February 2009 previous issue back issues index by topic e-News home Contact us at: admin_systems_enews@harvard.edu or via the UIS Helpdesk at 6-2001 The Administrative Systems e-News is a monthly electronic newsletter for users of Harvard's financial, human resources, and reporting systems. Click the links below to learn more about ... Update to Desktop Standards-Internet Explorer Version 7 Now Approved for Use Beware the Hidden Costs of Water Purification Units! Save 20% off the Best Available Room Rate at Starwood Hotels Worldwide Human Resources Reporting News: Enhancements and Changes to HRMS CREW and Database Objects Upcoming Releases About the e-News

Update to Desktop Standards-Internet Explorer Version 7 now Recommended Browser     top

Current Desktop Standards for University-wide administrative applications have been updated and contain the minimum and recommended hardware, software, and operating systems for use with University Financial Applications, the Harvard University Budgeting System (HUBS), PeopleSoft Human Resource Applications, CREW, GMAS, CAADS and Student Financial Systems.

Interenet Explorer is the supported browser for financial applications for the administrative applications mentioned above. The recommended version of Internet Explorer is now version 7.0.

FAD Financial Systems (FSS) has prepared a document containing details for recommended browser settings in all of the above applications: Internet Explorer 7.0 Setting Guidelines for University-wide Applications. It is strongly advised that all users and IT departments review this document prior to installing and using Internet Explorer 7 with the applications named in the document.

Questions concerning the updated desktop standards and the approved use of Internet Explorer 7 should contact the UIS Help Desk at 617-496-2001, or send an email to uis_helpdesk@harvard.edu.

Beware the Hidden Costs of Water Purification Units!    top

Water drinkers across campus are looking for ways to save money and the environment by switching to water filtration systems from bottled water. Strategic Procurement supports this objective and has worked with preferred vendor Poland Springs to make affordable water filtration available University wide (see http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k46541&pageid=icb.page212702). With other vendors on campus using environmental sustainability as a selling point, be careful of hidden costs and other attempts to sell services, technology, and features you do not need. For example:

• Be careful of contract commitments - Our current agreement with Poland Spring will allow you to discontinue the service at any time. Other vendors may lock you into a multi-year agreement—sometimes up to 5 years.
• Look out for labor charges - Some services will have you pay them expensive plumbing costs to install a system or trouble shoot the cooler.
• Waste - Do you really need a unit with reverse osmosis? It takes extra energy and about 4 gallons of water are wasted for every gallon of drinkable water these units produce. If sustainability is your goal this will not have the outcome you were looking for.
• Beware the “puppy dog sale” – Water filtration vendors will let or even require that you give the water cooler a "trial run" before they will give you pricing. This common sales technique is used to get the staff interested in the unit and its bells and whistles so that it makes it easier for you to bend to their pricing. When the trial is over and you call to have the unit removed, you'll see a myriad of excuses from the vendor on why there will be a delay. Do not let the vendor manipulate you. Make sure you have pricing in hand before any trial.
• Billing - Many of these companies use a 3rd party billing service. These companies don't have a relationship with Harvard and can hound you for payments and make inappropriate charges including tax. When problems occur, our office is not able to assist based on these relationships.

A basic water filtration unit from Poland Spring will reduce costs for most departments, further sustainability efforts, and protect you from an expensive multi-year lease. As a reminder, before considering any water filtration device, be sure to check with your facilities folks and/or building managers.

For more on Water Purification and other cost savings ideas, visit the Procurement Web Site.

The Office of the Controller’s Procurement team has released the Procurement Web Site targeted for those who purchase goods and services as well as those who manage department budgets. In addition to more information about water filtration, you’ll find vendor management ideas, cost savings tips, and regular updates on issues like water filtration.

Save 20% off the Best Available Room Rate at Starwood Hotels Worldwide      top

Harvard travelers can now reserve rooms at a 20% discount off the applicable hotel’s best available fully refundable room rate with last room availability. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel companies in the world with 9 brands (Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Le Meridian, W Hotels, Westin, aloft and element) and more than 860 hotels in over 95 countries.

To be eligible you must be enrolled in Starwood’s loyalty program, the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Program. Enrollment is free, and easy.

Click here to sign up: https://www.spgpromos.com/gpsp/spgenroll/?landing_id=U2HV.

Please remember to add your SPG membership number to your travel profile.

Human Resources Reporting News: Enhancements and Changes to HRMS CREW and Database Objects    top

CREW HR 5.2 Release Notes

[Production release date: 2/20/2009]

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the UIS Helpdesk at 496-2001 or uis_helpdesk@harvard.edu.

Thank you,
The Harvard Human Resources, Information Systems and Analytics Reporting team.

Upcoming Releases     top

FY2009 FINDINI Release Schedule

A significant upgrade to the financial applications, known as a "FINDINI release", is done every two to four months. Each upgrade introduces needed bug fixes, enhancements, and technical upgrades into Harvard's financial systems. Generally, releases are performed on weekends to assure maximum availability during the business week. Most outages occur from 6 pm Friday evening-6 am Monday morning.

Here is the FINDINI Release Schedule for the remainder of FY2009:

The Oracle Financial Applications are:

HR Release 23

The next PeopleSoft and CREW HR Reporting releases are tentatively scheduled for the weekend of May 2-3, 2009. Check future editions of e-News for release details.

CREW Reports

In addition to the CREW Financial Reporting and CREW HR Reporting releases which correspond with the FINDINI and HR releases listed above, changes and enhancements to new and existing CREW reports are also released monthly. This schedule is as follows:

About the e-News   top

The Center for Workplace Development publishes this electronic newsletter for users of Harvard University's financial, HR, and reporting systems, policies, and procedures. The e-News is generally published on or around the 15th of each month.

It contains:

• updates on projects underway to build or improve University administrative systems;
• information about new University policies, procedures, and forms;
• reminders about upcoming deadlines and cut-over dates;
• tips and tricks for working more easily or productively.

We welcome questions and suggestions for improvement from readers. If your questions are of general interest, we will answer them in future issues.

Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for improvement by email to us at: admin_systems_enews@harvard.edu.

For information about subscribing or unsubscribing to the eNews notifications, visit our who gets the eNews page.