhance its digital capabilities, Seattle University recognized the potential of cloud technology when a critical application reached its end of life in 2016. Instead of reinvesting in costly on-premises infrastructure, the university leveraged cloud technology to modernize its IT environment.
By collaborating with AWS, Seattle University has successfully migrated over 50% of its applications to the cloud, with ongoing efforts to transition the remaining workloads. This move has resulted in seamless disaster recovery, cost savings, and an improved focus on student success.
Making the Leap into Cloud Technology with AWS
When Seattle University’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system reached end of life in 2016, university leadership faced a decision: reinvest in more on-premises infrastructure or take a leap forward into the cloud? Faced with the same budget constraints and limited staff resources that have affected the entire higher education industry, the university knew it couldn’t build industry-leading security, reliability, scalability, and more capabilities in-house. “We didn’t see this step as just ‘building infrastructure,’” says Travis Nation, chief information officer at SU. “We realized what we needed to do is focus on the student experience and let an outside provider do what they’re really great at. This freed up our staff to focus on things only we can do.”
Once the university embarked on this modernization journey, they conducted an evaluation of the cloud provider candidates. AWS quickly emerged as the best fit for their needs. “AWS services were understandable, the pricing structure was clear and concise, and they were a real innovator in the marketplace,” says Nation. Early on, the AWS team even suggested ways that the university could save costs on AWS—something that set them apart as a vendor. “That was a real reinforcement to us that AWS sees us as a partner, and we look at them as a partner,” adds Nation. “I truly believe that AWS is invested in our organization and making sure we’re successful.”
Ensuring Continuity with Cloud Technology During Crisis
Working closely with AWS, Seattle University was connected with Ellucian, an AWS Partner, to support their ERP migration. Right away, the benefit of moving to the cloud became clear. Shortly after migrating its ERP and student information system to AWS, the university faced a debilitating on-campus outage due to a failure in its on-premises storage system. But, given their move to the cloud, Seattle University’s most essential services remained fully operational. Nation recalls, “Our entire storage system crashed … but our ERP and student information system kept running. People got paid, finances were still working, and students could access what they needed.”
This incident served as a powerful proof point. As the university’s most critical systems stayed live in the cloud while many on-premises systems went dark, previous cloud skeptics became believers almost overnight. “That bought buy-in not only with my team but also with the organization holistically,” says Nation. “It solidified the mission for people external to IT.” This validated Seattle University’s move to the cloud and set a course to eventually go all-in on AWS.
Lessons from Seattle University’s Cloud Migration Journey
1. Establish a Cloud Center of Excellence
To drive adoption and ensure the smooth transition to cloud technology, Seattle University created a Cloud Center of Excellence. This dedicated team consisted of IT professionals and faculty members committed to fostering cloud adoption and educating stakeholders.
2. Cultivate the “Cloud Mindset Shift”
Transitioning to cloud technology required a fundamental change in operational thinking. AWS provided extensive training to help IT staff adapt their processes, optimize cloud resources, and fully leverage cloud capabilities.
3. Prioritize Workloads Effectively
To maintain momentum, Seattle University focused on migrating workloads that were near the end of their on-premises lifecycle or those that could deliver quick wins. By retiring old servers and transitioning to AWS, the university saved thousands of dollars while improving efficiency.
4. Set Realistic Deadlines for Migration
Balancing daily operations with cloud migration efforts was challenging. Leadership implemented clear timelines for each phase of the migration, ensuring continuous progress without overwhelming the IT team.
5. Consider Vendor Relationships and Capabilities
The migration affected third-party software vendors, some of whom were initially hesitant about moving to the cloud. Effective communication and renegotiations ensured smooth transitions for critical applications.
6. Work with a Trusted Cloud Provider
Throughout their migration journey, having a trusted provider like AWS made all the difference. Just having a single point of contact reduced a significant amount of friction. “Knowing who to reach out to no matter what the issue is simplified everything,” Nation says. Seattle University’s dedicated AWS team helped navigate the complexities of their migration, offered training, and suggested how to design more efficiently in the cloud to save costs.
Transforming Operations to Enhance Student Success
Since migrating more than half of its workloads to AWS, Seattle University has experienced increased reliability, reduced outages, and significant cost savings.
“Before moving to cloud technology, we faced frequent outages,” says Nation. “Now, we can focus on delivering better services instead of just keeping systems running.”
By eliminating costly on-premises infrastructure, the university redirected IT budget savings toward student resources. These investments have yielded tangible results. In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings, Seattle University improved by 45 spots in the social mobility rankings, enabling the institution to admit more students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“We’re not just improving IT infrastructure,” Nation explains. “We’re using cloud technology to change students’ lives.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Cloud Technology in Higher Education
Seattle University’s cloud transformation has positioned the institution for long-term success, providing the flexibility and agility needed to navigate future challenges.
For other universities considering a move to the cloud, Nation offers this advice: “We didn’t start with a team of cloud experts. We took it step by step, learning along the way.” By embracing cloud technology, finding quick wins, and iterating from setbacks, institutions can achieve modernization success.
And Seattle University’s journey is far from over. “AWS continues to innovate, and part of our journey is tied to theirs,” Nation says.
As more universities transition to cloud technology, institutions worldwide are leveraging cost-effective, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure to drive transformation.
Conclusion
Cloudastra empowers educational institutions like Seattle University to embrace cloud technology, equipping them with the tools and expertise needed for a seamless digital transformation. By leveraging cloud technology, universities can enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the student experience.
As the landscape of education evolves, institutions must adapt to stay ahead. Revolutionizing Education: The Future Of Learning Software is not just about digital tools—it’s about reshaping how students access knowledge and succeed in a rapidly changing world. Cloudastra is committed to supporting this transformation, ensuring that universities like Seattle University continue to thrive in the era of cloud technology.
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