ANR Update

Update on Aggie Enterprise Oracle Financial System rollout

Dear Colleagues,

Within our new financial system, the new Chart of Accounts accounting structure and Oracle software are vastly different from our old structure and systems. During the transition and adjustment period, the Aggie Enterprise team is actively managing resolutions to issues. I have heard from many business users and ANR staff members that these issues can be stressful and frustrating, and I am grateful for everyone's patience and the collaborative efforts of our teams as they continue working through the transition. I'd like to thank each of you for your efforts to learn the new accounting structure and adapt to business processes within the new financial system, on top of your regular duties. There are considerable changes to our business processes to comply with UCOP requirements, and we will overcome these challenges with time.  

Ongoing support

The UC ANR Aggie Enterprise support team members have been working diligently with business managers and fiscal officers to support, train and resolve issues for all our units during the transition. The team hosts office hours 1 to 3p.m. Monday through Thursday (through March 28), and holds weekly team meetings to discuss challenges, share knowledge and collaborate on solutions. 

Immediate next steps

The UC ANR Aggie Enterprise team is providing ongoing support via tailored training sessions to target audiences to support them through this adjustment phase. UC ANR Aggie Enterprise team leads are working together with business partners and managers to address and resolve these transitional issues. If you encounter challenges with transaction processes, reports or any other aspect of the new system, please work with your business manager and/or fiscal officer as they partner with UC ANR Aggie Enterprise leads and co-leads to build innovative solutions to address concerns. If you need to escalate an urgent matter, please contact our UC ANR Aggie Enterprise Project Manager Raghuvir Goradia at rjgoradia@ucanr.edu. 

Expectations over the next few months

Since this is a significant project with extensive impact, working through issues and reengineering business processes will take several months. The functional team will work throughout the coming months to identify and correct issues as they arise, and to ensure that all issues are addressed and processes set by the end of this fiscal year, June 30, 2024. 

Thank you again for your perseverance, patience and hard work. We are committed to providing you with assistance as we work to optimize our financial structure and systems.

Sincerely,

Tu Tran 
Associate Vice President, Business Operations

 

UCPath down March 8-11 for system upgrades

Starting Friday, March 8, at noon through Monday, March 11, at 6 a.m., the UCPath system will be unavailable to all UC employees and applicants as UCPath implements its system upgrades as part of a March release.

Please note that after the system is brought back online, you may need to clear your browser cache. For instructions on clearing cache, click here.

Impact: During the scheduled downtime, employees, managers, transactors and UCPath personnel will not have access to the UCPath system. 

UCPath outage begins at noon on Friday, March 8, and the planned resume time is 6 a.m. on Monday, March 11.

Wellness Reimbursement Program application period opens March 1 at 9 am

To all UC ANR employees:

Beginning March 1, 2024, the UC ANR Wellness Reimbursement Program will begin accepting applications for reimbursements of personal wellness expenses up to $75.

Administered by UC ANR Staff Assembly Council and its Wellness Committee, and also supported by Academic Assembly Council, the program reimburses UC ANR staff and academics for a variety of wellness items, including but not limited to: exercise equipment, clothing, classes, memberships, personal training, gardening supplies, and books related to health and well-being.

Note that food, medicine, supplements and pet items are not eligible for reimbursement.

To apply, fill out the Wellness Reimbursement Program application, attach appropriate receipts and email the documents to Andrea Rayray at arayray@ucanr.edu.

The application period opens at 9 a.m. on March 1, 2024. Applications submitted prior to the official starting time will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant.

Receipts dated between January 1, 2024 - March 30, 2024, will be accepted.

Applications are due no later than April 1, 2024, and must be submitted for reimbursement in the Aggie Travel system by May 1, 2024.

Applications will be reviewed on first-come, first-served basis and employees are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

The first reimbursements will be announced in mid-March.

For more information, visit: https://staffassembly.ucanr.edu/Subcommittees/Wellness_Committee/?story=2582.

New presidential practices and policy on anti-discrimination

UC ANR is deeply committed to supporting our community and building a positive work environment that is welcome, accessible and inclusive to all. We are pleased to announce, that in collaboration with the entire UC system, there has been a strategic evaluation of initiatives and activities in relation to the prevention, detection and response to harassment and discrimination.  As a result, President Drake shared in his letter to the UC community that a Presidential Workgroup has reviewed and recommended a number of systemwide initiatives including a new policy and procedural framework that will offer enhanced protection, support and resources to the entire UC community.

• The Systemwide Office of Civil Rights:  This new umbrella office has just been launched to provide systemwide leadership, uniform guidance and support on issues related to protecting civil rights at UC locations. It will encompass the existing Systemwide Title IX Office, a new Systemwide Anti-Discrimination Office and a new Systemwide Disability Rights Office.
• Systemwide Policy: Effective February 20, 2024, President Drake, has implemented a new consolidated policy on Anti-Discrimination.  
• Reporting an Incident: Should any member of our community wish to discuss or share an incident, please continue to utilize the Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program (HDAPP). HDAPPserves as the central office for receiving, maintaining and evaluating harassment, discrimination and Title IX complaints. They provide support in prevention of harassment and discrimination from occurring and by educating the communities about the issues and assisting individuals and units to resolve conflicts and complaints related to harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence and hate and bias.

For more information, please contact humanresources@ucanr.edu. For concerns of harassment or discriminatory activities, please reach out to hdapp@ucdavis.edu.

Bethanie Brown
Interim Executive Director of Human Resources

Nominate UCCE academics for service awards by April 1

Nominations are being accepted for the 2024 ANR Distinguished Service Awards, which are sponsored by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Academic Assembly Council.

Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to recognize outstanding achievement by yourself or your colleagues. The biennial ANR Distinguished Service Awards recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. Awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership.

The purpose of these awards is to recognize and reward outstanding accomplishments in six areas:

• Outstanding Research
• Outstanding Extension
• Outstanding New Academic
• Outstanding Team
• Outstanding Leader
• Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Winners of individual awards will receive a certificate and $2,000. Winners of the team award will share $5,000. Complete award criteria and instructions for submitting nominations are at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.

To nominate someone, fill out the online survey at 2024 ANR Distinguished Service Awards and submit all materials in the nomination packet by 5 p.m., April 1, 2024 to Daniel Obrist (dobrist@ucanr.edu).

For more information, feel free to contact the Academic Assembly Council Program Committee:

• Daniela Bruno, dfbruno@ucanr.edu
• Safeeq Khan, msafeeq@ucmerced.edu
• Keith Nathaniel, kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu
• Susie Kocher, sdkocher@ucanr.edu
• Nicole Marshall-Wheeler, nmarshall@ucanr.edu
• Giuliano Carneiro Galdi, gcgaldi@ucanr.edu

For more information about Academic Assembly Council, visit its website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.

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