RAPTOR - Resource Allocation Planning Tool for Operational Reporting

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We are pleased to share that the university is implementing a new budget system beginning this fall.  The new platform, which is named RAPTOR (Resource Allocation Planning Tool for Operational Reporting), creates significant process improvements that streamline and standardize resource planning across campus.

 

RAPTOR will provide a single source of truth for budget and financial data and a unified set of tools for many budget process tasks. It will integrate regularly updated data from Banner, providing accurate information and timely reporting capabilities. It will bring together budget processes that are currently accomplished through several separate practices, including:

 

  • Data entry
  • Request descriptions
  • Reporting
  • Review
  • In-year forecasting
  • Long-term forecasting
  • Labor planning (replacing merit spreadsheets)
  • Budget planning for all indexes (including endowment, gifts, and LU Funds)

 

​This website will be updated with more information, including training sessions and materials.  Please check back soon.

Project Timeline
Phase I - Fall 2024 Phase II - Spring 2025 Phase III - Fall 2025 Phase IV - Spring 2026
RAPTOR adopted campus wide RAPTOR used for approval process RAPTOR used for off-cycle budget requests; LADL tools available Budget dashboard and reporting
  • RAPTOR introduction and working / info sessions offered.
  • FY26 Budget requests entered in RAPTOR.
  • Quarterly reporting begins in RAPTOR.
  • Budget data available in Lehigh Administrative Data Lake.
  • FY26 Budget requests reviewed through RAPTOR and discussed at divisional meetings.
  • Provost and VPFA use RAPTOR to approve requests.
  • Labor planning replaces Merit process (spreadsheets).
  • FY26 Revenue and Expense budgets entered in RAPTOR.
  • All off-cycle budget requests go through RAPTOR workflow.
  • 3-5 year budget plans included in resource planning effort.
  • Executive and Budget Office staff have access to budget dashboards and other reporting tools for visualization (in RAPTOR / from LADL)

 

 

 
Resource Planning Comparison
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