Office of the Vice Chancellor and CFO
Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities
What you need to know:
- UCLA is relaunching its efforts to transform its core financial systems with a program called Ascend 2.0
- This multi-year initiative will reimagine UCLA's financial systems by replacing the procure-to-pay system with BruinBuy Plus supported by JAGGAER and by replacing the mainframe financial system with Bruin Finance supported by Oracle Financials Cloud
- Ascend 2.0 will host its first Town Hall on February 15. Please sign up below
To: Employees
Dear Colleagues:
We are excited to announce the relaunch of UCLA’s efforts to transform our financial systems. Ascend 2.0, previously known as Ascend, is an ambitious, multi-year initiative to re-imagine the landscape of UCLA’s core financial systems.
Why are We Transforming Our Core Financial Systems?
UCLA has experienced remarkable growth since the development of the current financial systems four decades ago. Adopting modern, scalable, cloud-based systems will empower UCLA’s continued growth and the financial operations needed to support it. This initiative will allow staff to focus on the core mission, empowered by up-to-the-minute data and robust reporting capabilities.
What Will the Ascend 2.0 Program Accomplish for UCLA?
Through Ascend 2.0, UCLA will achieve the following:
- Streamline Procure-to-Pay by replacing the legacy system with BruinBuy Plus supported by JAGGAER technology and implementing process improvements
- Modernize and streamline financial management by replacing the mainframe financial system with Bruin Finance supported by Oracle Financials Cloud
- Increase efficiency by retiring dated and redundant financial applications
- Support consistent campus-wide reporting and create a new common language for UCLA’s financial transactions by replacing the Full Accounting Unit (FAU) with a new Chart of Accounts (CoA) and implementing several sub-ledgers
- Enable a more robust planning and budgeting process by migrating from Hyperion to Oracle Enterprise Performance Management Cloud
Past Learnings and Preparations for Relaunch
The extended pause gave us an opportunity to reassess and strengthen our team, our processes and implementation plan, and address feedback from the campus community and lessons learned from other campuses. In response to recommendations in a letter to the University of California Office of the President, from the University of California Academic Senate and the UCLA Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs (CCGA), the team has prioritized ongoing learning and collaboration across UC campuses, colleges, and academic units; increased representation from UCLA’s research community at all levels of program leadership; and engaged a new implementation partner with expertise in system functionality and integrations specifically designed to meet the complex research needs of a R1 University. Further, program leaders leveraged the pause to redesign governance, identify solutions for critical procurement challenges, strengthen campus engagement, implement rigorous program management and transition readiness planning and support. In addition, advisory committees comprised of representatives from across the University, have been established.
Prior to relaunch, the Ascend 2.0 team also completed a Planning and Assessment Phase to review documentation and accomplishments from previous efforts to design an implementation strategy, plan, and timeline, and to align leadership around a shared vision for the greater good of the University. Program leadership includes representatives from IT Services, Business & Finance Solutions, the Office of Research Administration, and Academic Planning and Budget and a representative from the schools.
What is the Current Program Status?
Currently, the team is onboarding new members, establishing new advisory committees including members from academic units and the academic senate, and learning from UCLA staff impacted by Ascend 2.0. The team has also begun configuring JAGGAER for BruinBuy Plus and is beginning initial design work in Oracle for the Bruin Finance system, making an inventory of impacted systems and continuing to finalize the specifics associated with the Chart of Accounts.
How Can I Learn More?
In the coming months, you can expect to hear more information in key forums, including quarterly Town Hall events open to the UCLA community. The first Town Hall will take place Wednesday, February 15 from 8:30 am to 9:30 am. This event is an opportunity for stakeholders across the UCLA community to learn about Ascend 2.0’s mission, guiding principles, and benefits; program leadership and governance; and ways to engage with the program and share feedback. The Town Hall will culminate with a live Q&A session, during which members of program leadership and Subject Matter Experts will answer stakeholder questions. The webinar recording and meeting materials will be posted to the Ascend 2.0 website following the event. Register for the February 15 Town Hall.
Visit the new program website for additional information regarding this initiative, including timelines and continual updates. If you have any questions, please contact ascend2@ucla.edu.
Thank you. We look forward to your insight and collaboration.
Sincerely,
Allison Baird-James
Interim Vice Chancellor
Chief Financial Officer
Ascend 2.0 Executive Sponsor
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
Ascend 2.0 Executive Sponsor
Roger Wakimoto
Vice Chancellor, Research & Creative Activities
Ascend 2.0 Executive Sponsor