As the University of Arizona's Mosaic Project to replace aging administrative computer systems on campus continues on schedule, a variety of new training options are being made available to help UA employees learn to use the new systems.

Over the next 28 months, the Mosaic Project will continue the process of replacing administrative systems in four key areas – student, financials, human resources/payroll and research – as well as implementing a new business intelligence solution. 

The University Information Technology Services Workshop and Training Team has developed live and online training programs for departmental users, including colleges, departments and auxiliary units, to help them prepare for the switch.

"The UITS Workshop and Training Team is committed to providing departmental users with ample options for learning how to use the new Mosaic applications. We'll have interactive online offerings, step-by-step guides available for download, and live classes, so people can choose to learn the material through whichever method or combination of methods works best for them," said Melanie Cooley, information technology training manager and member of the UITS Workshop and Training Team. Dates, times, locations and registration are available through the Mosaic and UITS Workshop and Training Team Web sites.

Central departments may have additional needs that go beyond the training classes. In those cases, central administrative office personnel can train directly with the Mosaic implementation teams by participating in testing, seminars and all-hands meetings with the financial and human resources teams. Unit business systems analysts and business process owners are responsible for providing information and schedules to their units. Central administrative office personnel are also encouraged to attend both departmental and business intelligence training.

"The Mosaic team is prepared to help," said Kay Beasock, Mosaic's manager for organizational communications. "People involved in change recognize that change is risky and can be daunting. People may lose comfortable work processes, known ways of doing things or confidence in their own capability. Therefore we have training programs and other resources available to help the campus community prepare for the transition and address these issues."

In addition to the formal training options available, the Mosaic Community – an online professional network where UA employees affected by the Mosaic Project can connect, stay informed, and share ideas and experiences – is available. More than 275 people have joined the Mosaic Community. Members are able to access previews of training, ask questions, share information and concerns, network with colleagues and more. Those interested in being notified when additional live and online training sessions become available can also join the MosaicAnnounce listserv on the Mosaic Web site.

To date, the Mosaic Project continues slightly under budget and on schedule. Because of the project's magnitude and scope, the original budget estimates require continuous monitoring and reallocations, according to project leaders.

"Mosaic has realized some genuine savings. The overall five-year project budget was reduced by $700,000 from $80.8 million to $80.1 million," said Hank Childers, Mosaic project director. "The human resources project is able to realize savings of $1 million due to lower than expected personnel costs; the student administration project is able to realize savings of $1.5 million due to the use of the Hobson's EMT Connect product for student recruiting (the original student recruiting budget was $2.8 million); and the infrastructure budget is able to realize savings of $1.4 million due to the decision to host these systems internally. A portion of these savings was reallocated to cover additional costs for the financial system project, primarily due to the delay of the Kuali Foundation software."