ECRT Overview

On July 1, 2009, Duke launched a new effort reporting effort system named ECRT (Effort Certification and Reporting Technology).

This new system is web-based and replaces the current 30-year-old paper-based Monitored Workload system. With the advent of recent technology enhancements and continued Federal audit focus on effort reporting, this application replacing the existing system adds significant additional effort management functionality. The ECRT system integrates Duke University’s financial, payroll, and research administrative functions; and is designed to enhance compliance management, improve financial information for academic units through comprehensive reporting, and significantly reduce the administrative burden of the effort reporting process.

In it’s first phase, ECRT supports the following:

• Annual effort certifications;
• The quarterly notification process;
• Total professional effort (TPE);
• Effort supporting Duke University Hospitals; and
• Management reporting of effort data

Each department will have two groups of ECRT users:

• Effort Coordinators, who will be responsible for the final review and processing of completed effort statements. (They may begin using the system after completing in-class training.)
• Certifiers, faculty, and staff responsible for reporting their effort. (They may begin using the system on or about August 17, in time to complete annual effort certifications. Brief, on-line training will be offered during the first two weeks of August.)
• Materials also will be available for business manager review

Certifiers will experience a number of benefits using ECRT. Some of these include:

• No more paper forms. Certifiers will be able to find forms and information easier.
• Easy access using the Duke@Work website. Certifiers will enter using their NetID and password.
• Increased availability. Since ECRT is web-based, certifiers can work in the system anyplace they have an Internet connection. In addition, information contained in ECRT will be available for review throughout the fiscal year.
• Efficient routing of forms. Effort statements will move electronically from the certifier to the department’s effort coordinator, and then to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).
• One system supports multiple types of certifications. Integration of effort reporting and iForms to make payroll allocation adjustments

 

Contact Information

If you have questions concerning ECRT, please email ECRT Support.