Empowering UF: December 1, 2022 Communication to Cabinet and Deans

Dear Cabinet members and Deans,

As we approach the end of the fall semester, we would like to share an update regarding our campus-wide readiness activities to modernize UF’s payroll, finance, human capital management and post-grant award systems. As a part of the readiness effort, we elicited more than 1,400 hours of engagement with over 300 campus participants from 70 different units, colleges, and affiliated and direct support organizations. This tremendous response has provided valuable insights regarding beneficial enhancements to the operating environment and our information systems desired capabilities.

The path to modernization has become more apparent. It is outlined as a multi-year, phased approach covering all UF academic and administrative units, affiliated and direct support organizations and in time, UF Health. By planning now for this future together, we will realize significant cost avoidance associated with a shared implementation of new cloud-based technology, advancing us closer to achieving our OneUF vision.

As next steps, we will keep you updated and present the readiness assessment results to the UF Board of Trustees. We will continue developing resource and staffing plans for anticipated implementation. We are also preparing new ways to engage the campus in this initiative, with software demos planned in early 2023.

We understand that there will be challenges as we learn and grow, making communication and engagement increasingly important. Thus, we’d like to thank you for your support and ask that you please share this information widely with the appropriate staff in your respective units and colleges. Please continue to visit the empowering.ufl.edu website for updates and contact us directly at empowering-uf@ufl.edu with input or questions.

Sincerely,
Chris Cowen, SVP and Chief Financial Officer
Charlie Lane, SVP and Chief Operating Officer
Elias Eldayrie, VP and Chief Information Officer