[{"id":2230,"date":"2026-09-15T14:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2230"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:10:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T19:10:44","slug":"unlocking-efficiency-hybrid-rental-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/unlocking-efficiency-hybrid-rental-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking Efficiency: Hybrid Rental Vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, selecting a hybrid at the rental counter felt like a special treat\u2014a high-tech premium reserved for luxury upgrades or specialized eco-conscious tiers. Times have changed. Hybrid technology has transitioned from a novelty to the industry baseline, transforming how major rental agencies classify and distribute these fuel-efficient vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hybrid rental vehicles are no longer categorized as an elite upgrade. They are a standard, practical choice designed to lower fuel expenses and streamline corporate travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What This Means for Preferred Vendors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shift toward hybrid adoption varies slightly depending on the vendor, but both Enterprise and Hertz make it effortless to choose a greener drive without breaking corporate rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enterprise Rent-A-Car:<\/strong> Enterprise now includes hybrid vehicles directly within their general inventory. Choosing a hybrid no longer requires navigating separate specialty categories or paying tier-upgrade fees. You can simply book a standard class and receive a hybrid car at no additional cost.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hertz:<\/strong> Hertz applies a slight upcharge for selecting a hybrid vehicle compared to a standard gas-only model. However, this minor fee is officially recognized as an allowable business expense, meaning you can take advantage of the added fuel savings without incurring out-of-pocket expenses or triggering expense compliance flags.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Remember the Core Travel Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While hybrid models are allowable, company travel guidelines still apply across all bookings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Policy Reminder:<\/strong> To remain compliant, employees must continue to book a mid-size or smaller vehicle class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Selecting a hybrid is fully supported, provided the underlying vehicle size matches standard policy limits (Economy, Compact, Intermediate, or Mid-size). Premium hybrid SUVs, full-size trucks, or luxury trims remain subject to standard upgrade restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please note: Fully electric vehicles are still not allowable by VCU guidelines at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next time business takes you on the road, consider booking a hybrid. You will enjoy a smoother ride, spend less time at the gas pump, and stay fully within policy guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For years, selecting a hybrid at the rental counter felt like a special treat\u2014a high-tech premium reserved for luxury upgrades or specialized eco-conscious tiers. Times have changed. Hybrid technology has transitioned from a novelty to the industry baseline, transforming how major rental agencies classify and distribute these fuel-efficient vehicles. Hybrid rental vehicles are no longer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2231,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[360,198,3],"class_list":["post-2230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-hybrid-vehicles","tag-rental-cars","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2230"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2233,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230\/revisions\/2233"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2227,"date":"2026-09-15T14:33:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2227"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:33:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:33:07","slug":"amtrak-to-suspend-virginia-to-d-c-service-for-critical-track-upgrades-oct-16-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/amtrak-to-suspend-virginia-to-d-c-service-for-critical-track-upgrades-oct-16-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Amtrak to suspend Virginia-to-D.C. service for critical track upgrades Oct. 16\u201326"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amtrak will temporarily suspend rail service between Virginia and Washington, D.C. from <strong>October 16 through October 26<\/strong>.&nbsp; This ten-day service disruption is connected to the multi-million dollar infrastructure initiative,&nbsp; known as <em>Pause for Progress<\/em>,&nbsp; reported earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Passengers traveling to and through the region should prepare for route changes and possible train cancellations.&nbsp; The 10-day shutdown is focused on replacing aging infrastructure at the A-Interlocking control point inside Washington D.C.\u2019s First Street Tunnel.&nbsp; As rail travelers know, this crucial junction acts as a rail traffic hub, routing all Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains between Virginia stations and Washington Union Station. Currently, the outdated switches and crossovers in the tunnel are well beyond their useful service life, forcing trains to slow to a restrictive 10 mph speed limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How Your Travel Will Be Affected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travelers heading to or from D.C. from southern origin points should expect significant disruptions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Alexandria Terminus:<\/strong> Most northbound trains traveling through Virginia will effectively stop at Alexandria, with only a handful continuing past the station.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Express Bus Alternatives:<\/strong> Most passenger trips originating from or heading to Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Hampton Roads will be served via express bus connections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>North of D.C.:<\/strong> Northeast Corridor service running north of Washington\u2014toward New York and Boston\u2014will operate under a normal schedule.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commuter Alternatives:<\/strong> VRE plans to run service to L\u2019Enfant Station in D.C. during the workweek (Oct. 19\u201323), while partnering agencies coordinate extra transfer options via WMATA (Metro).