About GUS

GUS is database software designed to integrate diverse departmental information processing needs into a single cohesive system.

GUS is intended to improve data access, ease data entry, reduce duplicated data entry and data entry errors, provide automated assistance for common functions –monthly reports, monthly reconciliations with the campus ledger. communication with clients, report production, carry forward, annual reports, statistics collection. There are currently five major areas of functionality:

• Budget – enhanced departmental accounting shadow system
• Purchasing – facilitates and manages purchases
• Personnel – deals with payroll and payroll projections
• Recharges – tracks and manages departmental recharges and generates the Financial Journal
• Contracts and Grants – tracks and manages extramural proposals and awards.

Until April 2005 the GUS development was funded primarily from the operating budgets of MSI and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Some development costs (<25%) were recovered via fees paid by other departments to obtain GUS. Principal development oversight was provided by MSI.

In April 2005 the Executive Vice Chancellor began funding the development and support costs. At that time user fees were dropped. Development oversight is currently being provided by the GUS Executive Committee.

GUS is being developed Using 4th Dimension (http://4d.com), a database environment which functions on both Macintosh and Windows platforms and can run in either client-server or stand-alone modes.