Electronic Tools and Training
BrioQuery
BrioQuery is a tool for querying and reporting from Oracle databases, such as the Data Warehouse. You can use it on Macintoshes and DOS/Windows computers. BrioQuery is available only to members of the MIT community.
The Data Warehouse provides the MIT community with integrated data from various administrative systems stored in one location.
- For an article explaining the rationale for using the Data Warehouse, see Why use the Data Warehouse.
- To access the Data Warehouse for general information, installation, and training, see Brio/Data Warehouse.
Budget
All deaprtments, labs, and centers (DLCs) at MIT take part in the annual budgeting process, and all departments/divisions compete for the available funds. Submitting a proposal that makes its case clearly and in a timely manner is critical. The Office of Budget and Financial Planning offers a course, "The Fundamentals of the Institute Budget Process," that explains this in detail.
COEUS
MIT has created the COEUS system to facilitate sponsored program award acquisition and administration at MIT. It includes a comprehensive proposal development module that allows departmental users to create a full proposal (including science and budget), route the proposal through the institutional hierarchy, and then submit it to the sponsor, all on line.
COEUS also includes a robust post award module that stores detailed information on awards, agency contacts, reporting requirements, terms and conditions, as well as the required approvals for the award. For more information, see COEUS.
Listservs
Another useful electronic tool is listservs. This enables you to join an e-mail list to get posted information. One especially useful one is AOQuery. It frequently advertises open positions, free furniture, Institute meetings, and other miscellaneous information.
NIMBUS
NIMBUS is the web-based system for submitting and maintaining budgets. It was first introduced in February 1999 replacing MITBUD and the legacy BEERS database. For information, see NIMBUS.
Reporting Tools
To use reporting tools available at MIT, you must create authorizations. If you require assistance obtaining authorizations, contact your school coordinator in FSS or the BLT. Many of the reports available to you can be found at the MIT Data Warehouse. Reports we find exceptionally useful for DLC management include:
- Cost Collector Balances: This report draws information by DLC (or Profit Center). Use the two detail tabs to provide financial status by supervisor (Supervisor Report) and by cost collector type (for example, Cost Center, Internal Order, and WBS Element/Project).
- Department Head Role Cost Objects: This report finds all supervisors linked to a specified DLC by at least one cost object and finds all cost objects supervised by each.
- Monthly Actuals : This report displays FYTD (Fiscal Year to Date) actual expenses by GL account in a month-by-month format. Although this report was designed for a single cost object, you can make it pull information on multiple cost objects by using a comma (e.g. 100100, 100101, 100102, and so forth).
- Telephone Charges by Extension: This report lists all calls for each extension your unit is paying for. This is a useful way to track telecom expenses.
Roles (Website vs. Application)
The Roles database provides a consistent way to store and maintain access rules for other applications, such as SAP. The associated user front-end application serves as a common tool for users in offices and labs to maintain access rules (authorizations) for their systems. Authorizations are stored in the Roles system's central database. You use the front-end application to display, create, or modify them. Limited read-only access is also available via a web interface.
The Roles database does not enforce the access rules that it maintains. It only collects the information and distributes it to the appropriate applications, usually as a nightly data feed. Applications with an interface to the Roles database interpret the access rules from the Roles database and enforce them.
- For information about the Roles database, such as installing the software, see The Roles Database.
- For help about the Roles database, see Roles Database Help and Documentation.
- For view-only access to the Roles database, see Roles Web Site.
SAP
SAP is the system of record for financial accounting and reporting at MIT. It is also used for purchasing goods and services.
- For general information about SAP, such as accessing SAP and update news about SAP, see SAP information.
- For information about SAP training, such as available courses and registration forms, see SAP Training.
SAPWeb
MIT developed and maintains SAPWeb, a Web interface to the purchasing component of SAP. For information, see SAPWeb.
Software and Systems Training
Formal software and systems training is available through the MIT Information Systems and Human Resources' Organization & Human Development. Information on course offerings, schedules and registration can be found at Computer Training and Human Resources' Training & Professional Development.
Sponsored Programs Training
- Sponsored Programs: Assistance and Procurement Terms: OMB Circular A-110
- Sponsored Programs: Cost Principles A-21 & CAS
- Sponsored Programs: Post Award Process, Project End and Close-Out
- Sponsored Programs: Post-Award Process, Project Administration & Reporting
- Sponsored Programs: Post-Award Process, Project Start Up
- Sponsored Programs: Pre-Award Process
- Sponsored Programs: Rates: F&A, EB and Allocation
SumMIT
SumMIT provides user-friendly access to data residing on the MITVMA and MITVMC mainframes. As of June 1999, only SumMIT's payroll (E-Time, ESandi) and property (SumProp) applications maintain current data. For information, see SumMIT.