An Overview of CPATH

October 16, 2014

What is Capital Planning at Harvard (“CPATH”)?
Capital Planning at Harvard (CPATH) is an automated, web-based, and centralized system that will collect and report on the University’s annual five-year capital plan.  CPATH will also provide Schools/Units the opportunity to manage individual project information in their capital plan portfolio throughout the year.  

What are the major benefits [functionalities] provided by CPATH?
CPATH will collect valuable capital project information, such as project level details and financial forecasts, coupled with robust reporting features.  Additionally, CPATH functionality will eliminate the labor intensive processes for Schools/Units and Central Administration during capital plan season by providing a centralized system with enhanced data validations.

CPATH will be integrated with the CAPS automated system and the data warehouse which will eliminate double data-entry for common fields and provide accurate approval information. It will also be linked to the general ledger to pull both project-to-date and fiscal year-to-date spending.

Who should use CPATH?
CPATH will be utilized by those Schools/Units with capital projects.  It is designed to be used on a daily basis to manage each School/Unit’s capital project portfolio. During the annual capital plan submission and review period, which occurs each February through April, other interested parties will utilize CPATH for financial analysis, correspondence, and review of the capital plan. Some of these groups include: Financial Administration (FAD), Harvard Planning & Project Management (HPPM) and other interested parties within Central Administration (CADM).

How is CPATH access granted?
Schools/Units will communicate to the project team those users who will have access upon go-live. Future requests for access should be submitted to Financial Systems Solutions Client Services through each School/Unit’s designated authorized requestor(s). More information will be provided regarding access on the CAPS website (http://capitalprojectservices.harvard.edu) in the upcoming weeks.

Will there be CPATH training?
User-training sessions will be held at 124 Mt. Auburn Street in Cambridge at the end of October/early November.  Schools/Units will be notified of the specific dates in the near future. In addition, the CAPS team will offer School/Unit level and individual training sessions, if requested. Other training materials such as reference guides, tips and tricks, and “how-to” guides will be provided on the CAPS website (http://capitalprojectservices.harvard.edu) in November.

How can I find out more information about CPATH?
If you have questions concerning CPATH, please contact CAPS (CAPS@harvard.edu).