Financial Information System update, by Ron Semarge
Formal training has begun for the university at large. While general in nature, these presentations are designed to provide an introduction to the new account number format and an overview of the modules and reports that make up the FIS.

The Information Technology Assistance Center (iTAC) is providing scheduling support. Visit their site at http://main.itac.ksu.edu/training/calendar.htm to view the schedule and register online for one of our sessions. Class size is limited so register early to get the date and time you want.

Hands-on-training is scheduled to begin in the spring and will build upon these initial information sessions. We are working towards sessions focused on specific types of user – those that use eForms, those that reconcile using reports, etc. Attendance at one or more of these sessions will be required to gain access to FIS. More information concerning the hands-on sessions will be forthcoming in future newsletters and emails.

Systems development has continued as well. Accounting processes continue to be codified, reviewed, evaluated and modified, to ensure that all steps are properly identified, and that the processes carried forward into FIS are the best to perform the tasks at hand. We have been fortunate to have had several Oracle consultants visit with us during the past few months. Jessica Black, Oracle consultant, will be on-site full time until the implementation of FIS is complete.

Testing and evaluation of detailed transaction flows continues as well. Using data from July through September 2004, the team is evaluating system inputs / outputs to ensure that each action occurs in the necessary manner and all outputs are correct.

Work is beginning on our own web site. We are setting up a table that shows old and new organization alpha designations, and we will incorporate additional data as it becomes available. Visit http://laser.ksu.edu for more information about the LASER project.