| University to consolidate supply chains
with new e-procurement system |
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oon, ordering a new desk calendar, beaker, or
modem will become as easy as a click of the mouse. The University
is implementing a new online procurement system that is expected
to streamline and speed up the process of ordering everything
from office supplies to medical and computer equipment. The University
has been testing the Ariba B2B Commerce Platform for about a year
now and will begin deploying the new e-purchasing software, named
UMeNet, throughout its four campuses to improve management of
its internal procurement and operational processes.
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“Ariba will allow us to leapfrog to a modern, Web-based procurement
system,” says M. Lewis Temares, vice president for Information
Technology and dean of the College of Engineering. “It’s easy
to learn, pleasant to use, and will allow the user to obtain the
goods or services they need quicker than today. Anyone who’s ever
bought anything over the Web can be comfortable with it in five
to ten minutes.”
“I see cost savings across the board with this
technology,” says Alan Fish, associate vice president of Business
Services. “The days of manually processing invoices will be gone,
and because we’ll be able to consolidate spending, we will be
able to negotiate deeper discounts from our suppliers. Efficiency
is improved by having electronic catalogs at your disposal. Users
can bookmark their favorite items. It’s a very user-friendly system.”
The new e-procurement system will not only streamline
the procurement process but will also be used to automate human
resource functions, travel and expenses, work orders, and interdepartmental
requests.
The goal, according to Susan Montes, director
of University Purchasing, is to convert all University departments
to the new system over the next few years. A few departments,
such as Information Technology, Purchasing, and Dining Services,
have tested the Ariba Buyer product already and reported excellent
results with it.
University departments who are interested in
converting to the new system should call Boyd Bartow or Heidi
Tyre in the UMeNet purchasing department at 284-5208 or 284-5115.
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I.T. provides ‘vaccine’ against viruses
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rom Melissa to the Love Bug, computer viruses
can cripple the networks of businesses, schools, and government
agencies worldwide, costing them millions of dollars in lost work
and research.
But there’s an effective “vaccine” against such
attacks: antivirus software that can exterminate computer viruses
that are spread via e-mail and interconnected networks.
New computer viruses are discovered everyday,
so installing antivirus software and maintaining up-to-date virus
definitions will help keep your computer, data, and applications
free of infection, reports Information Technology in its recent
End User Support Group Newsletter. Most anti-virus programs
offer updates of the latest virus definitions that can be downloaded
from the Internet.
The University offers a free version of Norton
AntiVirus for faculty, staff, and students to install on home
computers only. One of the best-known and most effective antivirus
programs, Norton AntiVirus provides frequent updates of virus
definitions from their Web site. The software allows users to
schedule updates automatically, using a function called Norton
Scheduler. With Scheduler, computer users can determine not only
when antivirus scans will be run, but when updates can be downloaded
from Norton’s Web site. Once an update has been scheduled, the
download and installation will run automatically without any interaction
from the user.
Faculty and staff who wish to install
Norton AntiVirus on any office computers should contact their
department network administrator. For more information on virus
protection and Norton AntiVirus, call 284-2944 or e-mail microtrainers@miami.edu.
To download Norton AntiVirus for free, visit Information Technology’s
Web site at www.miami.edu/information-technology.
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| New credit union branch offers convenience
in the heart of campus |
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niversity Credit Union members now have a new
location at which to conduct transactions—right in the heart of
the Coral Gables campus in the Whitten University Center. The
new full-service credit union branch has two full-service ATMs
that take deposits and offers services such as home mortgage loans,
a car finder service, traveler’s checks, a MasterCard program,
and e*branch Internet account access. It is open Monday through
Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We’ve gone from zero transactions since our
opening up to about 1,000 transactions during a good week, which
is wonderful,” says Mike Welch, University Credit Union president
and CEO. “The comments from UM employees and students are that
this new location is just so convenient, so close to the center
of activity here on campus.”
Recently, Welch was joined by UM President Donna
E. Shalala, credit union employees, and several members of the
University Credit Union Board of Trustees in a ribbon cutting
ceremony at the new branch. “I call this the people’s bank,” said
Shalala. “I love the tradition of credit unions and will be supportive
of this new branch.”
The new branch was part of a major renovation
project at the Whitten University Center. “When we planned for
the renovation of this area, we specifically wanted a place to
accommodate the credit union,” said Richard Walker, director of
the UC Center and Student Life. “It was definitely the right option,
especially when it began to serve students, as well as faculty
and staff members.”
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| Wellness Wednesdays help educate University
community |
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 The
Department of Wellness and Recreation continues to offer its Wellness
Wednesdays, a series of free one-day educational classes that
address a variety of health-related topics, ranging from diabetes
and healthy eating to exercise adherence and women’s health issues.
“HIV in Our Society,” for example, scheduled
for February 13 from 12 to 1 p.m., will examine the impact of
HIV/AIDS on the minority community and the measures being taken
by University of Miami researchers to help prevent the disease.
Meanwhile, “Hypertension and Other Cardiovascular
Diseases,” February 20 from 12 to 1 p.m., will examine the factors
that make heart disease the leading cause of death in the United
States. The presentation will reveal statistics, risk factors,
and lifestyle influences associated with hypertension, coronary
artery disease, and strokes.
Wellness Wednesdays are held in the Wellness
Center Conference Room in the George A. Smathers Student Wellness
Center. Advance registration is required. Call 284-LIFE. For a
full schedule of Wellness Wednesday class dates, topics, and times,
visit www.miami.edu/wellness.
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| Twisted hour: Iyengar yoga classes offered
on medical campus |
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The benefits of yoga have long been extolled
by many people who practice this form of physical activity. Now
is your chance to practice this challenging mind-body exercise.
Iyengar yoga classes are being offered on the medical campus.
Iyengar teaches classical yoga positions with
an emphasis on dynamic precision and alignment. A portion of the
class fee is being donated to the United Way. Passes of ten are
being sold for $50.
Classes are held at 1 p.m. Monday through Friday
on the third floor of the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Building.
For more information, contact Sue Radcliffe at 243-3663.
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