Upcoming Deadlines
- Friday, 3/6 - Queue commitments for Q3 requests
- Friday, 3/20 - Complete External Audit Activity Report for Q3
- Friday, 3/20 - Submit completed and approved Org Tree change requests
- Tuesday, 3/24 - Submit Form A templates
Federal Updates
Please be aware of two resources regarding the evolving federal policy shifts: the UCOP Federal updates page and the UC Berkeley Federal updates page, which will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
Budget Process
Budget process update
The FY2026–27 budget process timeline is now posted on the website. The call letter, templates, guidelines, and detailed assumptions will be available the week of March 2. Throughout the cycle, the FY2026–27 budget process webpage will serve as the central hub for all materials, guidance, and updates.
New Intersection Detail Reports (IDRs)
New Intersection Detail Reports (IDRs) will be uploaded to the divisional folders by the end of today, Friday, February 27. The new IDRs include the FY26 Q3 – Q4 Forecast Plan and FY27 – FY29 Operating Budget data obtained on February 18. Any changes after this date will not be included in the IDR upload.
Budget Refresher (CalPlanning)
Our FY27 Budget Refresher is a one-hour update that reviews what is already in the FY2026-27 budget, highlights new features, shares planning tips, and answers users’ questions related to updating their budgets. Three identical sessions are scheduled for your convenience. Follow a link to add the session to your calendar. It is not necessary to register in advance.
Tuesday, March 10, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, March 12, 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18, 10:00 a.m.
CalPlanning availability
The planning tools CalPlan and HCP are unavailable for edits while we make updates to the system for the budget process. While the planning tools are down, we’ll actualize the Forecast and update central transfers for FY26 and FY27. We will also load updated UCPath HCM data for planners to review and selectively copy to HCP. The CalRptg and HCPRptg reporting applications will continue to be available to run reports and Smart View queries.
Form A templates are due Tuesday, March 24
Form A helps plan campus support for faculty appointments. The form documents anticipated changes in permanently budgeted state-funded faculty for a division’s Forecast and Operating Budget. Form A templates are in your Divisional Folders under the FY2026-27 Budget Process folder. Please download, review, and upload your completed Form A to the same folder by March 24, 2026. Once you have uploaded your division’s completed Form A, please email the Financial Planning & Analysis team at dfl_concierge@berkeley.edu to let them know you completed it.
Action Items
Queue commitments for Q3 requests by Friday, March 6
Please complete the commitment queue form by Friday, March 6, for commitments to be funded in the third quarter of FY2025-26. Please note that the following commitments do not need to be queued: Budget Decisions; EVCP TAS; Star Awards; Bear Grants; both Productivity Suite and Campus Data Network assessments and endowment payouts for rotating chairs. Commitments are processed quarterly. You only need to use one commitment queue Google Form to submit your funding requests for both faculty and non-faculty commitments. Faculty commitments are defined for this purpose as Start-up; Retention; ASMD; and Chancellor's Professorships. Chancellor’s Professorships are those that are offered via start-up or retention in lieu of an actual chair - until one can be found, and are funded by central resources. For more information on queueing commitments and required documentation, please visit the Commitments page. Please note that if you are working remotely, you must log in through VPN for these forms to work. Please email dfl_concierge@berkeley.edu with questions.
Complete External Audit Certification for Q3 by Friday, March 20
To ensure the completeness and accuracy of the quarterly Controller's report on the campus’ external audit activities, please help us identify those activities. The Controller's Office is sending a separate email with additional information to DFLs with known external audit activity. By Friday, March 20, please submit the materials below to gao@berkeley.edu:
- All DFLs need to complete the External Audit Confirmation Form. You must return the completed External Audit Confirmation Form even if you do not have any external audit activities so that we can certify campus responses.
- DFLs with external audit activities need to complete the External Audit Confirmation Template. Include any related documentation with the template, i.e., notification of the commencement of the audit, audit report, etc.
If you have questions, please contact gao@berkeley.edu.
Submit completed and approved Org Tree change requests by Friday, March 20
To submit an Org Change request, please access the Organizational Tree Change Request Portal. For Org Tree changes to be processed in March, please complete your org change request form in the portal as early as possible to allow time for the Org Tree Change Committee to review and route for all required approvals by the March 20 deadline. Please review the Org Tree Change Request Portal Job Aid for more information on how to get started. Contact dfl_concierge@berkeley.edu with questions.
Informational Updates
FY27 budgeted recharge rates are available
The recharge website has been updated to include the FY27 recharge rates approved for budgeting purposes only. We will be reviewing the submitted rates in detail in the coming weeks and will approve the rates for use in FY27 by June 5. Thank you to all the recharge units for their effort in submitting their recharge rate for FY27. Please email recharge_certification@berkeley.edu with questions.
Spring Release coming up on March 20
The Berkeley Financial System (BFS) team is updating the BFS system to stay up-to-date with security recommendations and best practices. The upgrade will take place from Friday, March 20, 2026, from 6 AM to 6 PM. The key update for this release is improving digital accessibility on the online Chart of Account (COA) Validation and the Org Tree pages, ensuring a more inclusive design in compliance with the UC Information Technology Accessibility Policy. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the BFS Help Desk at bfs@berkeley.edu.
Review February’s updated unused airline ticket credits
Please review the February 2026 UC Berkeley Monthly Unused Ticket Report to ensure your unit's travel credits are used before expiration. If an employee has left UC Berkeley, their credits may be eligible for use by other staff. Please contact the UC Travel Center at 310-206-2639 or travel@finance.ucla.edu to learn how to use the applicable credit. Read more in the Unused Airline Ticket Credit Alert (February 2026).
Cal Answers Training
The Cal Answers website hosts self-service learning resources, including a complete course on basic navigation, short videos, job aids, wiki documentation, and a list of frequently asked questions.
CalPlanning and Smart View Training
We have an abundance of self-study materials that you can explore at your own pace and on your own schedule. Please consult the CalPlanning training web page for more information on upcoming class schedules and to access all self-study materials. We will add schedules and links to enroll in Instructor-led classes that will resume after curtailment.
Changes to the DFL in Your Division
If the DFL role in your division is changing, email fpa@berkeley.edu to ensure our website, communications, and training plans are updated.
DFL Weekly Updates Page
As a reminder, these updates are regularly posted to the DFL Weekly Updates page so you can reference past updates at any time. Additionally, the Operational Deadlines page provides an overview of deliverables by quarter.
Thank you,
Office of the Vice Chancellor of Finance