CICS (UCRS)

CICS is the name generally ascribed to the UCRS online application. CICS stands for Customer Information Control System and is the IBM-supplied transaction processing system under which the UCRS application runs. IS&C runs CICS under the z/OS operating system (heretofore called ìMVSî or ìOS/390î).

The UCRS system also includes an extensive system of batch jobs.

The UCRS application has three major subsystems, MEM (Membership), ANN (Annuitant) and INS (Insurance). These applications are written in OS/390 COBOL and access data predominantly in DB2. CICS manages the interfaces between the online operator screens, the COBOL programs, and the DB2 data repository. The individual systems are described below.

• Annuitant System
  The Annuitant System handles payments to UCRP retirees, disabled members, survivors, and beneficiaries. This includes producing monthly checks and transmitting electronic payments to banks for posting to individual accounts. As part of this service, the Annuitant System handles the annual Cost of Living (COLA) adjustment processing, COLA guarantees for Social Security and UCRS payments, and tax reporting. In addition, it processes large numbers of adjustments, serves as the source for many different standard and ad hoc reports, and generates numerous sets of mailing labels. It also provides demographic information for the University's actuaries and accounting data to the General Ledger at the Los Angeles campus, and to the Office of Corporate Accounting. The system is modified each year to accommodate changes in the tax reporting regulations and in University benefits programs.



• Insurance System
  The Insurance System maintains records of enrollment in medical, dental, and legal insurance for eligible retired or disabled members (including UCRP members, PERS members, and the small number of members in other retirement systems) and survivors; it calculates retireesí deductions from annuity payments; and it transmits eligibility information to the insurance carriers. The system processes large numbers of adjustments, produces many different standard and ad hoc reports, and generates numerous sets of mailing labels. It also supplies accounting data to the General Ledger, which is operated by the Los Angeles campus, and to the Office of Corporate Accounting.



• Membership System
  The Membership System has three subsystems, which are described below: the core system, and the Loan System.
  
  

  The Membership System provides accounting information to the General Ledger which is operated by the Los Angeles campus; to the Office of Corporate Accounting for accounting purposes; to the Office of Human Resources and Benefit Programs for its annual report; to the external auditors for the annual audit; to the actuaries for analysis; and to the Calvert and Fidelity Investment Funds so that 403(b)7 member balances can be transferred to individual Calvert and Fidelity accounts. It interfaces with the Benefits Counseling System to provide information on service credit, fund participation, and loans and receives payroll data once a month from fifteen locations.

  The Membership System also processes large numbers of adjustments, produces many different standard and ad hoc reports, and generates numerous sets of mailing labels. It is modified each year to accommodate complex changes in the tax reporting regulations.

  The core system serves as the standard recordkeeping system for the UCRP, Defined Contribution, and the 403(b) Plans. It thus records member contributions; posts interest or gain/loss; processes systematic (regular) and non-periodic withdrawals (including tax reporting); and handles transfers between the six internally managed funds:

  • Savings Fund
  • ICC Fund
  • Money Market Fund
  • Equity Fund
  • Bond Fund
  • Multi-Asset Fund

  It also records service credit and covered compensation data for UCRP and produces the data used in semi-annual statements for UCRP members and all Defined Contribution and 403(b) Plan participants.

  The Loan System handles loans made to active members with 403(b) balances. This includes IVR-based and web-based application processes; initial loan funding; posting of the interest, principal, administrative fees, and repayment portions; and dealing with other aspects of loan administration such as prepayments, delinquent payments, curtailments, and adjustments. The system also provides quarterly loan data to the vendor who generates the loan statements.