Alpha Financials Project in Final Stages
The Alpha Financials project for the implementation of the Oracle Cloud system is rapidly approaching the January 2021 go-live for UC Merced end users. This extensive project, which kicked off in April 2019, is now less than two months away from the finish line.
The implementation team, consisting of staff from the Division of Finance and Administration, the Office of Information Technology, our implementation partner, Deloitte, and campus-wide stakeholders, has dedicated thousands of hours into designing, configuring and delivering a product that they are excited to share with UC Merced.
In mid-October, after finishing the second Systems Integration Testing cycle, the Alpha Financials team began User Acceptance Testing. Additionally, the team commenced Train-the-Trainer and End User Training (EUT) in September. Due to COVID-19, EUT will be delivered remotely through its completion in December.
I want to express my appreciation and to recognize the project team in DFA and OIT and our Deloitte partners for the expertise and time devoted to this project. The pandemic put us in a position of keeping the project on schedule while working remotely. The team rose to the challenge and ensured the timeline and requirements have been met.
Kim Groesbeck
Interim Controller
Alpha Financials Business Owner
The complete training curriculum, as well as reference materials, FAQs, and other important Alph Financials project information, can be found on the project website.
Key Dates for Expense and Reimbursement Conversion
The Concur travel and reimbursement system for campus employees, which replaces Express (hosted by UCLA), is coming soon. To ensure a smooth transition, several cutoff dates (listed below) will be in place. Please note that any travel reimbursement required after Nov. 30 needs to be held and entered into Concur when goes live on Jan. 4, 2021.
Travel & Reimbursement Cutoff Dates (Current Systems)
T&E Card Transactions
T&E Transactions
ENTER
11/25/2020
T&E Transactions
APPROVE
12/4/2020
Travel Reimbursement
ENTER
11/30/2020
Travel Reimbursement
APPROVE
12/4/2020
Travel Reimbursement
Non-travel Reimbursement
Non-travel Reimbursement
ENTER
11/30/2020
Non-travel Reimbursement
APPROVE
12/4/2020
Training Calendar: Training for Concur has been developed and catered to your role in the system as a user, delegate or approver. Travel and Expense Management will provide instructor-led training (via Zoom) in November and December to prepare you for the launch. Please see the training calendar on the project website.
Please visit the Travel and Expense Management Concur Project page for additional information and project status.
Embark on a Data Treasure Hunt
Looking for information about UC Merced students and employees? Institutional Research and Decision Support (IRDS) has developed and updated interactive data displays and research reports that allow you to explore data on topics such as graduate and undergraduate demographics, student enrollment, degrees conferred by number and discipline, and the total number of faculty and staff. The interactives, based on the Tableau data visualization platform, form the core of the Analytics Hub. IRDS is spotlighting its work each week in Monday Memo.
Bringing a Campus Together With Connect
UC Merced is a growing and vibrant university. For the people who work, teach and learn here, it’s a community. A journey. Soon, everyone on that journey will have a new way to Connect.
On Nov. 18, the offices of External Relations and Information Technology will launch UC Merced Connect, an easy-to-use mobile app and streamlined desktop platform tailored just for you. Connect is your one-stop shop for access to your most-used work tools, campus and UC events, dates and deadlines, and other important campus information with just a few simple taps or clicks.
Highlights of the platform include a quick link to your daily Health Check and access to campus information about COVID-19, personalized messages, new ways to connect with campus news and events, as well as information about dining menus, campus resources, parking and transportation, and so much more.
The Connect launch is just that — a starting point for a dynamic platform that will continue to expand along with our campus. In fact, we are adding new content Dec. 7, when Connect will officially replace the my.ucmerced.edu portal.
Be on the lookout for those changes, and be sure to use the feedback form to tell us about new features and content you’d like us to add next.
We invite you to visit connect.ucmerced.edu and download the app from the App Store or Google Play store on Nov. 18. Get ready to stay connected no matter where you are with UC Merced Connect!
How You Can Tell Our Story
We know UC Merced is a special place to work, and that this young university's voice grows stronger every day. The Marketing team has several ways you can help spread the word. For example, download "Top 100" computer wallpapers – ideal for the next Zoom meeting with people outside the university family. UC Merced's national rankings also can be shared via a beautiful video by Marketing's video team, and the monthly At-A-Glance gives people a quick look at how we're building the future in the heart of California.
Monthly At A Glance
UC Merced At-A-Glance is a quick reference resource available to university leaders, external relations professionals, and members of the community for presentations, conversations, correspondence and other communications. Download to print or share digitally.
Zoom Backgrounds
Hand-selected photos and pre-made backgrounds to use during your virtual classes, presentations, meetings, etc.
#CampusOnTheRise
UC Merced has risen 36 spots in U.S. News & World Report in just two years, rising to the Top 100 overall, and Top 40 among public universities. In the 15 years since our opening we are already recognized as one of the top universities for both our academic quality and ability to transform the lives of our graduates.
