As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared, particularly with the launch of our major financial system transformation.
This year has been defined by historic change and a monumental effort. We didn't just implement a new Common Chart of Accounts and Oracle Financials Cloud; we built a foundational infrastructure for the future of financial management at UCSB. We successfully rolled out four new systems, including the new FinHub reporting portal, which now houses 59 new reports and 10 dashboards, giving us unprecedented access to campuswide fiscal data. FMM also required us to overhaul and integrate 46 legacy systems—a massive technical undertaking.
Your direct involvement this past year was critical. Over 330 campus users participated in User Acceptance Testing, rigorously checking over 1,800 use case scenarios. And through nine town halls and training for over 600 users, we worked diligently in 2025 to prepare everyone for this new way of working.
We are now in the midst of learning, adjusting—getting comfortable with new tools, new processes, and, in many cases, new roles. I know that this adjustment hasn't been without challenges, and I want to acknowledge the real feelings of exhaustion and frustration that can come with a change of this magnitude.
But please know this: Your resilience, your flexibility, and your sheer commitment to making this transformation a success have been truly inspiring. The effort our staff has put in this year has been nothing short of incredible. Thank you.
As we look to the new year, the work continues. We are committed to refining and improving our systems based on your feedback, and we will be rolling out new campus budgeting processes with training set to begin in January. Our commitment to listening and collaboration will only deepen as we move into 2026.
But before we tackle what’s next, I want to take a moment to strongly encourage you all to take some well-deserved time off during the holidays. Please disconnect, rest, and recharge.
With the same dedication and collaborative spirit we had in 2025, I am incredibly optimistic and energized for the pivotal work we will tackle in the new year. Have a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to a successful new year together.
