A biweekly publication for faculty and staff

New Connexxus Portal, Travel Registration and more BFS News

August 28, 2013

Connexxus Travel Portal Sports a New Look

A new Connexxus portal launched Aug. 9 with changes that highlight an improved look and feel, more precise content treatment, greater intuitiveness and complete exposure and access to all components of the ongoing Connexxus system upgrade.

The goal of the upgrade is to allow users to effortlessly manage all their travel needs while leveraging UC-negotiated deals and advantages not found when booking travel elsewhere. Benefits of the upgraded system include:

  • The ability to change a traveler's name on an unused, nonrefundable ticket
  • Combining all travel purchases by booking a car and/or hotel with campus-paid airfare
  • An added advantage of automatic sign up for travel insurance via UC Risk Services.

Additional information about Connexxus is posted at travel.ucmerced.edu. Questions may be directed to the campus's travel department by calling ext. 8747 or emailing travel@ucmerced.edu.

Traveling Out of State or Country on UC Business? Don't Forget Travel Registration

Several recent U.S. Department of State issued travel warnings prompted the University of California's travel insurer to activate evacuation plans for UC travelers in affected countries.

These recent warnings drive home the importance for faculty, staff and students who will be traveling out of the state or country on UC business to always register planned travel information. Travel registration is automatically done when arrangements are made through Connexxus. Travelers can also register via the UCTrips website.

Travel registration ensures that users are privvy to the most detailed, up-to-date and relevant travel intelligence available. Registration also makes certain that emergency response services can be deployed to you any where in the world at a moment’s notice.

UCPath Updates and Info Available Anytime

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

In Case You Missed It

Over the summer, campus leadership announced a number of organizational changes to several administrative divisions and units, including Business and Financial Services. Read about the recent changes in this news story

Upcoming Meetings, Training and One-on-one Assistance

  • Either in-person or via conference call, you are invited to attend the next Campus Purchasing meeting either in-person or via conference call from 1:30-3 p.m. Sept. 4 in KL 232. Purchasing meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month and provide attendees with purchasing procedure updates, advice and opportunities to offer feedback to the university’s buyers.
  • Anyone who handles cash as part of their job with the university is required to take cash handling training to learn about corresponding policies and procedures. The courses are offered only  periodically, so sign up now for one of the sessions available Sept. 9, 10, 11 or 12.
  • Learn about important developments at the monthly AO/MSO meeting. The meeting, held on the third Tuesday of the month, is open to anyone who wants to hear more about campus updates and requirements. The next meeting will be held from 10:45 a.m. to noon Sept. 17  in KL 232.
  • For other upcoming opportunities to gain guidance on systems and protocols used on the job, go to training.ucmerced.edu.

Tax Tuesdays

The campus's tax services unit is available on campus from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in KL 201. If you need assistance with campus tax-related questions and matters, you can make arrangements by emailing tax@ucmerced.edu or by contacting Kiran Samran at ext. 4075. More helpful helpful information is posted at tax.ucmerced.edu

Payroll Fridays

A payroll expert is stationed in KL 201 until 5 p.m. each Friday to meet and discuss employees' concerns without having to make a formal appointment. In addition to the walk-in hours, those with payroll-related questions can contact the department anytime by calling ext. 2729 or sending an email to payroll@ucmerced.edu.