Welcome to Columbia University Purchasing

New Change Order Module Launched, Helps Beat End of FY Rush

May 15, 2006

Over the next several months, the Purchasing Office and Accounts Payable will phase in a number of improvements designed to minimize paperwork, improve financial controls and order tracking, and speed up processing of orders.

The first phase of the rollout, an electronic Change Order module, went live in FinSys, the web-based version of FFE, on March 20. The Purchasing Office will continue to accept the paper-based change order form through July 1, 2006. After this date, change orders must be generated electronically. Key features of the electronic module include:

• Change orders may be entered into FinSys by authorized users and approved by DAFs. This mirrors the way EZPOs and central purchase requisitions are entered into the system.
• Change orders associated with any award that adds or removes funds without altering an agreement with a vendor may be executed directly by a DAF without Purchasing Office review.
• Change orders associated with Purchasing Office issued purchase orders that alter the terms of an agreement with a vendor may be entered and approved by a DAF for Purchasing Office review. As with purchase requisitions, the status of change orders may be tracked in FinSys.

To access the FinSys Change Order module, visit the MyColumbia portal at http://my.columbia.edu. Users must have a valid FFE ID and at least inquiry access to the Purchasing Requisition module.

For more information on the Change Order module, training manuals, and related materials, visit www.columbia.edu/purchasing/changeorders.html or contact Terry Park at tp194@columbia.edu or 212-854-7342.