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October 1, 1999
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Volume 7, Number 3 |
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GENERAL |
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U of S switch to ‘About-US’ staff info. system ready to go
Over the next three months the U of S will make the major shift from its old payroll computer system to the new About-US "human resource information system". Project manager Bob Elliott says all active university employees as of Oct. 31 will be converted into the new system by early November, complete with new employee identification numbers and, where applicable, new position numbers. "At that time we will be ‘live’ with the human resources and benefits modules of About-US. During November and December, we will be entering data into both systems for terminations and for changes to appointments that extend beyond Dec. 31. This timing gives us an opportunity to ease into the new system at a time when activity in the Human Resources Division Benefits Office and Payroll is more manageable. And, he says, "We will convert sick leave and vacation balances and part-time pension and benefit hours and enter seniority dates for casual employees into About-US as at Dec. 31, 1999. "These two months are also the times when we will be conducting parallel testing on the About-US system," he adds. Elliott says paycheques will start being issued by About-US in January 2000. Planning for the new About-US information system has been under way since 1997. The project involved acquiring hardware, the PeopleSoft Human Resources Management System software, building an effective project team, and getting some outside expertise to help implement the new system. Elliott says there are four main reasons the university is switching to About-US:
"About-US will greatly improve the way human resource and payroll information is stored, processed, and reported," Elliott says. He says About-US will support business functions including personnel administration, salary administration, base benefits, employment equity, position management, and payroll. "The Human Resources module also contains many other standard processes including a potential to manage employee learning and employee development. These are features that will be explored after the Campus Rollout," Elliott says. "The PeopleSoft product is based on relational database technology which allows much more flexibility in collecting and sharing information," he adds. The new system means a new series of Personal Information Forms (PIF) and Job Information Forms (JIF), that replace the existing Payroll Authorization Form, will be introduced to be used starting in November. This change will affect all areas of the university community. Training on the new forms and procedures will be offered during the week of Oct. 18-22. New Hourly Time Reports and Sick and Vacation Reports will also be introduced in January. Training or instructions for these two forms and procedures will be provided in December. "Some people may find a change in the fact that the information needed to do their jobs is much more readily available and still others will need to learn to use parts of About-US and may have the system installed on their desktop computers," Elliott says. However, it is unlikely that campus units will have to upgrade their computers to run About-US, whether they have a PC or a Macintosh – because they will be able to run About-US through a special Citrix Application Server. Only the display portion of the application runs on their workstation. He says the "campus rollout" process will be undertaken in the new year, to make features of the news system, including extending online inquiry access to About-US and providing reporting capabilities, to colleges and departments. "Once we get the system stabilized, towards the end of February, we will turn our focus to providing the features and functionality that are important to the colleges and departments as soon as possible," Elliott says. The schedule for rollout will be finalized and made available in November or December. More information on About-US can be obtained at the project’s website:
For further information, visit the web site or contact communications@usask.ca
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Next issue of On Campus News: Friday, October 15
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