A&F Newsletter

The Administration and Finance newsletter is issued quarterly and serves as a communication channel to keep the campus community informed on the latest developments and shared successes.

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Administration and Finance Quarterly Newsletter - Summer 2023
Photo of Myeshia Armstrong, Vice President, Administration and Finance and CFO

I am delighted to introduce the first edition of the Administration and Finance Newsletter. The newsletter is a new communication channel designed to cater specifically to our university's faculty and staff.

It will serve as a comprehensive resource to highlight crucial updates and announcements, and as a platform to spotlight collaborative efforts and success stories across different departments.

We value your feedback and suggestions and encourage you to actively engage with us. As this newsletter evolves, we will incorporate your input to make it an even more valuable resource for everyone. We look forward to embarking on this exciting journey with you!

  NEWS

Interim Lieutenant Michael Elder Receives
Meritorious Service Medal

Interim Lieutenant Michael Elder of the University Police Department (UPD) was honored with the prestigious CSU Meritorious Service Medal at a meeting on June 8, 2023. Lieutenant Elder was recognized for his quick response and excellent communication skills which helped to defuse a potentially hazardous situation last year.

The commendable actions of Lieutenant Elder underscore the exceptional work of our UPD team, who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our campus community. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Lieutenant Michael Elder for his exceptional service and congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.

Photo of Lieutenant Michael Elder holding a certificate and a medal
Photo of Chief of Staff Derek Aitken, Interim Chief Omar Miakhail, Interim Lieutenant Michael Elder (who is holding a certificate), and Vice President of Administration and Finance and CFO Myeshia Armstrong
 

ITS Welcomes Online Campus

In a move to better position the department for strategic and technical opportunities, ITS welcomes the Online Campus unit to the department. Headed by Roger Wen, the team is already on a remarkable pace to complete the campus transition from the old Blackboard learning management system to Canvas by the end of the calendar year.

As the Canvas migration completes, ITS is now tasked to utilize Online Campus and its team of system administrators and instructional design specialists to maximize the platform for further innovation and integration. This includes leveraging Learning Tools Interoperability (LTIs) functionality to share course frameworks and architecture between CSUs, other institutions, and even vendors such as Cisco, LinkedIn, and Microsoft. Other possible integrations include communications tools such as Slack and native functionality within the MyCompass portal.

These enhancements and additions are key to leveraging the new LMS as a strategic tool to keep current students engaged and to advertise to new and prospective students.

Meet the Online Campus Team

From left to right, top to bottom: Roger Wen, Serena Kohgadai, Kara Finch, Shara Cheng, Will Jimenez, Cheryl Saelee, Manpreet Chatha, Dan LeGate, Julie De Lima
An image of the Online Campus Team. From left to right, top to bottom: Roger Wen, Serena Kohgadai, Kara Finch, Shara Cheng, Will Jimenez, Cheryl Saelee, Manpreet Chatha, Dan LeGate, Julie De Lima
 

Accounting Earns 2nd Place in the CSU

We are thrilled to announce that our accounting team has secured an impressive 2nd place among the accounting teams in the CSU for their excellence in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis financial reporting for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. This is the third year in a row that our accounting team has placed in the top five.

This remarkable achievement highlights the team's commitment to upholding the highest standards of financial reporting and adherence to GAAP. Through their meticulous work and dedication, our accounting team has showcased their proficiency in managing and presenting financial information accurately and transparently. Please join us in congratulating our accounting team for their achievement, with special thanks to Josephine Capiral and Maureen Pasag for their leadership.

An image of the Accounting team sitting in front of the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ letters
An image of the certificate awarded to the accounting team for winning 2nd place in GAAP Basis Reporting

  SUSTAINABILITY

The Core Building is LEED Gold Certified

Congratulations to the Facilities Development and Operations team (FDO) for achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for the CORE building.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED certification is a "nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings."
Projects are reviewed and awarded points based on the usage and levels of carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality.

Join us in congratulating FDO for receiving the second-highest rating possible, an achievement that demonstrates our continued commitment to environmental sustainability.

Photo of the entrance to the CORE building and the LEED GOLD certified logo above the picture of the building

  STUDENT SUCCESS

Compass Program - Future Pioneers Portal

In its sixth year, the Compass Program in ITS continues to mature with the recent addition of the Future Pioneers portal for prospective and incoming students on the Salesforce platform. As presented in this year’s CSU Annual Tech Connect Conference, the portal went live in March and has already reached out to 6,700 potential students to log into the platform.

As recruitment and outreach to matriculating students evolve on campus, so does the program adapt and change. The next steps for Compass include the seamless transition of these students to the regular MyCompass portal. Other components of the program include enhancements to international student recruiting and introducing student life integrations; marketing and tracking students both prospective and current in certain degree programs, as well as expanding the approach to student engagement in the College of Business.

An image of the landing page of the Future Pioneers Portal which shows a prospective student's application status, financial aid status, videos, and a virtual tour of the campus.

  CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

HR Assessment Update

Last December, we engaged an HR consulting firm, Segal, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all HR strategies, processes, practices, and services. Segal conducted 51 in-depth interviews with faculty, staff, administrators, and HR team members. In April, we shared the assessment findings and recommendations. The report’s detailed recommendations will serve as a roadmap to transform our HR into a best-practice organization.

We are pleased to share that several initiatives are already underway:

  • Launched monthly virtual office hours to be more accessible to the campus community

  • Redesigned HR website to make it easier to find key information

  • Updated mission and vision statements to build a foundation for strategic planning

  • Redesigning the Staff and Faculty appointment process (eSAF/eFAF)

  • Implementing a user-friendly platform to track and manage incoming requests

  • Forming an implementation team to prioritize recommendations and reimagine the service delivery model

As you can see, exciting changes are happening within HR and I want to thank the campus community for your engagement with this process. We will continue to provide updates as the work progresses.

  ANNOUNCEMENTS

A graphic icon of a computer monitor with a website open
A graphic icon of a piece of paper with a medical and shield icon
A graphic icon of a booth


The HR website has been redesigned! Check out the new landing page to learn about benefits, retirement, and more!


Open Enrollment will take place September 18 - October 13, 2023. This is your opportunity to review your current benefits plan and make changes if needed.


The Open Enrollment Fair will be held virtually on September 28, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can meet and ask questions of benefit providers. A Zoom link will be sent in advance.

  MEET OUR DEPARTMENTS

A photo of the Facilities Development and Operations team
A photo of the Financial Services team
A photo of the Human Resources and Payroll Services team
A photo of the Information Technology Solutions team
A photo of the Risk Management team
A photo of the University Police Department team
A photo of the Vice President, Administration and Finance team