Frequently Asked Questions

PeopleSoft – Human Resources Management System

PSHR - February 2005

Q: When will the new Peoplesoft – HR System be placed in production?

A: The system will officially in production on February 28, 2005 . All payrolls from March will run from the new system. PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW YOUR CHECKSTUB at http://www.easyview.gsu.edu/ during the month of March. Please verify all deductions and receipt of funds at your bank.

Q: What modules comprise the HR- Management System?

A: Georgia State University installed payroll, benefits, recruit workforce, and manage faculty events (MFE). MFE will replace the Faculty Information System (FIS).

Q: Who will have access to the PSHR?

A: Human Resource employees will of course have access to PSHR. All the previous FIS users will be given access to MFE. Persons that have employees who are paid hourly will have access to the timesheet function.

Q: How does the security work in the PSHR?

A: The PSHR is set up with “role based security”, which means that the people who have access can only view the parts of the system that are needed to perform their jobs. They will also be limited to viewing the department or college that they are assigned to.

Q: Can PSHR be accessed from outside of Georgia State University ?

A: PSHR can only be accessed outside of GSU if you have a Virtual Privacy Network (VPN) account setup through IS&T. The VPN then offers another layer of protection.

Q: How do I set up a VPN?

A: Contact the IS&T help desk at 1-4507 or download the VPN client to your computer by going to http://www.wireless.gsu.edu/

Q: How can I obtain access to the PSHR?

A: If you already have a UserID setup, then simply go to the Human Resources home page and click on the PSHR button (after Feb. 28). If you do not have a UserID, then complete the form found at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwspc/Forms/useraccessrequest.doc and submit to the Spectrum Office.

Q: What will be the format for the password?

A: The initial password of a person approved to use PSHR will be determined by the system security administrator (UserID is case sensitive). After the first sign-on, the user will be required to change their password per the following requirements:

• Minimum Length: 8 characters
• Character requirements: 1 special character required
• Password expires in 90 days, warn for 5 days
• Password cannot match your UserID

Q: When are the training classes being offered?

A: Training is going on now. You can view all training dates by going to the project website at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwvpf/PeopleSoftHRMS/Training.htm. Eventually, the training classes will be scheduled and offered in conjunction with the Spectrum – Financial System.

Q: Whom do I contact if I have problems accessing the PSHR?

A: If you have a computer related problem, please contact the IS&T help desk at 1-4507. If you have questions about your pay or deductions, please contact the payroll office at 1-2380.

Q: Will we still use easyview.gsu.edu to view our paystub?

A: Yes. Please remind all employees to verify their paystub during the month of March. Notify payroll at 1-2380 of any problems.

Q: Will there be any difference in my pay caused by the new payroll system?

A: Yes. PSHR withholds State tax based on all allowable categories of dependents. PPS was only able to withhold based on one type and calculated everyone at the higher withholding rate. Because of this new feature, some faculty and staff may notice a decrease in State withholding of $4 - $15 per pay period, which will translate into a higher net pay.

Q: What happened to all the information in the “old” payroll system?

A: Over 16 years and 5 million records were converted from the old PPS to the PSHR.

Q: Will I be able to update my benefits on-line?

A: In the future, we plan to add this capability. Our current priorities are to stabilize the payroll system and then begin to look at changes and enhancements we need to make to the system.

Q: We had a budget cut this year. How can Ga. State afford a new HR computer system?

A: Georgia State University was compelled to install the HR system this year because the BOR required that we switch from FIS to MFE and the MFE module could not be installed in isolation from the entire HR system. There was also a concern about the age of the current payroll system and the need to remove systems from the mainframe. Cutting the mainframe off will save us about $350,000 per year.

Q: Will the merger between Peoplesoft and Oracle cause a problem for us?

A: Senior leadership continues to watch developments and do not feel that we will be impacted by the merger in the near future. Long term, Georgia State University and the BOR may have to make a change based on the development between PeopleSoft and Oracle.

Q: Spectrum, our financial system is also a PeopleSoft product. When will it become a web-based application?

A: We would like to migrate the current system to a web-based platform within the next 2-3 years. This decision could depend on what happens with the PeopleSoft/Oracle merger.

Q: What will happen to the “old” payroll and faculty information system?

A: The PPS and FIS are both mainframe systems and will be unavailable for viewing as of 2/22/2002 and officially decommissioned (turned off) at the end of April, 2005.