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RAPTOR - Frequently Asked Questions

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What is RAPTOR?
RAPTOR stands for Resource Allocation Planning Tool for Operational Reporting.
It is a Budget and Resource Planning system, owned by Axiom/Strata, that will provide a 'single source of truth’ which will integrate the operational budget, long term plan, and strategic initiatives.
This will be accomplished through process improvement and the establishment of best practices (Organization of the Future initiative)
Why did Lehigh implement a new Budgeting/Resource Planning tool?
• The allocation of resources is an essential component of operationalizing and bringing to life our educational and research missions.
• Connecting resources to our long term planning and strategic initiatives will be critical to our efforts.
• Lehigh needs a structured and disciplined approach to allocating resources for operational budgets, long range forecasting and strategic planning.
• Lehigh needs to continue to analyze, compare and present various financial models that will allow us to make the best use of resources, both now and going forward.
• Updating the Budget System is of the utmost importance as the need for data driven resource planning (Decision making informed by qualitative and quantitative data and analysis initiative) becomes increasingly critical.
What are the benefits of this new tool?
The new Budgeting / Resource Planning tool will 
 
• be more efficient and decision oriented
• minimize end-user effort
• have a unified approach
• streamline effort across campus and streamline user experience
• develop, track, forecast and manage budgets/projections through the year
• increase transparency, accuracy and confidence in budgets and forecasts
Who will use RAPTOR and how do I get access to use it?
Anyone with fiscal or financial responsibilities including :
• Budget Office staff
• Business Managers
• Deans / VPs
• VP of F&A / Provost
 
If your position falls into one of these categories, Budget Office staff will notify you when your access is active.
What data was brought into RAPTOR?

Financial data from Banner including budgets, general ledger transactions and faculty and staff positions were imported into RAPTOR, starting with Fiscal Year 2022.

What is changing about submitting budgets and/or budget requests?

Rather than using Desktop Finance uploads, paper submissions and the Qualtrics survey, you will now use this new tool.

What are the biggest changes to the Budgeting / Resource Planning process?
Process Comparison Existing Resource Planning  Process RAPTOR Resource Planning Process

Efficient and decision oriented; Minimize end-user effort

 No Yes
Spreadsheet based; various formats Yes No
Unified approach; streamline effort across campus; streamline user experience No Yes

Develop, track, forecast and manage budgets/projections through the year

 No Yes

Increase transparency, accuracy and confidence in budgets and forecasts

 No Yes

 

Will there be training sessions available?

We will be holding individualized training sessions for each department.

  • September and October 2024 for Reporting
  • November and December 2024 for Budget Requests, Budgeting & Forecasting
  • December 2024 and January 2025 - appointments while the Budget Requests and Budgeting workflows are active

See the training webpage for more information and registration links.

How do I log into RAPTOR?

Go to lehigh.axiom.cloud and log in using your Lehigh SSO login information.

You'll see a screen that looks something like the screenshot below.

If you have any issues logging in, please email raptor@lehigh.edu for assistance.

Who do I contact for questions or feedback?

Please email raptor@lehigh.edu with any questions or concerns.