UCSD is currently implementing a new tool to support effort reporting. The Electronic Certification of Effort and Reporting Tool (ECERT) will replace the Personnel Activity Reporting (PAR) system.

Benefits of the Web-based ECERT system:

• Accessible online 24/7
• Certifications are easy to track
• System interacts with PPS so you can drilldown to detailed payroll calculations
• Maintains historical information
• System becomes "office of record"
• Improved accuracy and compliance
• Effort report status changes if necessary when a PET is processed

Getting ready for ECERT: An implementation team with representatives from 7 departments tested ECERT and began using the system in June 2007. The rest of campus will start using ECERT in phases, and everyone will transition to the new system by March 2008. To get ready for the new system, your department can:

• Review ECERT: Best Practices.
• Invite the ECERT team to your department to discuss a customized training plan and implementation strategy.
• Make sure payroll distributions are set up correctly for all research faculty and staff.
• Make sure principal investigator and fund manager names on sponsored projects are correct so that effort reports are distributed correctly. You can use Chart of Accounts Overrides in FinancialLink to correct these.

Many training options are available including:

• Customized training for each department by the ECERT team
• Online training materials
• Staff Education classes for security administrators, assigned reviewers, and effort certifiers

Want more information?

• Schedule an information session for your department.
• View the presentation (PPT) delivered at Sharecase 2007.
• See a list of ECERT FAQs.
• Contact Donna Smith, (858) 534-9607, or Mark Cooper, (885) 534-1110.