![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Yesterday |
Thursday, November 27, 2003
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[Calypso Christmas tonight at Fed Hall]](http://www.feds.ca/graphics/picture1.gif)
Jane Manson, director of finance, and Steve Cook, manager of procurement and contract services (purchasing), sent out a list of "critical cutoff dates" warning that, for example, invoices and travel claims that aren't received by January 16 may not get paid until the new system is in place in early February.
The deadline list, along with the memo, is available on the finance office's web site. "Strict adherence to these deadlines is necessary," says the memo, "to ensure that all completed transactions are processed before the current system is taken down. We encourage you to submit at the earliest possible date.
"During the down time, no purchase orders, payments or internal accounting transactions will be processed. Once the new system is operational, priority will be given to current business activity and preparation for the 2004 fiscal year-end. We will communicate definite dates regarding the availability of the new system.
"Between now and February normal service levels may be affected so we ask that you be patient and understanding."
The deadlines and down-time are the result of big changes to the Oracle software that has operated the UW financial system since it was installed in 1996. It mostly affects the "core users" in the finance and procurement offices, says Manson. Those central users will be moving from an old "character-based" system to a web interface that's more up to date and supported by the company that provides the software.
End users in departments across campus are less affected, as they already have a Web interface to financial information that they're authorized to use. In fact there are two quite different ways for end users to access information: "Oracle inquiry", which works one transaction at a time, and FORE, or Financial Online Reporting Environment, which can also produce spreadsheets and financial statements.
Oracle inquiry will be shut down January 29 and may or may not come back in February, says Helen Hannusch of the finance office. FORE will continue in use during the shutdown, but the figures won't be updated during that period.
She added that an upgrade of FORE is coming later, providing new features for campus users The changes won't be overwhelming, and training will be available, she promised.
There are eight winners, says drama professor Bill Chesney: "They were selected by lottery in time-honoured Fringe Festival fashion on November 18, when we also announced the winners of our department scholarships and awards. Each participant will have three presentations during the festival: one lunch hour and two evening performances."
The festival will run February 4-7 and 11-14 in Studio 180 in the Humanities building, with one presentation at lunch hour and another two in the evening each day. Each show is 50 minutes or less in length.
"Three of the eight participants are from outside the department," says Chesney. "Our hope is to run Upstart as a yearly event, to promote new work and self-producing among our own and other UW students, the wider UW community and theatre and performance artists of all kinds in the K-W area."
Participants in Upstart and their plays, as selected in last week's draw: Lindsay Alston, "A Room of One's Own"; James Barr and Sean Collins, "Carte Blanche"; Nathan Bender, "Deus ex Machina"; Nick Cumming, "He"; Robyn Gmeindl and Tara Velanoff, "Almost Sisters"; Isinglass Theatre, "Savage Love"; Luc Kedzior, "Chronic Deficiency"; Jill Smith & Co., "The Queen of Bingo".
Yesterday's meeting talked about such details as technical specifications, fees (each festival entry is paying a $50 charge), and whether the play is already fully cast or needs to schedule auditions.
There's a "traditional feast and social" tonight to wind up this term's series of Native studies lectures. Says a flyer from Jean Becker, Native studies advisor at St. Paul's United College: "Please come and help us celebrate the 2003 Fall Speakers Series with a Traditional Feast, Social and Giveaway in MacKirdy Hall at St. Paul's College. Three Sisters Catering of Brantford will provide Indian tacos and strawberry juice. Potluck contributions of other foods are very welcome. There will be drumming and dancing with traditional dancers in attendance. There will be a special acknowledgement and a presentation by Elders Elaine Garner and Lorna McNaughton to our recently graduated students, Dr. Joanne DiNova, George Kennedy and Iris Martin. We will end the evening with a giveaway to acknowledge the contributions of the students and community to the success of the Speakers Series." Everyone is welcome; things start at 7:00.
| WHEN AND WHERE |
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Human rights lecture by Stephen Toope, "The Impact of September
11 on the Human Rights Environment", 10 a.m., Renison College.
Joint health and safety committee, 1:30 p.m., Needles Hall room 3004. Retirees' association bus trip to One-of-a-Kind show and sale in Toronto. Miniature art sale in fine arts department, preview continues 9:00 to 3:00 today and tomorrow, sale starts 4 p.m. Friday, East Campus Hall. "Longitudinal Analysis for the Un-initiated", John Goyder and Keith Warriner, Southwestern Ontario Regional Data Centre, 3:30, PAS (Psychology) room 2030. Exchange and study abroad information meeting for arts students, 4:30, Humanities room 373. Toronto photographer Ed Byrtynsky gives last Arriscraft Lecture of the season, talking about his landscape images, 7 p.m., Environmental Studies II room 286. Pagan spirituality lecture by Karis Burkowski, sponsored by Spiritual Heritage Education Network, 7 p.m., Math and Computer room 4021. "Cellular Mechanisms for Brainstem Control of Movement", seminar by Réjean Dubuc, Université du Québec à Montréal, Friday 11:30, Lyle Hallman Institute auditorium. Warrior Weekend, activities in the Student Life Centre Friday and Saturday evenings, including movies, break-dancing lessons, Residence Idol competition. Annual carol sing in Modern Languages lobby, Tuesday, December 9, 12:15 p.m. |
St. Jerome's University has announced that a memorial service for history professor Gerald Stortz, who died on Sunday, will be held Wednesday, December 3, at 12 noon in the college's chapel. There's also a correction to the obituary information provided earlier this week: Stortz had served as president of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association, not the Canadian Historical Association.
At its November meeting, the UW senate gave approval to a two-page set of "principles and procedures" for naming UW facilities -- everything from professorships to roads and rooms. In many cases such names would honour donors. The document goes to the board of governors for final approval in February.
The UW bookstore sent out a special pre-Christmas offer to staff and faculty members this week: "25% off all regular priced items . . . excludes textbooks and courseware". The coupon offer is good through December 12. And today is the final day of the "Books Blowout Sale" in the South Campus Hall concourse -- walking through there Tuesday, I noticed a big spread of children's books, as well as fiction, biographies and other adult stuff. Well, not adult stuff, but you know what I mean.
A note from the student awards office: "Students who are receiving OSAP for the fall term only must pick up their OSAP loan documents before December 19. Any loans not picked up by that date will be cancelled."
And . . . yes, I said there would be a Conestoga College story in today's Daily Bulletin. Sorry. Look for it tomorrow.
CAR