UCM Plan is UC Merced’s integrated financial budgeting module, designed to streamline campus-wide budget processing, forecasting, and financial reporting. It supports strategic decision-making by offering enhanced data transparency, improved reporting capabilities, and greater efficiency.
UCM Plan enables accurate and accessible financial insights to support informed resource management across the university.
- Software Requirement
- UCM Plan Access
- Training - All Users
- Training - Access Type Specific
- UCM Plan Shared Resources Folder
- Teams Channel: UCM Plan/EPM Resource Hub
- Additional Resources & Tools
- Feedback
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT
The following is required in order to maximize the use of UCM Plan:
- A laptop with SmartView add-on installed. For SmartView installation:
- Submit a ServiceNow ticket request for consultation and support (Window & Mac Users) OR
- Self-Service Installation Instructions (Windows Only)
UCM PLAN ACCESS
SUBMITTING ACCESS REQUEST
Required training must be completed before submitting Access Request (see Training sections below).
- Submit a UCM Plan Access request ticket specifying the type of access needed. Users must also upload supporting documentation as required for the type of access requested.
- UCM Plan SmartView Training (required for all users)
- Budget Request Fundamentals Training (required for users requesting Budget Request write access)
- Workforce Fundamentals Training (users requesting Workforce access)
- Confirmation of access consultation with FP&A/BFS (required for users requesting Workforce access)
ACCESS OPTIONS
- Financial Reporting Cube (FINR) - access to retrieve financial data for users who have the following responsibilities:
- Create Financial Reports (budget/actuals/forecast)
- Refreshihng Financial Reports
- Budget Requests (transfer of funds)
- All users with FINR access can view budget requests.
- Users responsible for creating/submitting budget requests, must select this option and specify the the Financial HR unit(s) they are requesting write access to (highest parent level)
- Workforce Cube (Requires prior FP&A and BFS consultation) - Access to Workforce Cube is limited. Users must consult with FP&A and BFS before submitting the access request to confirm eligibility for this type of access.
- PPM Project Workforce - This access is typically requested for Research Administrators with financial management responsibilities for PPM projects only. If approved, users will have access to Workforce data for PPM projects only. Access to FINR will also be limited to PPM projects only.
TRAINING - ALL USERS
Pre-Training Sessions
Review the following videos prior to the completing training to familiarize yourself with UCM Plan and get the most out of training:
- SmartView Vocabulary and Acronyms (Time: 12:07)
- Dimensions and Member Selection (Time: 22:33)
- Sample Ad-hoc Retrieval (Time: 15:11)
UCM Plan SmartView Training (3 hrs)
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.
- Course Access: Access this training via the UC Learning Center (SSO required).
- Audience: All UCM Plan Users
- Prerequisite(s): SmartView Vocabulary and Acronyms, Dimensions and Member Selection, Sample Ad-hoc Retrieval
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.
- Training Materials: Click HERE for training slide deck.
- Course Access: Access this training session via the UC Learning Center (SSO required)
- Audience: All UCM Plan Users
- Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of UCM Plan SmartView Training.
TRAINING - EXPANDED ACCESS
BUDGET REQUEST WRITE ACCESS: 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.
- Course Access: Access this training session via the UC Learning Center (SSO required)
- Audience: UCM Plan users with specific system access role
- Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of UCM Plan SmartView Training.
WORKFORCE ACCESS: 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.
- Course Access: Access this training session via the UC Learning Center (SSO required)
- Audience: UCM Plan users with specific system access role
- Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of UCM Plan SmartView Training.
BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES USERS: 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.
- Course Access: Access this training via the UC Learning Center (SSO required)
- Audience: Business & Financial Services team members within the Division of Finance and Administration
- Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of UCM Plan SmartView Training.
UCM PLAN SHARED RESOURCES FOLDER
Access shared resources any time via our new Shared Resources Folder: UCM Plan Shared Box Folder (SSO Required)
Inside, you’ll find:
-
Frequently Asked Questions curated by the technical team
- User-submitted tips, tools, ad-hoc reports, and helpful documentation
Want to contribute? Upload your resources, tips, or best practices here: Submit a Resource (SSO Required)
This is a community-driven effort to support each other in using UCM Plan effectively.
(Note: Uploading a resource does not imply responsibility to provide follow-up support.)
TEAMS CHANNEL: UCM PLAN/EPM RESOURCE HUB
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & TOOLS
Coming soon...
HELPFUL LINKS
UCMPLAN LOGIN UCM PLAN SHARED RESOURCES FAQs UCM PLAN ACCESS REQUEST
FEEDBACK
We’re committed to continuous improvement. You can provide feedback via:
- Email us at dofa@ucmerced.edu
- Post anonymous feedback at Ask DFA