FSPT Project: Stipends Module Go Live

We are thrilled to announce that the Stipends Module of the new Financial Support Payments Tool (FSPT) was used to successfully disburse $2 million in non-employment graduate student stipends on January 26, 2026. This milestone, which has been years in the making, represents a significant advancement in how UC San Diego processes graduate student funding, transforming a manual process with multiple touchpoints into a more streamlined and efficient workflow.

Project Summary

The FSPT Project is one of many efforts currently underway as part of the Enterprise Systems Renewal (ESR) Student Information System (SIS) Project. Over the past few years, the FSPT Project team has been working to replace the current Financial Support Request Tool (FSRT) to enhance how we manage graduate student financial support across the university. This project is a collaboration between IT Services and the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs’ (GEPA) Financial Support Unit (FSU), who will serve as the future owners and stewards of the tool after project completion in 2027.

Go-Live & Preparing Users

The project's phased approach focuses on ensuring a smooth transition for all stakeholders. The Stipends Module strategically went live on December 8, 2025 to ensure users could complete comprehensive training and obtain necessary access before the January 2026 stipends disbursement.

Training and preparation activities included both in-person and online training sessions supplemented with step-by-step instructional guides on GEPA Campus Partners Confluence space, FAQ documents, and resources as well as dedicated office hours and 1:1 sessions. Users are encouraged to view the FSPT Project webpage, which is updated regularly, for available support.

As the FSPT application continues to be developed for future phases, enhancements will be assessed and implemented over time based on user feedback and project priorities. Our Stipends Resource Guide provides several opportunities for users to connect with the project team.

What Comes Next

While the Stipends Module now live, work continues with the Fee Payments & Fee Remission Module which is expected to launch after the Triton Student System (TSS) is live.

Due to this parallel work, users will be transacting in two applications until further notice:

FSPT: All non-employment graduate stipends dated January 1, 2026 and beyond are entered and processed through FSPT. At this time, FSPT accepts stipend entries dated through June 30, 2026. Users will be notified when FSPT becomes available for the 2026-2027 academic year.
FSRT: All adjustments or edits to stipends dated December 31, 2025 and earlier must still be made in FSRT. Fee payments and fee remissions continue to be processed in FSRT at this time.

Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons, the SIS Project sponsor, and the governance committee express gratitude to the GEPA FSU, IT Services, and all stakeholders and end users who have contributed to this successful go-live. Your dedication, patience, and collaboration have been paramount to reaching this milestone.

To learn more, view resources, and stay informed, please visit the FSPT Project webpage. For questions or concerns, please contact the project team at fspt@ucsd.edu or esr-student@ucsd.edu.

Christine Alvarado
Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Educational Innovation
Co-Chair, Student Information System (SIS) Project Governance Committee

Jonathan Whitman
Senior Director, Student Information Services, IT Services
Co-Chair, Student Information System (SIS) Project Governance Committee

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