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Summer Meetings, Training Schedules and More

May 14, 2014

New Assistant Vice Chancellor, Business and Financial Services/Controller

In case you missed it, Vice Chancellor Michael Reese announced May 1 that Michael Riley will serve as Business and Financial Services's new assistant vice chancellor/controller. Read the announcement. 
 

REMINDER: Prerequisites Now Required for Travel Training and T&E Card Applications

Travel Services announced the launch of two new online training programs, Travel and  Entertainment Policies and the guidelines for acquiring and using a Travel and  Entertainment Card. The programs are designed to help staff and faculty enhance their knowledge and understanding of each policy to ensure compliance. The new online trainings were designed to accommodate employees’ busy schedules and unique learning needs.
 
Travel Policy (G-28) and Entertainment Policy (BUS 79) training guides university business travelers through the complicated environment of travel reimbursement, allowing the user to identify allowable business travel costs and documentation requirements and assist the traveler – and the University – to comply with IRS regulations. Expenditures related to business meetings, entertainment and other occasions can be complicated. The course discusses the types of costs allowed, authority to approve costs and documentation requirements necessary prior to incurring the costs. This online course is a prerequisite to participating in Connexxus and/or Express in-person training classes held quarterly on campus. Understanding these policies will improve your knowledge of how to effectively use the online booking (Connexxus) and reimbursement (Express) systems.
 
Travel and Entertainment (T&E) Card training provides guidelines for appropriate use of the T&E card, including the types of allowable travel and entertainment expenses that may be purchased using the corporate travel card.  This class must be completed in order to apply for a T&E card. Once completed, Travel Services will be notified and you will receive a link to the T&E card application and supervisor’s business justification form. Both travel trainings can be found on the UC Merced Travel website under “Training” at the bottom of the web page.
 

Summer Training Schedule

  • Learn about campus purchasing policies and procedures at training sessions from 1:30-5 p.m. June 16 or Aug. 18 at the Mondo Building. This class is a required prerequisite to CatBuy Training. Register online.
  • Full Accounting Units (FAU) training and its uses will be offered from 2:30-4:30 p.m. June 17 and Aug. 19 at the Mondo Building. Sign up now for this prerequisite to CatBuy Training. 
  • CatBuy/BruinBuy training gives attendees a hands-on overview of how to use UC Merced’s purchasing system. Classes will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 18 and Aug. 20 in KL 201. Sign up at the training website. Note: You must have an Oasis/BruinBuy login ID and complete the Purchasing and FAU classes before you may participate. 
  • The Personnel/Payroll System (PPS) Inquiry and Overview class is mandatory for managers, supervisors and employees who will be using the PPS Inquiry functions. This introduction will cover the overall payroll process and features of the PPS system, such as: Employee Database (EDB), Payroll Audit Record (IPAY), History Database (HDB), Payroll Time Reporting (PTR), Pay Compute, and paydays. Training is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon July 18 in KL 201. Register online. 
  • Check training.ucmerced.edu over the summer for updates or added courses. 
 

Campus Meetings and One-on-One Assistance

  • The AO/MSO Meetings are open to anyone who wants to hear more about important campus updates, developments and requirements. Over the summer this group meets from 10:45 a.m. to noon May 20, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 19 in KL 232. 
  • The first Wednesday of every month, Procurement Services offers purchasing procedure updates and advice, and provides the opportunity to give feedback to the University’s Buyers and Commodity Managers. The next meetings are on June 4, July 2 and Aug. 6. Meeting time and location on all dates is 1:30–3 p.m. in KL 232 or via ReadyTalk. Email procurement@ucmerced.edu for more information or to submit agenda requests.
  • Tax Tuesdays: UC Merced Tax Services is available on campus by appointment between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in KL 201. If you need assistance with campus tax related questions or issues, make arrangements via tax@ucmerced.edu or by contacting Tax Services manager Kiran Samran at ext. 4075. For helpful information, visit tax.ucmerced.edu.
  • Payroll Fridays: Until 5 p.m. every Friday, a Payroll expert is stationed in KL 201 to meet and discuss your concerns without making a formal appointment. If you have Payroll-related questions at any time during the week, contact Payroll at ext. 2729 or payroll@ucmerced.edu.

UCPath Updates and Information Available Any Time

Stay informed on progression of the UCPath project by visiting the Campus’s UCPath website, which hosts a collection of background materials and updates surrounding the new system for payroll, academic personnel, timekeeping, and human resources information. For further inquiries related to UC Merced’s UCPath implementation, the UC Merced project team is reachable via ucpath@ucmerced.edu. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response.