Workday / Worktag Orientation
Overview
With the transition to Workday Finance, Macalester has moved from Banner FOAPALs to Worktags to categorize financial transactions. The resources below will help you understand the new Worktag structure, convert existing FOAPALs to Worktags, and build your own reference guide for the FOAPALs you use most often.
Resources for Transitioning to Workday
- FOAPAL to Worktag Mapping Overview
- Review the FOAPAL to Worktag Mapping Overview for a high-level comparison of how Banner FOAPAL elements correspond to Workday Worktags.
- Worktag Lookup Tool
- Use the Workday / Worktag Lookup Tool to convert an existing FOAPAL to the corresponding Workday Worktags.
- FOAPAL to Worktag Conversion Spreadsheet
- Make a copy of the FOAPAL to Worktag Conversion spreadsheet to create your own reference guide for the FOAPALs you use most frequently.
- Macalester Finance Approvals Explained
- Learn how Finance Approvals are streamlined an automated with Workday.
FOAPALs to Worktags
Before July 1st, Macalester used FOAPALs to categories expenditures and revenues to specific accounts on campus. With Workday, the way transactions are categorized has been reorganized. FOAPAL to Worktag Mapping Overview shows where elements of the FOAPAL are now with Workday. At a high level, FOAPAL elements are now:
FUND
Operating Funds (100000) are represented by Fund FN100
Non-Operating Funds (Grants, Specified Funds for Programs, Projects, Endownment Spending, Gifts) have been divided into their own Worktag (Grants, Projects, Designations, Gift) and associated to a Cost Center (CC####) and additional Worktags may help to further identify the responsible group or budgetary unit.
ORG
Cost Center (CC####) identifies the area in the College that is the responsible group or budgetary unit. Some ORGs have been re-categorized as Programs (PG#####) in order to more accurately group the financial activity.
ACCOUNT
Spend Category (SC###) OR Revenue Category (RC###) provide the granular details about the nature and circumstances of the transaction.
PROGRAM
Function FN##, helps to divide transactions of the College into larger categories for audit needs.
ACTIVITY
Activities AC#####, continues to provide a method to further categorize a transaction, as defined by the budgetary unit. Some ACTIVITY CODES have been re-categorized as Programs (PG#####) in order to more accurately group the financial activity.
LOCATION
Location continues to be used by some groups to identify the campus location of a financial activity.
Understanding Worktag Types
When you convert a FOAPAL using the Workday / Worktag Lookup Tool, you’ll typically receive multiple Worktags. The Worktag you enter in Workday depends on the type of financial activity you’re completing.
For example:
| Financial Activity | Worktag to Enter |
|---|---|
| Operating budgets | Cost Center (CC) |
| Non-operating transactions | Designation (DE), Project Code (PJ), or Gift (GF) |
| Program | Program (PG) |
| Grants | Grant (GR) |
Where You’ll Use Worktags
In Workday
The Workday business processes below automatically populate the Worktags associated with your department. If you need to charge a different Banner FOAPAL, first convert that FOAPAL using the Workday / Worktag Lookup Tool. Then enter the corresponding Cost Center, Program, Gift, Grant, Designation, or Project Code in Workday.
- Create Supplier Invoice Request
- Request payment of supplier invoices
- Submit a Standard Engagement Contract (SEC)
- Create Expense Report
- Reconcile Pcard transactions
- Request employee reimbursements
- Create Spend Authorization
- Request a Travel Advance for Macalester-related travel
Outside of Workday
Some processes and forms will continue to be initiated outside of Workday.
Through September 30, 2026, the Cashiering forms below will continue using Banner FOAPALs. Beginning September 1, use the Workday / Worktag Lookup Tool to convert your Banner FOAPALs to the Worktags needed to complete these forms.
- Department Deposit
- Petty Cash Request
- Cash Box Request
- Cash Advance Request