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While a 10-day disruption is far from convenient, transit leaders emphasize that the fix is necessary for safety and future expansion. Replacing A-Interlocking directly impacts a massive portion of the network, as over 40% of Amtrak Virginia passengers rely on this bottleneck to connect to the broader Northeast Corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full rail service is scheduled to resume the morning of <strong>October 26<\/strong>. Be sure to check Amtrak&#8217;s official schedules before booking your trip!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amtrak will temporarily suspend rail service between Virginia and Washington, D.C. from October 16 through October 26.&nbsp; This ten-day service disruption is connected to the multi-million dollar infrastructure initiative,&nbsp; known as Pause for Progress,&nbsp; reported earlier this year. Passengers traveling to and through the region should prepare for route changes and possible train cancellations.&nbsp; The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2228,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[227,359,3],"class_list":["post-2227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-amtrak","tag-express-bus-alternatives","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2227"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2229,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227\/revisions\/2229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2224,"date":"2026-09-15T14:23:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2224"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:23:42","slug":"streamlining-your-expense-experience-whats-new-in-emburse-formerly-chrome-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/streamlining-your-expense-experience-whats-new-in-emburse-formerly-chrome-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Streamlining Your Expense Experience: What\u2019s New in Emburse (Formerly Chrome River)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re constantly looking for ways to make your day-to-day tools easier to navigate.&nbsp; We\u2019ve made a few quick visual updates to the Emburse Tile Mosaic. These changes will appear in the mobile app as well as the desktop version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What\u2019s Changed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rail Travel Front &amp; Center:<\/strong> You\u2019ll now find <em>Rail Travel<\/em> directly on the main page for faster access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Travel Agency Fee Access:<\/strong> No more searching under sub-menus\u2014the <em>Travel Agency Fee<\/em> tile now lives right on the main page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tile Renaming (Personal Reimb \u2192 Non-Travel):<\/strong> The <em>Personal Reimbursement<\/em> tile has been renamed <em>Non-Travel.<\/em> You can continue using this tile for eligible non-travel purchases, even while in travel status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Refreshed Look &amp; Feel:<\/strong> Select tile names and icons have been updated so everything is clearer and easier to spot at a glance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What This Means for You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing about the underlying system is changing! All core functionality, approval workflows, and key features remain exactly the same. These updates simply mean less time searching for options and a smoother submission process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"622\" height=\"259\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/09\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2225 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/09\/image-1.png 622w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/09\/image-1-300x125.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 622px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 622\/259;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These visual updates are just one of the ways we are working to make your day-to-day tools easier to navigate. By putting your most-used options front and center and simplifying tile names, our goal is to speed up your workflow and deliver a truly intuitive expense experience. Log in to Emburse today to check out the refreshed layout and enjoy a smoother, faster process!\u00a0\u00a0<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re constantly looking for ways to make your day-to-day tools easier to navigate.&nbsp; We\u2019ve made a few quick visual updates to the Emburse Tile Mosaic. These changes will appear in the mobile app as well as the desktop version. What\u2019s Changed? What This Means for You Nothing about the underlying system is changing! All core [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[16,184,358,3],"class_list":["post-2224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-chrome-river","tag-emburse","tag-emburse-updates","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2224"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2226,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions\/2226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2221,"date":"2026-09-15T14:17:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2221"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:17:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:17:35","slug":"vcu-to-retire-vantage-point-logistics-freight-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/vcu-to-retire-vantage-point-logistics-freight-program\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU to Retire Vantage Point Logistics Freight Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VCU will retire the Vantage Point Logistics (VPL) Freight Program effective <strong>September 28, 2026<\/strong>. Departments do not need to take any action as a result of this change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Departments should continue placing orders through their normal procurement processes. There is no need to contact vendors, provide a VCU shipping account number, or make changes to existing purchase orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VCU\u2019s standard purchase order terms will remain in effect. Unless otherwise specified, purchases will continue under <strong>F.O.B. Destination<\/strong> terms with prepaid transportation charges. This means vendors remain responsible for arranging and managing delivery to VCU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For departments, the transition should be seamless, with no changes needed to current ordering practices. