A case is the Opus functionality associated with academic personnel actions at UCLA. It is also the means by which academic appointment data, which is housed in Opus, is created and/or updated.
Two Sides of a Case
Cases often exist in both Opus and Interfolio. Each portion provides unique functionality:
The Opus side: Associated with appointment data, and may update this data when complete.
The Interfolio side (the dossier): Houses most dossier materials (some dossiers can’t be completely digitized) and provides functionality to compile, store and share them.
Most cases feature both of these portions, but some cases only appear in Opus, however cases never appear in Interfolio without first appearing in Opus. Whether a case appears in Interfolio depends on whether the case requires a dossier — if it doesn’t, then it won’t appear in Interfolio, since Interfolio deals only with the dossier.
Opus Is Fundamental
The fact that all cases appear in Opus while only some (in truth, most) appear in Interfolio implies an important point: the Opus portion is primary, and the Interfolio portion is secondary. This is also reflected in the life cycle of the case, which both starts and ends in Opus:
Case is created in Opus.
Case is continued from Opus into Interfolio.
Dossier is compiled, shared, certified, reviewed, etc. in Interfolio.
Case is completed in Opus (which automatically completes the Interfolio portion as well).
Opus data is updated on the case’s Effective Date.
This primary/secondary relationship is also evident when we recall the overall goals of an Opus case, which are: (1) To facilitate academic personnel actions, and (2) To modify Opus data. The Opus portion of a case is closely associated with both of these, while Interfolio “just” handles dossier tasks (which account for the majority of “academic review”).
Please Remember
One goal of cases is to facilitate academic personnel actions.
The other goal is to create or update academic personnel data in Opus.
Cases are always started in Opus, never in Interfolio.
Cases are always completed in Opus, which provides options for automatically completing them in Interfolio as well.
Case materials (dossier) are always housed in Interfolio.
Dossier routing (sending forward, etc.) is always handled through Interfolio.
Review candidates and committee members only access the dossier through Interfolio — these users don’t typically log into Opus.
See Also
What Is in the Opus Portion of a Case?
What Is in the Interfolio Portion of a Case?
How Do Profiles, Appointments and Cases Relate?