WaveNet Upgrade
Overview
For fall 2021, Information Technology is excited to announce a significant upgrade to WaveNet. The updates bring many enhancements to multiple areas within WaveNet. Overall, the WaveNet upgrade offers several key improvements:
- The appearance will provide a more modern, user-friendly experience.
- The system will be more mobile-friendly on smartphones and tablets.
- Many features or functions will be consolidated, such as the new "Approvals" feature in the Finance System.
- Pepperdine will enjoy the latest Peoplesoft platform which will provide opportunities for the development of new features in the future.
Extended Downtime
WaveNet will be unavailable from Friday, November 19 at 6 PM (PST) to Monday, November 22, 2021 at 6 AM. This extended downtime is needed to implement important upgrades to the system. Thank you for your patience and understanding so we can improve your WaveNet experience.
Although WaveNet will be unavailable during the upgrade weekend, other tools will not be affected and will be accessible through their direct links:
Clear Your Cache After the Upgrade
As a reminder, after a major upgrade to most services, you want to clear your web browser cache. This step is critical to enjoy the new look-and-feel and avoid errors or issues.
What's Changing?
The previous major upgrade to WaveNet enhanced the student experience as well as the employee self-service features. In this new upgrade, the remaining systems -- Finance and Student Administration -- now feature the improved user interface design, along with a few other enhancements.
Big Picture: How you access a tool or function may have changed with the new user interface, but the steps to use each tool will be very familiar if not exactly the same as before. We hope that you enjoy the enhanced consistency across the systems and a more intuitive way to get your work done in WaveNet.
School staff members that administer academic programs, schedule classes, and oversee other student administrative operations will enjoy a new "Student System" (aka PeopleSoft Campus Solution) within WaveNet.
How to Access the Student System
- Log in to WaveNet.
- Select the Employee tab (if not already selected).
- Select the Student System link under the "Employee Services" heading.
- The student system will appear in a new browser tab or window. Be sure to allow pop-ups if prompted to do so.
How to Navigate the Student System
A new, intuitive "tile" interface allows academic staff to access, use, or manage the features within the Student System.
- Select a homepage from the top, center drop-down menu to jump to a school homepage (if one had been requested by a school).
- Select a tile (e.g. "Student Personal Information") to access the folders, tools, or pages within that category.
- Select the Home icon to return to the main Student Administration homepage at any time.
- Select the Actions icon (three dots) to add pages to favorites, open pages in new windows, manage preferences, and more.
- Select the NavBar icon (compass) to navigate the system through links or to jump to recent places or favorites.
- Select the Refresh icon (circle arrow) to update or reload the current page.
Select Your School Homepage
All schools will have a new homepage for their school and area, if one had been requested. Each homepage will contain the menu of tiles for features within that work center.
- From the top banner, select the drop-down menu.
- Choose the desired homepage.
- The appropriate tiles will appear for the pages or folders within that work center.
Customize Your Homepage Drop-Down Menu Order
- From the top banner, select the Actions icon (ellipsis or three vertical dots).
- Select Personalize Homepage.
- Drop and drop the menu item in the left homepage panel to the desired order.
- At the top right, click the Save button.
Customize Your Tile Order on a Homepage
- Go to the homepage.
- Drag and drop the tile into the desired location.
Can't Find Something? Use the Navigator!
The "NavBar" icon (compass) allows you to visit recent places, jump to your favorites, or access the navigator to access pages and tools through menus. To use the Navigator, do the following:
- At the top right, click the NavBar icon (compass).
- Click Navigator.
- Choose a menu item (e.g. "Records and Enrollment" or "Pepperdine CS") and navigate the menu for the page that you're looking for.
Favorite the Common Pages for Quick Access
- Visit a page or tool that you visit often.
- Select the Actions icon (three dots) near the top right.
- Select Add to Favorites to create a shortcut to this tool for the future.
- Next time, click the NavBar icon (compass) and select Favorites.
- Select a favorite to jump immediately to that page or tool.
For additional information, please reference the "Fluid Navigation and Homepage Guide."