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VCU will retire the Vantage Point Logistics (VPL) Freight Program effective September 28, 2026. Departments do not need to take any action as a result of this change. Departments should continue placing orders through their normal procurement processes. There is no need to contact vendors, provide a VCU shipping account number, or make changes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2222,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[21,4],"class_list":["post-2221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-accounts-payable","tag-purchasing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2223,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221\/revisions\/2223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2214,"date":"2026-09-08T14:37:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2214"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:48:43","slug":"employee-tuition-benefit-and-applicable-taxes-webinar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/employee-tuition-benefit-and-applicable-taxes-webinar\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In August 2026, VCU Human Resources and Payroll Services hosted a <strong>Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar<\/strong> to help employees better understand the tuition benefit program and its potential tax implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The webinar covered program eligibility, the application process, the difference between tuition benefit and tuition reimbursement, and how the benefit may affect annual taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employees who would like to review the information, can watch the <strong>recorded webinar here<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.mediaspace.kaltura.com\/media\/VCU+Tax+Topics%3A+Tuition+Benefit+-+Aug+14%2C+2026\/1_ksfe0gen\">Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For questions about the tuition benefit program, contact <a href=\"mailto:learndev@vcu.edu\">learndev@vcu.edu<\/a>. For questions regarding tax implications, contact Veronica King at <a href=\"mailto:vbking@vcu.edu\">vbking@vcu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In August 2026, VCU Human Resources and Payroll Services hosted a Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar to help employees better understand the tuition benefit program and its potential tax implications. The webinar covered program eligibility, the application process, the difference between tuition benefit and tuition reimbursement, and how the benefit may affect annual taxes. Employees [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[355,356],"tags":[357,168,241,240],"class_list":["post-2214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-resources","category-payroll","tag-human-resources","tag-payroll","tag-taxation","tag-tuition-benefit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2214"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2218,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2214\/revisions\/2218"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2211,"date":"2026-09-08T14:27:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2211"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:27:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:27:56","slug":"navigating-vcus-updated-travel-policy-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/navigating-vcus-updated-travel-policy-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating VCU\u2019s Updated Travel Policy: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Virginia Commonwealth University has updated its Business-Related Travel Policy. The revisions do not restrict business travel; instead, they modernize language and clear up gray areas around flexible work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What Stays the Same<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The core philosophy remains: spend university funds prudently on travel that directly aligns with VCU&#8217;s mission. Key procedural baselines include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>$500 Pre-Approval:<\/strong> Required for trips exceeding an estimated $500.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mandatory Contracts:<\/strong> Air and rail must be booked through VCU\u2019s contracted travel management company (TMC).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Work Station Radius:<\/strong> The official work station remains within a 25-mile radius of your base point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Per Diem:<\/strong> Overnight meal allowances still follow GSA guidelines and do not require receipts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lodging Caps:<\/strong> Maximum reimbursement stays capped at 200% of the standard GSA base rate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>New Rules for Hybrid and Remote Workers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The updated policy explicitly defines travel origins and commuting boundaries to fit modern work environments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Single Base Points:<\/strong> Employees cannot have multiple base points. Hybrid workers use their assigned on-campus address, while fully remote workers use their home address.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commuting Mileage:<\/strong> Round-trip mileage between home and your base point on a scheduled workday is a personal, non-reimbursable expense.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Remote Travel Pre-Approval:<\/strong> Any campus travel requested by a fully remote worker now requires pre-approval, even if the cost is under $500.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Structural Updates &amp; New Deadlines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The update introduces formalized definitions and a strict timeline to remove operational ambiguity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lowest Logical Fare (LLF):<\/strong> Replaces the vague &#8220;most direct route&#8221; mandate. It balances budget savings with practical business schedules so travelers are not forced into unreasonable routes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Duty of Care:<\/strong> Formally embeds VCU&#8217;s obligation to anticipate risks and protect traveler safety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>30-Day Deadline:<\/strong> Reimbursement requests must now be submitted within 30 days of the last travel date, replacing the previous &#8220;as soon as possible&#8221; guideline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, these updates do not change the core mission of university travel, but they do make compliance much clearer. By defining rules for remote work, introducing practical guidelines like Lowest Logical Fare, and setting a firm 30-day reimbursement deadline, VCU has removed the guesswork from the process. Before you book your next trip, take a moment to confirm your designated base point and secure any necessary pre-approvals to ensure a smooth, worry-free journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia