As of Oct. 29 all users in all functional areas, including HR, Finance, Student and Financial Aid, have access to the upgraded platform.

Now when you access the banner.alaska.edu site you have the option to launch either Banner 8 or Banner 9. While Banner 8 is still available, users are strongly encouraged to start using and becoming familiar with the new platform.

Each version requires a different browser: Banner 8 uses Internet Explorer and Banner 9 uses Google Chrome. Make certain you are in the right browser for the version of Banner you are using.

A video explaining the difference between Banner 8 and Banner 9 can be found here: edservices.elluciancloud.com/delivery/PublicOnDemand/B9QuickTour/bgen-B9-quick-tour.mp4.

Known Issues
As a result of testing and using the new platform, it is undergoing continuous refinements. Some pages or functionality may not yet be available in Banner 9 after October 29. Users may still need to use Banner 8 for some processes. A list of known issues is being tracked here:� www.alaska.edu/oit/services/banner9/known_issues.

Please bookmark and refer back to this list as you approach your tasks in Banner to guide which platform is most appropriate for the task at hand. Teams are constantly resolving issues even as new ones are identified, so this list will be updated regularly.

Ultimately all work will be conducted in Banner 9, so early adoption of the new technology is important.

Training
Banner 9 training is ongoing. To register for training go to www.alaska.edu/oit/services/faculty-staff-training/calendar/ or contact your campus Banner trainer.
For additional materials, go to wiki.alaska.edu or alaska.edu/financial-systems.

The University of Alaska will soon launch Concur, a new paperless travel management system. Concur for Travel is a one-stop shop for all things travel, from submitting the initial planning request and booking your trip to uploading receipts and completing your expense reports. Gone are the days of tracking paper receipts. Travelers can simply snap pictures of their receipts and upload them to their expense report.

Transition over to Concur Travel will be phased over the next few months with the goal of all university travelers using the system by June 2019.

New UA Travel Cards were created to be used with the Concur tool. The University pays for the business expenses on the card directly so the traveler will no longer bear the burden of personally paying for the trip and then waiting for reimbursement. The card transactions feed directly into concur and reconcile when assigned to the expense report, streamlining the expense reporting process.

All University employees will also receive access to Concur’s TripIt, a mobile app that organizes all fight details in one place.

Watch the 10-minute overview of the Concur travel management system: Concur Overview Video.

Pilot training is currently underway for travel coordinators and arrangers at UAS, UAF and SW. Additionally, pilot training for Travelers and Delegate/Approvers will commence in early November. UAA will begin transitioning over to the UA Travel management system in January 2019. Training for all employees associated with travel activities will also be available beginning January 2019.

For additional details, regular updates and future training registration please join our UA-travel-project listserve. For questions regarding the travel project or the new process, contact us at 907/450-8785 (TRVL) or email ua-travel@alaska.edu.

The Statewide Administration Assembly held a regular business meeting on Monday, October 8. Below are�highlights�from the meeting.

October 2018 SAA Meeting�Highlights

1. Much to the group's dismay, Arthur Hussey resigned from SAA in late September. As such, Josh Watts will serve as president for the remainder of FY19. Monique Musick, formerly SAA secretary, will now serve as vice president. JP Landry was elected to serve as secretary for the remainder of the FY19 term.�
2. The Butrovich Break Room is now open to staff. The break room will be open Monday- Friday , 7:30am-5pm (closed weekends and holidays). SAA will host a potluck on Halloween. A photo booth and props will be available--although costumes are encouraged.���
3. SAA discussed the preliminary results for the staff morale survey and made plans to compare the 2016 survey results.��
4. Representatives continued review of proposed changes to travel regulations. The regulation update is being planned to coincide with implementation of the new travel management system, and will help to clarify traveler options and responsibilities. Overall, SAA found the changes to be beneficial to both the traveler and UA.� ��
5. Representatives continued to weigh options for a new winter holiday charity including the Center for Non-Violent Living, the Fairbanks Community Food Bank� and the Denali Center; a decision on holiday charity will be made shortly.�

SAA�will meet next on Thursday, November 1 in Butrovich 212b in Fairbanks and Bragaw 210 in Anchorage. All staff are encouraged and welcome to attend. Reach out to�SAA�representatives�to share your ideas and/or concerns. Additional information about�SAA�meetings is available on their�website.�

Congratuations to the Education Trust of Alaska's 529 college savings plans for receiving high Morningstar Analyst Ratings once again. Each year Morningstar analysts assign ratings to 62 college savings plans nationwide based on five key pillars: process, people, parent, price and performance. Alaska's plans, the T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan and the John Hancock Freedom 529 plan, were rated Silver and Neutral respectively for the second year in a row.

For more information visit: www.morningstar.com/articles/889532/morningstar-names-the-best-529-college-savings-pla.html

Join us for little fun in raising awareness and giving to United Way of the Tanana Valley here in the Butrovich Building – and eat some good soup.� We plan to have the first annual United Way “Soup-er Bowl” competition on Monday, November 5 , from noon – 1:00 p.m. in 109 Butrovich.� United Way of the Tanana Valley Executive Director Bill Wright will join us as well as serve on the judging panel with me to choose the tastiest soup.� Door prizes will be given throughout the event, and a prize and “trophy” will be awarded to the winning concoction.� Let the soup competition begin!� To sign up, click on this link � Soup - er � Bowl �Sign-Up. Contact tathompson2@alaska.edu with questions.�

FY19 Wellness Rebate

If you completed all required activities during the FY18 program year, your $600 FY19 wellness rebate is on its way! You can expect to see it added to the upcoming R24 paycheck.

The wellness rebate was changed earlier this year to be paid in a lump sum instead of a bi-weekly credit on your paycheck. The bi-weekly credits stopped with the first paycheck in July and the lump sum will start being paid out in late November.

Employees and spouses who completed the FY18 program by April 30, 2018, will receive the wellness rebate on the R24 paycheck, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Employees and spouses coming onto the plan March 1 through June 30 who completed their requirements in their first 90 days of coverage will receive a pro-rated rebate in November. Employees or spouses who came onto the plan July 1 after open enrollment, or new hires after July 1 who complete their requirements in their first 90 days of coverage (but no later than March 31, 2019 ) will receive a pro-rated rebate in May, 2019.

The full rebate amount is $600 for the employee, and $600 for the enrolled spouse. A pro-rated rebate will be pro-rated from when you completed the requirements for the plan. As in past years, you must be enrolled on the plan and an active employee to receive the rebate.

Discrepancies or questions? Please contact Sara!

FY19 Wellness Program

University of Alaska’s FY19 wellness program with Healthyroads is in full-swing! Any employee, spouse/FIP currently on the UA Choice Plan is eligible to participate. Not only will you have support with your overall health and wellness goals, but you can also receive a $600 wellness rebate next year, during FY20!

Want to learn more about the program and how to earn the wellness rebate? Take a look at the FY19 Program Overview document for a shortened version of all program details. Then, take a minute to log-in to your Healthyroads account to review your ‘Plan Summary’ page and start completing your incentive requirements.

Need additional assistance?

Please reach-out to UAs On-Site Wellness Manager from Healthyroads, Sara Rodewald at sararo@ashn.com or (907)450-8203