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BROWN BAG MEETINGS

Monthly brown bag meetings about the shared service center project are set to resume next week. During these meetings, which began last year, the Shared Services Implementation Team provides updates and answers questions.

All campus employees are welcome to attend, with no preregistration necessary (seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis).

Meetings take place from noon to 1 p.m. Here is the schedule through March:

• Monday, Jan. 23 — Hamilton Room,
• Monday, Feb. 27 — King Lounge,
• Monday, March 26 — Hamilton Room, Heitman Staff Development Center

The official “go-live” date for the shared service center remains Feb. 14, but the center is already up and running on a pilot basis for two of the participating units: Administrative and Resource Management, and Information and Educational Technology.

“The leadership in ARM and IET agreed to participate in the initial pilot program to give the SSC an opportunity to work through its processes and procedures with real transactions,” according to a Jan. 13 memo from the SSC Program Management Office.

Under the pilot program, which began Jan. 9, the SSC is handling all ARM and IET transactions having to do with accounts payable, purchasing, payroll and human resources.

Andrew Dunn, director of the shared services center, said: "We will continue to work closely with administrative divisions to ensure the smoothest service transition possible.

"The SSC management team remains fully committed to open dialog and communication with our customers throughout the pilot program and beyond.”

The staff of 72 is working out of leased space at 202 Cousteau Place in Davis.

The next “migration” is set for Jan. 31, when the shared service center will start handling the accounts payable, purchasing, payroll and human resources functions for the Office of Research (vice chancellor’s office), and units from the former University Relations and External Relations (government relations, community engagement, communications, ceremonies and special events, development and corporate relations)

Most administrative units will be part of the shared service center as of Feb. 14. A few units, such as the ASUCD, will transition at a later date to accommodate specific business complexities.

“The pilot program is giving the new SSC employees an opportunity to work closely with their customers to solve issues prior to going ‘live’ with all administrative divisions,” the Jan. 13 memo stated.

“As with any pilot program, there will be ‘hiccups’ in systems and processes, and the SSC team is incredibly grateful for the patience and understanding of our pilot program colleagues.”