Commonwealth University has updated its Business-Related Travel Policy. The revisions do not restrict business travel; instead, they modernize language and clear up gray areas around flexible work. What Stays the Same The core philosophy remains: spend university funds prudently on travel that directly aligns with VCU&#8217;s mission. Key procedural baselines include: New Rules for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[352,354,353,10,3],"class_list":["post-2211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-lodging-caps","tag-mandatory-contracts","tag-per-diem","tag-pre-approval","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2211"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2212,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2211\/revisions\/2212"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2200,"date":"2026-09-08T12:02:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2200"},"modified":"2026-09-08T12:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:29:06","slug":"airgas-ecatalog-update-and-upcoming-training-sessions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/airgas-ecatalog-update-and-upcoming-training-sessions\/","title":{"rendered":"Airgas eCatalog Update and Upcoming Training Sessions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VCU Procurement Services is excited to announce the launch of the new Airgas RealSource e-catalog. Beginning September 21, 2026, departments scheduling gas orders and delivery will use the Aigas RealSource e-catalog \u2014 simplifying order placement, billing, and vendor coordination. VCU departments will be able to purchase industrial, medical and specialty gases, laboratory and safety products, welding supplies, and related items through the new Airgas eCatalog in RealSource. Airgas will offer two virtual training sessions covering catalog navigation, account selection, quotes and order placement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When: Sep 10, 2026 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)<br>Register in advance for this meeting:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/7J6zX-_USH2Br1H2VKBuBw&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1789304824157759&amp;usg=AOvVaw2n6AEZzCfYHa8N7Jh2PUHx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/7J6zX-_USH2Br1H2VKBuBw<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When: Sep 17, 2026 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)<br>Register in advance for this meeting:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/M2EZ7mE6QV6PGgkKMIlpTg&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1789304826645152&amp;usg=AOvVaw22S0ivAodYCTdWXCHdxwCG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/M2EZ7mE6QV6PGgkKMIlpTg<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions? Contact Abigail Zaremba, Senior Category Manager at: <a href=\"mailto:apzaremba@vcu.edu\">apzaremba@vcu.edu<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VCU Procurement Services is excited to announce the launch of the new Airgas RealSource e-catalog. Beginning September 21, 2026, departments scheduling gas orders and delivery will use the Aigas RealSource e-catalog \u2014 simplifying order placement, billing, and vendor coordination. VCU departments will be able to purchase industrial, medical and specialty gases, laboratory and safety products, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1835,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[204,87,4,5,289],"class_list":["post-2200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-airgas","tag-ecatalog","tag-purchasing","tag-realsource","tag-training-sessions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2200"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2208,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2200\/revisions\/2208"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2196,"date":"2026-09-08T11:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T15:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2196"},"modified":"2026-09-08T11:57:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T15:57:48","slug":"before-you-submit-a-requisition-in-realsource","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/before-you-submit-a-requisition-in-realsource\/","title":{"rendered":"Before You Submit a Requisition in RealSource"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A little information up front can make a requisition easier to review and process. Before submitting in RealSource, include the documentation and details Purchasing will need to understand the request and determine the appropriate procurement path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What to include<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the purchase, this may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A clear description of the goods or services<\/strong> being purchased, including quantities, dates, deliverables, or other important requirements. For a declining balance PO under an existing contract, include the dates the DBO is expected to cover.\u00a0 See Link to <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/declining-balance-orders-best-practices-for-smooth-procurement\/\">Declining Balance Orders: Best Practices for Smooth Procurement<\/a> for more information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supplier documentation<\/strong> such as a quote, proposal, scope of work, estimate, pricing sheet, or invoice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supplier contact information<\/strong> if it is not already included in the supporting documentation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>All applicable quotes or proposals<\/strong> when multiple quotes or other competition documentation are required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complete supporting forms or documents <\/strong>such as a Sole Source, Emergency Purchase justification, or other required documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Service details<\/strong> such as deliverables, start and end dates, location, and total cost when relevant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The applicable contract in RealSource, when one already exists.<\/strong> Linking the contract helps connect the requisition and resulting PO to the agreement being used. See<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/link-the-contract-before-submitting-your-realsource-requisition\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> Link the Contract &amp; Protect the Deal in RealSource<\/a>\u2060 for more information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prior PO or contract information<\/strong> for renewals, extensions, or related purchases (optional).