This month, we celebrate our work on some major University initiatives.
Procurement staff have worked for months to support Carolina Excellence by creating and sharing procurement tools to make purchasing on campus easier, more transparent and more understandable. The tools: a purchasing method decision tree, P-Card process checklist and P-Card value proposition, will streamline the way the University processes small-dollar purchases. The tools represent one of two early impact projects begun by the Carolina Excellence team. Operational Excellence is the University’s initiative to create a high-functioning administrative operation that facilitates implementation of The Blueprint for Next, the University’s strategic framework, and supports the University’s key mission of teaching, learning and research.
The first projects wrapped up in February 2019, and the new processes rolled out to the first cohort of schools and units in mid-February. Full implementation across the University is expected by Fall 2019. View a video of Provost Bob Blouin talking about the importance of Carolina Excellence.
As I mentioned last month, the new budget process for next fiscal year is underway! Budget staff have worked closely with the Budget Working Group and me to refine our goals, create templates for budget submissions and make sure that our work is relevant — always a good thing! We’ve met with campus unit financial leaders to introduce this new process framework, and they are asking some good questions about how we can remain fiscally flexible and accommodate future growth and strategic investments — all while keeping the wheels turning on a day-to-day basis. Our goal is to have a workable budget for next fiscal year before it begins.
Thanks to these teams and all of you moving us forward!