Like the Student Administration System, the Finance System also gets a facelift in the new upgrade. All Finance System functions (travel and expense, credit cards, requisitions, etc.) are now accessible via the new "Finance Self-Service" link. Within the new Finance Self-Service system, there is also a new "Approvals" center that brings all approvals (e.g. expenses, requisitions) into a single work center. The Travel and Expense Report system has received some much needed improvements, and live training opportunities on the refreshed process can be found on the IT Training Calendar.
How to Access the Finance System
- Log in to WaveNet.
- Select the Employee tab (if not already selected).
- Select the Finance Self-Service link under the "Employee Services" heading.
- The Finance system will appear in a new browser tab or window. Be sure to allow pop-ups if prompted to do so.
How to Navigate the Finance Self-Service System
A new, intuitive "tile" interface allows employees to access, use, or manage the features of the Finance System to which they have permission. Most employees will have access to common services like Travel & Expense or Credit Card features, for example.
- Select a tile (e.g. "Finance Center" or "Expenses") to access the folders, tools, or pages within that category.
- Select the Home icon to return to the main Finance Self-Service homepage at any time.
- Select the Notifications icon (bell) to view any notices or alerts.
- Select the Actions icon (three dots) to add pages to favorites, open pages in new windows, manage preferences, and more.
- Select the NavBar icon (compass) to navigate the system through links or to jump to recent places or favorites.
- Select the Refresh icon (circle arrow) at the bottom right to update or reload the current page.
Note: Access to tools and features within the Finance System will depend on the security permissions granted to each person. Some employees may only see the "Expenses" center, while others will have more features. Your view may not match the image below.
New "Approvals" Center for Requisitions and Expenses
A new improvement to the WaveNet Finance System is the "Approvals" center. This new area consolidates requisition and expense requests into a single location. Review Finance's "How to Approve a Requisition" to learn the basics of the new Approvals center.
Note: "Credit Cards" and "Finance Security Form" approvals are the only features not centralized in the "Approvals" center. Please visit those separate areas for those specific approvals.
Visit "Finance Center" for Requisitions, Purchase Orders, Internal Requests, and More
The new "Finance Center" brings together multiple features:
- Requisitions
- Purchase Orders
- Vouchers and Internal Supplier
- Journal Inquiry and Chartfield
Visit "Expenses" for Travel and Expense Features
Whether you need to submit an expense report for reimbursement, request a travel cash advance, or view expense reporting, go to the new "Expenses" area.
Can't Find Something? Use the Navigator!
The "NavBar" icon (compass) allows you to visit recent places, jump to your favorites, or access the navigator to access pages and tools through menus. To use the Navigator, do the following:
- At the top right, click the NavBar icon (compass).
- Click Navigator.
- Choose a menu item (e.g. "Travel and Expense" or "Pepperdine") and navigate the menu for the page that you're looking for.
Training Resources Are Available
The Finance department is expanding its Finance Training resources and IT Training is offering Travel & Expense training in November and December.
- Check out Finance's new "How to Approve a Requisition" page.
- Sign up for a Travel & Expense online training session via the IT Training Event Calendar.
With the latest upgrade, all finance features -- from credit cards to purchase orders to travel and expense -- will be found in the new "Finance Self-Service" area.
- Log in to WaveNet.
- Select the Employee tab (if not already selected).
- Select the Finance Self-Service link under the "Employee Services" heading.
- The Finance system will appear in a new browser tab or window. Be sure to allow pop-ups if prompted to do so.
- Select Approvals to approve travel and expense reports or requisitions.
- Select Credit Cards to access the "Reallocation," "Substantiation", and "Approve Substantiation" tools.
- Select Expenses to "Create Expense Report" or "Travel Cash Advance".
- Select Finance Center for "Requisitions", "Purchase Orders", "Vouchers and Internal Suppliers", and "Journal Inquiry and Chartfield" tools.
Can't Find a Feature? Go to the Classic Menu in the Navigator!
