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UCM Plan Enhancement

Improving financial systems efficiencies and data delivery

The university has partnered with Solejar, a premier consultant on Enterprise Performance Management systems, to enhance the campus financial planning and budgeting module (UCM Plan).  This project has been a collaboration between several Division of Finance and Administration teams and OIT. ​​​

This project brings significant updates to improve data management, reporting capabilities, and system efficiency. Key enhancements include:

  • Drill-through Capabilities for Actuals: Enhanced transparency with the ability to drill into detailed actuals data.
  • Improved Functionality and Reduced Touchpoints: Streamlined processes for data retrieval and reporting.
  • Improved Canned Reports: Supplementing SmartView with improved reports, such as Budget vs. Actuals by organization, fund, or project.
  • Encumbrance Tracking: Reducing reliance on shadow systems by introducing encumbrance tracking capabilities.
  • Workforce Cube Implementation: Simplifying personnel cost management, with drill-through capabilities to view detailed DOPE report data.
  • Expanded System Structure: Allowing for future optimization and increased flexibility within the system.

Project Timeline 

September 2024 DFA staff only (In-person) trainings
October 2024 Campus-User SmartView (In-person) & Specialized (Remote) trainings
Mon Mar 3 | 9am - 12pm UCM Plan Enhancement Supplemental Training (Zoom, open to all users)
Tues Mar 4 | 9am - 12pm UCM Plan Enhancement Supplemental Training (Zoom, open to all users)
Wed Mar 5 | 1 - 3pm Budget Request Fundamentals Training (Zoom, invitation-only based on access level)
Thurs March 6 | 12 noon Budget Request Submission Deadline
Thurs Mar 6 | 1 - 3pm Workforce Fundamentals Training (Zoom, invitation-only based on access level)
Sun Mar 10 - present SYSTEM STATUS: Budget requests cannot be processed, but data remains available for reporting.
TBD - updates available week of 3/24 SYSTEM STATUS: System will be completely offline for go-live preparations.
TBD - updates available week of 3/24 SYSTEM STATUS: System will be available with all enhancements.

Project News

Hypercare Support

To support a smoother transition and enable scalable, self-sufficient user support, we are moving away from one-on-one assistance. Instead, the following resources have been designed to provide you with timely guidance and support:

On-Demand Training Resources (available 24/7)

We encourage you to revisit UC Learning Center recordings (SSO required) of training sessions at anytime to refresh your understanding of SmartView and various fundamentals.

[PAUSE] Hypercare Office Hours

Zoom Office Hours updates will be made available the week of 3/24.

[PAUSE] UCM Plan/EPM Resource Teams Channel

All provisioned UCM Plan users will be added to the UCM Plan/EPM Resource Teams Channel. It will serve as your central hub for:

  • Key updates and announcements
  • Peer collaboration
  • Ongoing support during hypercare and beyond
  • Note: All ServiceNow tickets remain the primary method for submitting requests. The Teams channel is intended for announcements, collaboration, and informal discussion

 

    Training

    Training Preparation Advisory and Resources

    The following are mandatory in order to maximize the user training experience:

    UCM Plan SmartView Training

    This 3-hour training is required for users to be provisioned access to the UCM Plan environment. The session walks through the enhanced SmartView Ad Hoc reporting capabilities and gives an overview of some of the forms designed to streamline business processes.

    Additional Trainings

    UCM Plan Enhancement Supplemental Training

    This supplemental training provides an in-depth exploration of the application's features and capabilities. Participants will gain advanced insights into data gathering, reporting, and analytics to enhance daily operations. The session will also cover key lessons learned from UAT, helping users navigate new dimensions of the solution more effectively.

    Budget Request Fundamentals Training

    The Budget Request Training will provide a comprehensive overview of the key steps involved in creating, reviewing, and navigating the budget request process. The session will also cover lessons learned from UAT to enhance user understanding and efficiency.

    Workforce Fundamentals Training

    The Workforce Fundamentals training will provide an in-depth look at labor data calculations, including the different types and their rationale. The session will feature examples to illustrate these calculations and demonstrate how to access and navigate the data across various forms. Additionally, key lessons learned from UAT will be covered to enhance user understanding.

    Business & Financial Services Training

    Specifically geared for Business & Financial Services team members within the Division of Finance and Administration, this session offers users a comprehensive understanding of the application's options, features, and capabilities. This session provides in-depth demonstrations on report building and structure, including SmartView functionalities in action, along with a review of key lessons learned from UAT to enhance user proficiency.

    SmartView Installation Information

    Windows & Mac Users

    Submit a ServiceNow ticket request for consultation and support

    Continued Feedback

    We’re committed to continuous improvement. Based on user feedback and ongoing review of the enhancement process, we’ll continue to review training and support materials. You can provide feedback via:

    Contact

    Please reach out to dofa@ucmerced.edu with any questions, and a member of the project team will be in touch.