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Ascend 2.0 Program Updates

Effective August 2, 2024, the Ascend 2.0 Program will be paused. We will use this time to reflect on lessons learned from R1, assess progress towards R2, and determine the future direction for Ascend 2.0. During this period, we will continue handling invoice processing and strategizing to improve throughput while maintaining risk controls. Our aim is to sustain momentum, implement immediate improvements, and gradually transition to an internal UCLA team.

Additionally, our IT Executive Board has approved a third-party discovery exercise to review our finance organization's operating model. This 12-week effort will assess current processes and technology, gather stakeholder feedback, benchmark performance, and develop actionable insights. The goal is to prioritize recommendations that enhance UCLA's financial operations, mitigate risks, and align our financial strategy with institutional goals.

For more details on the Ascend 2.0 Program pause, please review the FAQ below and the Bruin Post sent to staff and faculty on June 26, 2024.

Ascend 2.0 Program Pause FAQ

The Ascend 2.0 Program will be paused to reevaluate a path forward for the Release 2 (R2) implementation of Bruin Finance. The pause will be effective August 2, 2024 to allow the University to conduct a comprehensive current state assessment of finance and procurement processes to ensure the Ascend 2.0 financial transformation will meet the needs of UCLA. Between now and August 2nd, the Ascend 2.0 team will engage in closeout activities.

BruinBuy Plus continues to be UCLA's eProcurement system. The Ascend 2.0 Program and Campus Purchasing Payables are working hand in hand to identify and implement enhancements, troubleshoot and address issues, as well as update and expand training materials. Visit the BruinBuy Plus hub for helpful resources and news.

UCLA leadership, in collaboration with external partners, will conduct an assessment to review the current state finance organization operating model. This effort will give the University time to review the current state of its processes and technology, meet with key stakeholders to obtain their feedback on ways of working, benchmark its performance against peer institutions, and develop a series of actionable insights to achieve a future state vision for the finance organization. Once the assessment is completed, University leaders will determine a path forward for the Ascend 2.0 Program and communicate the decision to campus. 

The assessment is estimated to take up to 12 weeks and will give us time to review the current state of our processes and technology, meet with key stakeholders to obtain their feedback on ways of working, benchmark our performance against peer institutions, and develop a series of actionable insights to achieve a future state vision for the finance organization. 

During the assessment, most R2 Ascend 2.0 campus engagements will be paused. Leadership is working to identify the activities that will need to continue in some capacity (e.g., CoA mapping). More information will be shared with impacted stakeholders when decisions are made. However, BruinBuy Plus support opportunities, such as campus office hours, will continue.

UCLA is still required to report financial information to the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) using the Common Chart of Accounts (CCoA). Ascend 2.0 Leadership is determining what involvement from Mapping Experts will be required during the program pause.

Please submit BruinBuy Plus questions to the Service Desk. You may email help@it.ucla.edu, call 310-267-4357, or log a ticket yourself in Service Now. 

Helpful BruinBuy Plus Resources

Below you will find some valuable BruinBuy Plus information:

Need BruinBuy Plus help? Create a support ticket or email help@it.ucla.edu.