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Applicable prerequisite reviews or approvals<\/strong> when they are required for the purchase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plan ahead.<\/strong> Purchasing timelines vary based on the procurement method, complexity, and required reviews. See<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/start-ahead-stress-less-a-simple-way-to-keep-purchases-moving-%F0%9F%97%93%EF%B8%8F\/\"> Start Ahead, Stress Less: A Simple Way to Keep Purchases Moving<\/a>\u2060 for additional guidance on timing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Helpful comments are welcome<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The comments field can also help Purchasing understand how the requisition should be handled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the requisition is being submitted so Purchasing can conduct a solicitation, note that clearly \u2014 such as <strong>\u201cRequisition submitted for BVA\u201d<\/strong> or <strong>\u201cRequisition submitted for RFP.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are already working with a particular buyer or team, include a note such as <strong>\u201cATTN: Jane Doe.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Include other useful context such as a required deadline, cooperative contract number, or other circumstance that may affect the purchase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These details are not needed on every requisition, but they can save time when there is something Purchasing should know at the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A useful rule of thumb<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before submitting, make sure the requisition gives Purchasing enough information to answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are we buying, what will the cost be, and what documentation supports the request?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when there is something else that will help us route or understand the request, add a quick note in the comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related posts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/start-ahead-stress-less-a-simple-way-to-keep-purchases-moving-%F0%9F%97%93%EF%B8%8F\/\">Start Ahead, Stress Less: A Simple Way to Keep Purchases Moving<\/a>\u2060<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/link-the-contract-before-submitting-your-realsource-requisition\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Link the Contract &amp; Protect the Deal in RealSource<\/a>\u2060<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/choosing-the-right-procurement-path\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Choosing the Right Procurement Path<\/a>\u2060<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/before-the-vendor-starts-five-things-to-check\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Before the Vendor Starts: Five Things to Check<\/a>\u2060<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/before-signing-a-vendor-document\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Before Signing a Vendor Document<\/a>\u2060<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/new-quick-reference-guide-available-for-realsource-2026\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">New Quick Reference Guide Available for RealSource (2026)<\/a>\u2060<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/declining-balance-orders-best-practices-for-smooth-procurement\/\">Declining Balance Orders: Best Practices for Smooth Procurement<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A little information up front can make a requisition easier to review and process. Before submitting in RealSource, include the documentation and details Purchasing will need to understand the request and determine the appropriate procurement path. What to include Depending on the purchase, this may include: Helpful comments are welcome The comments field can also [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2197,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[44,348,4,5,346,347],"class_list":["post-2196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-contracts","tag-costs","tag-purchasing","tag-realsource","tag-requisition","tag-thresholds"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2196"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2199,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196\/revisions\/2199"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2189,"date":"2026-08-25T15:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T19:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2189"},"modified":"2026-08-25T15:24:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T19:24:21","slug":"before-the-vendor-starts-five-things-to-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/before-the-vendor-starts-five-things-to-check\/","title":{"rendered":"Before the Vendor Starts: Five Things to Check"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before telling a vendor to begin work or place an order, make sure the appropriate VCU purchasing method is approved and in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most purchases requiring a purchase order, that means the vendor should have the VCU PO before work begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Five quick checks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use the right purchasing method.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Determine whether the purchase should use a PO, P-Card or another approved method.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Start early.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Leave enough time for any required competition, contract review and approvals.\u00a0 For more information visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/make-a-purchase\/understand-the-procurement-methods\/\">website<\/a> and our <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/bring-procurement-services-in-early-before-you-sign\/\">blog post<\/a> on starting early.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wait for the PO.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> <strong>A requisition is not a purchase order.<\/strong> Submitting or approving a requisition does not mean the vendor has authorization to begin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check the scope and amount.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Make sure the PO covers what you are asking the vendor to provide and the amount you expect to spend.