Tiles are awesome and consolidate many features for the majority of users. If you are not finding a specific feature or if the "Approvals" tile does not appear, you can still access many features through the Navigator.
- Select the NavBar icon (compass).
- Select Navigator.
- Use the menu to find the tool or service you are looking for.
- Example: Need to approve a travel expense? Go to Travel and Expense > Approve Transactions > Approve Transactions.
The Navigator is helpful to find features through legacy or classic pathway names.
Staff members with access to the staff hiring portal will notice a name change. The link formerly titled "Employee Hiring" is now titled "Staff Recruitment Center." While the link name has changed, it still brings staff with access to this hiring portal to the same service.
Staff members with access to the Finance System can now find the security-related features to "Request/Modify Access,", "View Access," or "Approve Access" within the Finance Self-Service system.
- Log in to WaveNet.
- Select the Employee tab (if not already selected).
- Select the Finance Self-Service link under the "Employee Services" heading.
- The Finance System will appear in a new browser tab or window. Be sure to allow pop-ups if prompted to do so.
- Select the Finance Security Form tile.
- In the left navigation pane, select the appropriate option (e.g. "Request/Modify Access") and complete the steps as you did before the upgrade.
Although a minor change, you'll notice that the background for "Employee Self-Service" has changed from dark blue to light gray. This brings "Employee Self-Service" into alignment with all other WaveNet tools and the new interface. All other features within the service remain the same.
A huge benefit of the new WaveNet is that you can customize your experience! Explore the following options to make your life easier in WaveNet!
Create Your Own Homepage
You can add your favorite tools on a single homepage to quickly access them in one place.
- Log in to WaveNet.
- From the Employee tab, select the desired self-service tool (e.g. "Finance Self-Service" or "Student System").
- Go to the desired tool(s).
- From the Actions menu (three dots), select Add to Homepage.
- Important: Pay attention to the tile name in the Add a Homepage window! If the tile name is the category or folder name (e.g. Credit Cards) rather than the tool name (e.g. Reconcile Statement), you may need to click the "New Window" link at the top right of the tool page and then use the "Actions" > "Add to Homepage" process from that new window to add the specific tool directly.
- For a new homepage, enter the title of your homepage (e.g. "My Homepage") in the "Or create a new Homepage" box at the bottom and click Add.
- For an existing homepage, select the title from the Choose from available homepages.
- Repeat the process for any additional tools.
Access Your Custom Homepage
After you have created a custom homepage, it's easy to access it.
- Log in to WaveNet.
- From the Employee tab, select the desired self-service tool (e.g. "Finance Self-Service" or "Student System").
- From the middle drop-down menu at the top (e.g. "Employee Self-Service", "Finance
Self-Service" or "Pepperdine Community"), select your custom homepage.
- The homepage will display your saved tools.
Add Favorites
Save yourself clicks by saving tools or locations to your favorites in the new WaveNet interface.
- Log in to WaveNet.
- From the Employee tab, select the desired self-service tool (e.g. "Finance Self-Service" or "Student System").
- Navigate to the tool or page in question.
- From the Actions menu (three dots), select Add to Favorites.
- Important: Verify that "Favorite Label" is the desired tool or page name, not the category or tile name. If the label is not the specific tool or page name, close the favorite window, click the "New Window" link at the top right of the tool page, and repeat the "Actions" > "Add to Favorites" step.
- Edit the Favorite Label as desired.
- Click Add.
Access Your Favorites
After you have saved favorites, it's easy to access them.
- Log in to WaveNet.
- From the Employee tab, select the desired self-service tool (e.g. "Finance Self-Service" or "Student System").
- Select the NavBar icon (compass) at the top right.
- Select My Favorites.
- Select any favorite to jump to that page or tool.
Related Resources
- WaveNet Faculty and Staff Guides
- Finance Department Training Guides
- IT Training Event Calendar
- IT Training Video Center
Tech Central
Phone: 310.506.4357 (HELP)
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Have A Suggestion for IT?
Click to share your suggestion, anonymously if preferred, to improve Pepperdine IT.