Stuff You Should Know (SYSK) is a recurring meeting series available to all staff who want to learn about various aspects of Vanderbilt’s administrative enterprise. The series aims to provide a collaborative understanding across campus units of processes and practices relating to finance and other administrative tasks and maximize efficient operations by creating a shared network of knowledge.
SYSK organizes topics and presentations approximately every other month. Invitations are typically sent about a month in advance; dates and times vary to accommodate presenters’ availability. All sessions are recorded and available at any time to review and share on the SYSK Teams Channel. Past sessions have included topics such as:
- Oracle Reporting
- How to Plan an Event on Campus
- Procurement and Payables Impact on Commitments, Encumbrances and Quarterly Processes
- Procurement Contracts: Spotlight on Professional Services
- Expense Reports Tips and Tricks
- Know Your Human Resources
- What is CTTC and Why Do You and Vanderbilt Need It
- Hidden Benefits: Vanderbilt Credit Union
The next session will be on Friday, Sept. 22, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Teams. The session, A Peek Under the Hood of the Fringe Benefits Rate, is an exciting opportunity to learn about what goes into the fringe benefits rate and the rate setting process.
To receive an Outlook invitation to future sessions and access to the Teams channel, please register here.
SYSK is creating a curriculum for FY24 and soliciting ideas for upcoming meeting topics. If you have recommendations or would like to weigh in on some proposed topics, please complete this survey.
If you have any thoughts or questions, you can reach out to the SYSK leadership team, which is made up of four individuals from various departments across campus:
- Austin Fann, administrative manager, Office of the Provost
- Salman Farabi, finance manager, Owen Graduate School of Management
- Emma Pacilli, administrative officer, Shared Resource Cores, School of Medicine
- Alex Shea, director of business operations, Division of Government and Community Relations