91´óÉñ

True Blue Fusion

Frequently Asked Questions

General

True Blue Fusion will replace Banner Human Resources and Banner Finance with a state-of-the-art cloud platform. This new enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform will be a single system to house and streamline all of 91´óÉñ’s needs for modern human resources, finance, and payroll technology.

Today, the computer systems used in Finance and Human Resources utilize a complex combination of computer software, data standards, and work processes. A move to a modern cloud-based platform gives 91´óÉñ the ability to use an integrated system that promotes real-time communication, data entry efficiencies, enhanced security, automated workflows, and evolving technologies. 

We are planning for a go-live date for Finance and Human Capital Management in January of 2027.

The implementation of True Blue Fusion will take time because we need to maintain our current business operations while simultaneously evaluating and transitioning all our processes to the new system. This ensures that our processes follow leading practices to increase efficiency, reduce redundancy, and remove administrative barriers. Additionally, it takes time to plan, set up, configure, and test the system for the hundreds of transactions that True Blue Fusion will support. We also need to verify that the data transferred from Banner Human Resources and Banner Finance is accurate and that the processes function as designed.

Yes. Training will be available and ongoing for all employees on the new system.

While the total implementation cost of the system has not yet been determined, 91´óÉñ is managing project expenses using the $20 million in funding set aside in the Governor’s Budget.  Total costs largely depend on the university’s need to operate efficiently and without redundancy while following leading practices.

True Blue Fusion will be more efficient and increase productivity, allowing users to spend time on higher-level tasks.

Oracle Cloud ERP is an end-to-end, modern, cloud-based software as a service suite that will manage operational functions such as financial management, grants, projects, and procurement throughout the University. Oracle’s performance capabilities will assist in planning, budgeting, predicting, and reporting financial results.

Oracle Cloud HCM is a comprehensive suite designed to unify and automate processes across various HR functions. It provides end-to-end workforce visibility, covering areas such as, recruiting, human resources, talent management, workforce management, learning, time/absence management, and payroll. The solution aims to simplify the means for collecting and analyzing workforce data, helping senior leaders and frontline managers align staff skills with evolving organizational needs.

Specific capabilities designed to serve departments within 91´óÉñ bundled together in Oracle Cloud to provide the most suitable customized product for the University. For example, Oracle Cloud uses the integration among modules–such as payables, accounts receivable, project portfolio management (PPM), procurement, and contracts–to collect costs and to feed accounting to the general ledger.

Based on the functionality of the Oracle solutions 91´óÉñ will implement, the following Banner and 3rd Party solutions will be discontinued: Banner Finance, Banner HR, MT$ource, and PageUp.

A good reference for the functionality being moved to the Oracle solutions can be viewed on the Scope page of the True Blue Fusion website.

The 91´óÉñ student information system environment will continue to function in the Banner Student and other 3rd party solutions that are now in place (including but not limited to Banner Student, Curriculog, Slate, Navigate, and Degree Works).

One of the primary reasons to move to a cloud-based system is to adopt industry best practices, which simplifies implementation, training, ongoing updates, flexibility, and data integrity. The Oracle Cloud systems come with many parameters and options that can be configured to meet 91´óÉñs specific needs while still retaining the best practice methodology that does not support customizing the system. The use of configuration rather than customization allows 91´óÉñ to achieve the full benefits of cloud-based systems.

Finance

The new Chart of Accounts will take effect January 1, 2027, when Oracle Cloud goes live. Banner Finance and Banner HR will continue to be used through December 31, 2026. Banner Student will continue to operate as 91´óÉñ’s student information system. 

Yes. Banner index numbers will be retired and replaced with Chart of Accounts (CoA) values. When submitting invoices, job tickets, or internal charges, users will enter the appropriate CoA value. Oracle Cloud will assist users through drop-down menus and built-in validations. To support the transition, an index-to-CoA crosswalk will be provided to help departments align existing index numbers with the new values.  

Oracle Cloud supports hierarchical reporting and roll-ups, allowing leaders to view financial information at both detailed and summary levels. This structure enables departments, colleges, and divisions to view aggregated budget and financial data, improving visibility and supporting more effective decision-making.  

Third-party systems that currently use Banner index numbers will be updated to translate those values into the new Chart of Accounts structure. The new CoA includes nine segments: Entity, Organization, Fund, Fund Type, Account, Functional Class, Program, Activity, and Site. This structure improves reporting flexibility while ensuring 91´óÉñ continues to meet regulatory, financial, and operational reporting requirements. 

We are moving away from departments using QuickBooks for billing, and departments will use the Chart of Accounts values within Oracle Cloud to process internal charges and billing. Additional details and guidance will be provided before go live. 

Human Resources

Employees will submit absence requests through Oracle Cloud self-service. Requests will be routed electronically to supervisors for approval. Employees will also be able to update or withdraw requests within the system if changes are needed.  

Yes. Employees can update or withdraw an absence request before or after it has been approved. If changes are made after approval, the request will be resubmitted automatically for supervisor approval.

