August 18, 2008
Dear colleagues,
Since the implementation of the new Enterprise Financial System (EFS) on July 1, several of us have encountered major problems in paying subjects. For at least two labs, the problems have been so severe as to threaten suspension of data collection.
The bottom line is that EFS has bugs in processing some types of documents, including cash advances and employee reimbursement forms. Our staff people have tried hard to find work-arounds, without much guidance from above. Thank you for your patience in understanding the difficult position of our staff people.
We have been pressing CLA administration for help in resolving the problem of subject payments. The College recognizes our dilemma and is endeavoring to help us find a practical method for subject payments.
Please see the message below from Cathy Burke, head of the EFS service team responsible for Psychology. She describes a recommended method for paying subjects. I am crossing my fingers that this procedure will work, and get us over the current hurdle.
Guillermo continues to work closely with our accounting people, the service team, and CLA administration to resolve these problems. Don’t hesitate to ask him questions.
And, of course, I need to know if the system continues to malfunction.
Please read Cathy’s message below
--Gordon
Message from Cathy Burke:
Dear Faculty-
We understand that subject payments is a vital part of your research. We also know that the EFS system has caused many problems in getting these processed. In an ideal world, cash advances are the preferred method of paying subjects for a few reasons. One, the subject receives their payment right when they come in for the study, and two, it is much less paperwork for everyone.
However, EFS is still having issues in processing cash advances and employee reimbursements. Until these bugs are worked out and fixed, we are recommending payment by check to the subject as the way to pay them for their time. The check-payment process has been fixed in EFS, and it goes very smoothly and quickly once the paperwork reaches the service team. To have a subject paid by check:
1) Find the Research Subject Payment Form and the Check Request Form online at:
http://online.psych.umn.edu/forms/index.html
2) Fill out the two forms online for clarity; in addition the check-request form needs to be done online so that the Excel spreadsheet will automatically populate certain fields;
3) Print the completed forms.
Note: It will not work to print a blank check-request form and fill it in by hand.
4) The PI or other authorized person should ok the payment with their signature.
5) Give the Research Subject Payment form and the Check Request Form to Kamran or Barbara. They will send it on to the service team for processing.
Thank you for your patience as we work through this system.
Cathy Burke
CLA Financial Service Team East Bank 1
215 Shevlin Hall
164 Pillsbury Dr SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-8021
612-625-4115 (fax)