Update on UCPath Center

DEANS, DIRECTORS, DEPARTMENT CHAIRS & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Dear Colleagues:

We are writing to let you know that, based on thorough review, cost analysis, site visits, and careful consideration, the Office of the President has selected UC Riverside as the host location for the new university-wide UCPath Center. Upon full implementation, the UCPath Center will process routine transactions related to payroll, workforce administration, benefits administration, and leave management for the University’s ten campuses and five health system locations.

The UCPath Center is expected to be operational by July 2013, initially serving the “Wave 1” locations: UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, UC Merced, and Office of the President. All other locations will make the transition by 2014.

UC Riverside’s central location in Southern California was considered the best opportunity to attract UC staff from nearby campuses. Among the key criteria for an ideal site is the proximity and ability to attract UC talent, provide job opportunities for UC employees, and ensure the UCPath Center is staffed with employees who have a solid understanding of UC policies and procedures. Additionally, Riverside’s real estate costs are not as prohibitive as they are in some of UC’s more urban locations.

As you know, the UCPath Center is a key element of the overall UCPath Initiative and planning is currently underway to deploy a single HR and payroll system that serves all UC locations. The decision to create a single systemwide shared service center came after months of discussion and consideration with stakeholders across the UC system and was motivated by a commitment to maximize cost efficiencies by fully leveraging economies of scale, improving service to employees, and ensuring consistency in business processes.

Many critical HR functions will remain at the campus level including, for example, hiring and retention, performance management, employee and labor relations, training and development, and other non-transactional business activities such as counseling services.

UCLA has begun to assess the impact of the UCPath initiative on central campus operations, in consultation with a campus-wide advisory committee. As the role of the UCPath Center is further defined, and as campus processes are reviewed and evaluated, additional information will be made available to campus and health system organizations. There is an expectation that the University will be able to minimize the need for involuntary layoffs, and instead utilize attrition, re-training, and re-alignment of job duties to address future needs. In addition, UC employees will be encouraged to apply for jobs at the new UCPath Center and qualified internal candidates will receive first consideration for these opportunities.

More information about staffing at the UCPath Center including roles, job descriptions, and staffing levels will be available during July. Jobs will be posted on the UC Systemwide Job Board at: http://jobs.universityofcalifornia.edu/.

For your convenience, an FAQ regarding the new UCPath Center, as well as detailed information about the UCPath Initiative, are available on UCLA’s new UCPath website at: www.ucpath.ucla.edu. The new site is dedicated to providing UCLA employees with the latest news on the UCPath project and is updated on a regular basis.

We encourage you to distribute this important information widely to faculty and staff in your organization.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of us or Project Manager LeAnn Story at UCPath@finance.ucla.edu with any questions you may have regarding this announcement.

Sincerely,

Campus Human Resources
Phone: (310) 794-0800 | Fax: (310) 794-0805