Towson University

A 94% Pass Rate

During the first phase of conference room pilots (CRP1), 25 core team members and key users walked through 304 STRATUS test cases. Going step-by-step, they tested the functionality of travel authorizations, expense report entries and numerous other processes from start to finish. Those that performed successfully passed. Those that didn’t were sent back to development. The results are promising: 94% of test cases passed. The pass rate is a signal of the project’s strong footing heading into CRP2.

Scope Broadens for CRP2

The second phase of conference room pilots (CRP2) began this November. Building on the scope of CRP1, it engages additional users to walk through a broader range of more detailed configurations. One of them will be TU’s first-ever centralized system for the financial management of grants and projects. CRP2 is expected to wrap up later this month with the pilot group confirming all processes work as expected. At that point the system configuration will move forward to formal testing.

New Roles for STRATUS Workflows

We’re creating two distinct roles to support workflows in STRATUS. Each department will have a cost center manager and a financial steward. The cost center manager will perform daily tasks such as entering and approving transactions. The financial steward will provide fiscal accountability for all transactions and serve as a secondary approver when needed. By separating duties and providing clear points of contact, these roles will bring greater consistency and accountability to financial activities.

We will consult with divisional budget officers and departmental supervisors to identify financial stewards and cost center managers. We expect to begin onboarding in winter 2022.

STRATUS Spotlight

Each month we'll shine a light on one core team member or subject matter expert involved in STRATUS.

Laurie Jones is the subject matter expert for accounts receivable. As associate director for Bursar's Office Systems and Technology, she's tapping into her more than 40 years of financial experience to simplify accounts receivable invoices and payments in STRATUS. Laurie says, “I'm excited that payments received will be matched to actual, easy-to-view invoices— streamlining the research process.”

Laurie is part of the collaborative, 60+ person project team driving STRATUS decision-making.

Project Update

We’ll continue designing and building STRATUS through the beginning of the year. Then we’ll turn it over to more than 50 TU subject matter experts for formal system testing, which involves validating transactions between functional areas. In February, we’ll relaunch our Change Agent Network to share information and collect feedback on the end user experience. Formal user demonstrations and roadshows will begin in the spring. Training will launch throughout the spring and summer, offering opportunities for both in-person and on-demand sessions.

Throughout the project we’ll keep you updated through newsletters, toolkits and information on the STRATUS website. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email the project team.

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Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252

A University System of Maryland Member Institution