Blink is an online source of information, training, and tools for UCSD staff and faculty. First launched in 2001, it now contains more 3,700 pages to help you become more effective and efficient at work.

The site is managed and updated by the Portal Services team in coordination with subject-matter experts from departments throughout campus. Blink's Publishing Guide describes how to work with the Portal Services team to add information to Blink.

Blink aims to integrate business processes, training, and tools with information organized by services, topics, and tasks.

You can search for information and navigate through Blink in several ways:

• The keyword search and campus directory search at the top-right of each page
• The yellow tabs at the top of each page
• An A-Z index list at the bottom of each page

What's on the tabs?

The Blink home page and the primary sub-pages, or tabs, provide initial topic navigation. They also provide top-level categories of information and services related to campus business.

• Blink's Buying tab focuses on purchasing topics, from what to buy to how to process the purchase, to shipping, reimbursements, and more.
• The Facilities tab highlights building projects, campus environmental/ sustainability efforts, infrastructure and construction information, and more.
• The Finance tab offers easy access to information about UCSD's financial processes and tools, from general accounting to tax reporting, cashiering services, and more.
• The People tab gives easy access to human-resources information: benefits, hiring, supervision, career development, child care, and more.
• The Research tab covers grant administration, lab safety, hazardous materials, and more.
• The Safety tab contains information about emergency and police services, ergonomics for office equipment, work-related injury and illness, research safety and materials handling, and more.
• The Student/ Class Info tab includes content for faculty and staff who serve students, including class and majors lists, DARS audits, enrollment and grade information, and more.
• The Technology tab covers computer and network security, disposal of electronic devices, workplace security, e-mail, hardware and software, multimedia, and more.
• The Travel tab highlights travel and entertainment information, with links to travel-related tools to help you book a trip, report travel expenses, and more.

Background and history

Blink is one of several business-process initiatives developed by Administrative Computing and Telecommunications (ACT).

By the mid-1990s, efforts were well under way at UCSD to streamline administrative processes and make the vast amount of campus business information more accessible. It became evident that departments could benefit from a central Web-based system of guidelines for policy information, to help with daily administrative activities.

In August 1996, a task force comprising academic and administrative staff was created and given the task of defining the essential elements of a Web-based business portal.

The task force's final report, issued in 1997, recommended an online system that would provide UCSD staff members with all of the necessary information to conduct business: purchasing, payroll, personnel, benefits, parking, etc.

A prototype of the system debuted in March 1997 and was called GO!. From this prototype, the Blink project was born. The name "Blink" was chosen as shorthand for the term "business link."

Many of Blink's central concepts stem from a methodology known as Electronic Performance Support Systems, defined as "a system that provides employees with the services, processes, information, advice, and learning experiences they need to do their job and get up to speed as quickly as possible with minimum support from other people."

Project sponsors

The Blink project is championed by Steve Relyea, vice chancellor of Business Affairs. His vision and leadership have made this an organizational priority to benefit support staff across the UCSD campus.

The Blink Sponsors Group comprises:

• Steve Relyea, vice chancellor, Business Affairs
• Thomas Leet, assistant vice chancellor, Human Resources
• Elazar Harel, assistant vice chancellor, Administrative Computing and Telecommunications
• Don Larson, assistant vice chancellor, Business and Financial Services