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stop if the purchase changes. <\/strong>If the scope or cost increases, review the revised total against VCU\u2019s procurement thresholds and complete any required departmental approval, Purchasing review or RealSource Change Request before authorizing additional work<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why this matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting the purchasing process completed first gives VCU an opportunity to address pricing, contract terms, competition and other requirements <strong>before the university or vendor is committed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also helps avoid additional review, payment delays and after-the-fact corrections later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What about P-Card or emergencies?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every purchase requires a PO. Approved P-Card transactions and true emergency procurements follow different processes. The key is to use the appropriate purchasing method rather than placing the order first and addressing the process later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need help?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contact <strong>University Purchasing at <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:purchasing@vcu.edu\"><strong>purchasing@vcu.edu<\/strong><\/a> or <strong>VCU Corporate Card Services at <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:corpcard@vcu.edu\"><strong>corpcard@vcu.edu<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>before committing to a purchase if you are unsure which process applies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related guidance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/use-a-p-card\/use-a-p-card-to-make-a-purchase\/\">Use a P-Card to Make a Purchase<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/use-a-p-card\/know-what-i-can-and-cannot-purchase\/\">Know What I Can and Cannot Purchase with a P-Card<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/make-a-purchase\/make-a-purchase-of-10000-or-less\/\">Make a Purchase of $10,000 or Less<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before telling a vendor to begin work or place an order, make sure the appropriate VCU purchasing method is approved and in place. For most purchases requiring a purchase order, that means the vendor should have the VCU PO before work begins. Five quick checks Why this matters Getting the purchasing process completed first gives [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2190,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[343,345,344,56,4,60],"class_list":["post-2189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-5-tips","tag-p-cards","tag-purchase-methods","tag-purchase-orders","tag-purchasing","tag-vendors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2189"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2193,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2189\/revisions\/2193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2181,"date":"2026-08-25T14:28:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T18:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2181"},"modified":"2026-08-25T14:31:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T18:31:19","slug":"unlock-fast-track-southwest-a-list-status-for-vcu-business-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/unlock-fast-track-southwest-a-list-status-for-vcu-business-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlock Fast-Track Southwest A-List Status for VCU Business Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Frequent flyers at VCU have another reason to book their next trip on Southwest Airlines. A new business promotion lets you fast-track your way to VIP treatment and bonus rewards points on trips booked and flown before October 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you travel occasionally across the state or fly nationwide every month, this promotion makes elite status easier to reach than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How the Fast-Track Promotion Works<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southwest has built two milestone tiers into this offer. Travelers can register for both promotions simultaneously\u2014your qualifying segments will count toward both, and whichever milestone you hit first unlocks your reward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tier 1: Earn A-List Status<\/strong>\u00a0Book and fly\u00a0<strong>2 qualifying round trips<\/strong>\u00a0(or 4 one-way flights) between now and October 31 to unlock promotional A-List status valid through December 31, 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tier 2: Earn A-List Status + 20,000 Bonus Points<\/strong>\u00a0Book and fly\u00a0<strong>4 qualifying round trips<\/strong>\u00a0(or 8 one-way flights) between now and October 31 to secure A-List status through December 31, 2026,\u00a0<strong>plus a bonus of 20,000 Rapid Rewards points<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Perks of Southwest A-List Status<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earning A-List status takes the stress out of airport days. Benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Priority Boarding:<\/strong>\u00a0Automatically reserve an A-group boarding position for every flight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fly By Priority Lanes:<\/strong>\u00a0Breeze through Southwest check-in desks and security lines at select airports.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Free Same-Day Dedicated Standby:<\/strong>\u00a0Switch to an earlier flight on the day of travel without paying a fare difference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>25% Earnings Bonus:<\/strong>\u00a0Earn 25% more Rapid Rewards points on every qualifying flight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to Participate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be sure to register for the promotions prior to booking your travel to ensure every segment counts toward your target. Check the official promotion flyer linked below for registration links, full terms, and qualifying fare details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1U9uS_n1_GntSUIUWh3DicyHe_iWMJV9o\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Southwest A-List Status<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Frequent flyers at VCU have another reason to book their next trip on Southwest Airlines. A new business promotion lets you fast-track your way to VIP treatment and bonus rewards points on trips booked and flown before October 31. Whether you travel occasionally across the state or fly nationwide every month, this promotion makes elite [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2187,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[342,341,3],"class_list":["post-2181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-a-list","tag-southwest-business","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2181"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2188,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2181\/revisions\/2188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]