NewsLink Articles
Greetings Administrative System Users!
NewsLink provides news and information affecting users of Ohio State's Administrative Systems. Updates are collected twice a month, or more frequently as needed, and pushed out to system users by direct email. Bookmark and check this page frequently for the latest information. The next NewsLink email updates are scheduled for Monday, April 8 and Monday, April 22.
Key dates:
GFA Deadlines
April GL Monthly Close Deadlines
April PCard Reallocation Deadlines
The following link accesses system training information for Financials, eReports, HR and SIS. Separate Fiscal policy training is also available and offered by the Office of the Controller.
Catering Marketplace Coming Soon to eStores
The Catering Marketplace is a supplier website featuring 50 catering event suppliers including University Catering.
Event Coordinators will be able to request and receive quotes from full-service catering and equipment rental suppliers directly from the catalog.
Check out the full article for additional details and screen shots of the new functionality. More details are coming soon.
April 2019 PCard Reallocation
The reallocation deadline for April 2019 is Monday, April 29.
Register Now for 2019 Travel Workshops (Introductory and Advanced)
The Travel Office has arranged for several classroom offerings of the Travel Workshop (Introductory and Advanced) sessions that will run through December 2019.
- Travel Workshop (Introductory) - This two-and-a-half hour travel workshop explains the fundamentals of business travel for Ohio State; covering the Travel Policy and specific travel resources for developing a travel budget and initiating the Travel Request for Authorization. In addition, the session includes a demonstration of travel booking through the university's Travel Agency for Individual Business Travel and their online booking tool for air, hotel and rental car. The introductory workshop is geared to the new traveler, arranger or those participants interested in a refresher in the basics of traveling on behalf of Ohio State.
See full article for details about the Advanced workshop as well as registration information for both sessions.
Airfare Price Match Request
One of the most common questions raised since the start of the travel initiative relates to what to do if you believe that you have found airfare with a lower price than what you can find through CTP or their online booking tool (Concur).
In the vast majority of cases, flights booked through CTP or their online booking tool Concur cost the same or less than they would through third-party websites. But if you believe you have found a fare that has a better advertised price than through a quote from a CTP full service agent or the online booking tool (Concur), the Travel website explains how to use the Airfare Price Match Request Form to seek a review.
The Ohio State App Now Provides Travel Info for Mobile Devices
If you need to reach an agent during business travel, resources are available that provide that critical contact information:
- Review your Travel Itinerary provided by CTP/Concur, which displays contact information in the header of the itinerary.
- Browse to the Travel Office website, which hosts a page containing all agency contact information.
- Pull up the Ohio State app on your mobile device, which now provides agency contact information (simply search by "travel").
How to Navigate Concur
Concur, the premier online booking tool in higher education, allows users to research fares, adjust selection parameters, and finalize their booking with an authorized T#. To assist users, the Travel Office has published a series of Training & Resource Guides on the Travel website:
- Completing Your Profile in Concur
- Assigning a Travel Assistant in Concur
- Booking Airfare for Yourself
- Concur Tips & Tricks
- Avoiding Basic Economy Fares in Concur
- Optimizing Concur Flight Search Results
Travel Fees and After-Hours Service Improvements
Since March 1, fees for booking a flight have been reduced by up to 20 percent, and after-hours service has been upgraded for individuals traveling on university business. The new, dedicated after-hours line is available at 1-833-200-0261 on weekends, holidays and from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
3/16 Planned Maintenance and Downtime for the HR and Student Systems
The Office of the CIO has upcoming planned maintenance for the HR and Student systems.
There will be additional downtime beginning Saturday, March 16, at 5 p.m. Services will resume at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 17, as usual.
PeopleSoft Human Resources and Buckeye Link (Campus Solutions/Student Information System) services will be affected including:
- Employee Self Service
- Student Center functions accessed through Buckeye Link
- Faculty Center
Other applications, such as eTime and Leave, and the Ohio State App will not be affected by the downtime.
Questions regarding this planned maintenance should be directed to the IT Service Desk at 614-688-4357 or though Self Service. Please reference change numbers CHG0039063 and CHG0039064.