Yes. Beginning in January 2027, classified staff, hourly, and student employees will be paid on a bi-weekly schedule. Administrative staff and faculty employees will continue to receive monthly pay.

Faculty (9 or 10 month) and administrative employees will continue to be paid monthly.

Bi-weekly pay periods will run Sunday through Saturday over a two-week cycle, with pay issued on a consistent bi-weekly schedule. Because the cycle repeats every 14 days, pay period end dates will vary throughout the year rather than always falling on the 15th. A detailed payroll calendar will be provided before implementation, so employees and supervisors know the exact pay period and pay dates. 

In Oracle, users receive in‑system notifications via a bell icon when something requires action or is approved. Email notifications are still being evaluated.

Yes. All employees—classified staff, administrative professionals, faculty, and other staff- will use the same Oracle absence module to request leave, and supervisors will approve requests in the system.

If a supervisor does not approve an absence but the employee still takes the time off, that situation must be resolved directly between the supervisor and the employee. Oracle records what is approved, but it cannot prevent someone from being physically absent.

Yes. If plans change or an absence is not taken, the request can be adjusted, and time is restored. For sudden absences like illness, employees can enter the absence after the fact; the supervisor approves it, and the balance is updated, typically by the next day.

Yes. Timesheets will still exist in Oracle. The difference is that any approved absences will already appear on the timesheet, reducing what employees have to manually enter.

Yes. There will still be a deadline for supervisors to approve or reject leave requests so payroll can run. Employees are responsible for ensuring they receive a response and should follow up if their request has not been addressed by the cutoff.

Yes. Oracle supports proxies or alternate approvers for timesheets and leave approvals, so others can act on behalf of a supervisor when needed.

Classified staff, student employees, and graduate assistants will transition to a bi-weekly pay schedule, and participation is not optional.

Yes. Position numbers will be renumbered as part of the Oracle Cloud implementation for the January 1, 2027 go-live. More information about the updated numbering structure will be shared as the transition approaches. 

Payroll

No. Your annual salary or hourly rate will not change. Because pay is distributed across 26 pay periods instead of 12, individual paychecks will be smaller than a monthly paycheck, but your total pay stays the same. 

Yes. Employees required to report time will continue to submit timecards in Oracle Cloud — the frequency of submission simply increases. 

Yes. Supervisors will continue to review and approve employee timecards before payroll is processed. 

No. For affected groups — classified staff, hourly, and student employees — the move to biweekly pay is required. 

You will be able to view pay slips, tax forms, and direct deposit information through Oracle Cloud Employee Self-Service. 

Yes. You will continue to receive annual tax forms, and Oracle Cloud will also provide electronic W-2 options. 

Training

Training for 91´óÉñ employees will begin in November 2026, after system configuration and testing are complete. Training is intentionally scheduled closer to go-live in January 2027 so employees learn the system when it is fully built, tested, and reflects final business processes. This approach ensures training is accurate, relevant to each role, and retained when employees begin using TBF in January 2027. Training will be role-based and delivered in phases, including pilot training, central user trainingfor employees responsible for managing, approving, or processing transactions, and campus-wide end user training.

  • True Blue Fusion
    • Replaces Banner Finance and Banner Human Resources with Oracle Cloud.
    • Go-live: January 2027
  • Canvas
    • Replaces the D2L learning management system used for courses.
    • Go-live: Summer 2026
  • SSB9 (Self-Service Banner 9)
    • Provides a modern interface for all of the Self-Service Banner 9 applications.
    • SSB9 Finance and HR will continue to be used through December 31, 2026, then will transition to Oracle Cloud.
    • The Financial Aid, Faculty, Student, and Registration/Accounts Receivable applications will continue to operate in Banner.

Yes. Training will be available and ongoing for all employees on the new system. 

Training will be scheduled for later in 2026, once system development and testing are further along. This approach ensures employees receive instruction on a fully tested, stable system and helps avoid the need for re-training. 

Communication will be shared for users to identify their role-based learning journeys to easily identify which courses and materials are needed, along with the schedule for training. Learning journeys align your role to specific courses so you only take what is relevant to your job. 

Some Instructor-Led Training sessions will be conducted in person, and some will be conducted via Teams. Computer-based courses, videos, and job aids will be available on demand through Canvas at any time. 

Training materials and supporting documents will be posted before scheduled sessions and stored in Canvas following delivery. On-demand resources including job aids, computer-based trainings, and videos will remain available in Canvas after go-live. 

Training will continue to be offered to end users and 91´óÉñ’s Service Desk will be staffed to support system and process questions related to the transition. Oracle Guided Learning will remain available in the system at all times so you can get step-by-step help whenever you need it. 

If an employee does not attend or complete a required course prior to go-live, this will initiate a cadence of employee-level, then manager-level, then division-level follow up. Non-completion does not result in blocked system access. 

91´óÉñ True Blue Fusion logo full color

Contact Us

True Blue Fusion
Steering Committee

[email protected]