Moving forward, you only need to enter your travel dates once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you start a new report and complete the Expense Report Header (where you input your overall dates of travel), Emburse will now automatically carry those dates over to your individual expense tiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more redundant typing. The system will automatically pre-fill the dates for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Airfare<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Rail<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Car Rental<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Conference Registration<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Need to Make a Tweak? No Problem.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We know travel plans can be fluid. Maybe your rental car was returned a day early, or you\u2019re traveling on an overnight flight so hotel check-in is a day later than your other travel start dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flexibility is built-in:<\/strong> Even though these dates auto-populate, they are completely editable<\/strong>. If a specific expense doesn’t perfectly match your overall travel window, simply click into the date field on that tile and adjust it manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why You\u2019ll Love This Update<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By letting the system do the repetitive heavy lifting, you get two major benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Time Saved:<\/strong> Fewer keystrokes mean you can submit your expenses faster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fewer Rejections:<\/strong> Date mismatches are one of the most common reasons expense reports get sent back. Auto-population keeps your data consistent, ensuring faster approvals and quicker reimbursements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This update is live and ready to use on your next expense report. Log in today and see how much faster your post-travel wrap-up can be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please email travel@vcu.edu<\/a> with any questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s be honest: nobody lists “filing expense reports” as their favorite activity. Manually tracking down receipts and repeatedly entering identical travel dates makes expense reporting unnecessarily tedious. We understand your frustrations \u2014and we’re doing something about it. To help speed up your workflow and save you some valuable keystrokes, we\u2019ve rolled out a smart new […]<\/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":[316,318,319,184,317],"class_list":["post-2089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-airfare","tag-car-rental","tag-conference-registration","tag-emburse","tag-rail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089","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=2089"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2091,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089\/revisions\/2091"}],"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=2089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2084,"date":"2026-07-21T15:05:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T19:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2084"},"modified":"2026-07-21T15:27:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T19:27:17","slug":"link-the-contract-before-submitting-your-realsource-requisition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/link-the-contract-before-submitting-your-realsource-requisition\/","title":{"rendered":"Link the Contract & Protect the Deal in RealSource"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
When you’re buying from an existing contract, link the contract to your RealSource requisition before you submit it. This matters most for purchases under $10,000<\/strong>, where the requisition typically becomes a purchase order without review by a Procurement Services buyer. If you don’t link the contract, no one else will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why linking matters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Linking connects the purchase order to the agreement that supports the purchase. That connection is what lets VCU:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Enforce negotiated pricing, discounts, and terms to the PO<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Track how much a contract is actually being used across the university<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep a clean record for invoice review, three-way matching, and audit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Track total spend against the contract.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It also affects what happens to the contract later. Usage data is how Procurement Services identifies which agreements should be renewed, expanded, or renegotiated. A contract that looks unused is a contract that looks unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under $10,000<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Your department may be the only group with an opportunity to link the contract before the PO is issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the contract isn’t linked, the purchase can look like an independent, off-contract transaction \u2014 even when you used the right contract and the right pricing. The purchase was correct; the record just doesn’t show it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over $10,000<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
These purchases generally get additional review, and a buyer may identify and link the applicable contract. Still link it yourself when you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When creating the requisition in RealSource:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Select the appropriate supplier or purchasing form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Open the contract information section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Search for and select the applicable contract number. If a master agreement applies, select it so the PO inherits its terms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Confirm the supplier and contract details are correct<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Submit through the normal approval process.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udccc Select the contract in the designated contract field.<\/strong> Attaching a copy of the contract or typing the number into a comment doesn’t create the link \u2014 the system won’t pick it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Need help?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Not sure whether a contract exists for your supplier, or can’t find the contract number? Contact VCU PURCHASING purchasing@vcu.edu<\/a> before you submit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When you’re buying from an existing contract, link the contract to your RealSource requisition before you submit it. This matters most for purchases under $10,000, where the requisition typically becomes a purchase order without review by a Procurement Services buyer. If you don’t link the contract, no one else will. Why linking matters Linking connects […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2086,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[44,47,4,5],"class_list":["post-2084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-contracts","tag-purchase-order","tag-purchasing","tag-realsource"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084","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=2084"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2093,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084\/revisions\/2093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2080,"date":"2026-07-21T14:50:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T18:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2080"},"modified":"2026-07-21T15:22:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T19:22:38","slug":"choosing-the-right-procurement-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/choosing-the-right-procurement-path\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Right Procurement Path"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The right procurement method depends on the total contract value, what VCU is buying, and whether competition or an exception applies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Procurement Services can help identify the appropriate path before a department selects or commits to a vendor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Request for Proposal (RFP)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Formal process used when VCU needs to evaluate factors beyond price and may negotiate with offerors. Award is made to the proposal determined to be most advantageous to the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For professional services RFPs, cost or price is not part of the evaluation criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Invitation for Bid (IFB)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Formal process used when requirements can be clearly defined and award can be based primarily on price. Award is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Value Acquisition (BVA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A small-purchase method used when factors such as quality, delivery, experience, and price should be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Request for Quote (RFQ)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A small-purchase method used when requirements are clear and award can be based on the lowest price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sole source<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Used only when a product or service is practicably available from one source. A written justification and Procurement Services approval are required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emergency purchase<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Used when an unexpected and urgent situation places health, safety, or public resources at risk. The process may be expedited, but justification and documentation are still required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exceptions to competition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Certain defined purchases may qualify for an exception to competition. Requirements and dollar limits vary, so confirm with Procurement Services before assuming an exception applies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udccc Need help?<\/strong> Contact submit a help ticket in RAMSCentral<\/a> or email purchasing@vcu.edu<\/a> before selecting a procurement method or committing to a vendor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The right procurement method depends on the total contract value, what VCU is buying, and whether competition or an exception applies. Procurement Services can help identify the appropriate path before a department selects or commits to a vendor. Request for Proposal (RFP) Formal process used when VCU needs to evaluate factors beyond price and may […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2082,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[311,314,315,310,63,312,313],"class_list":["post-2080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-bva","tag-emergency-purchase","tag-exceptions-to-competition","tag-ifb","tag-rfp","tag-rfq","tag-sole-source"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080","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=2080"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2092,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080\/revisions\/2092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2068,"date":"2026-07-14T15:03:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T19:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2068"},"modified":"2026-07-15T08:38:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:38:02","slug":"fy2027-fringe-benefit-rate-update-effective-july-1-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/fy2027-fringe-benefit-rate-update-effective-july-1-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"FY2027 Fringe Benefit Rate Update \u2013 Effective July 1, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The Controller’s Office is working on updating the fringe rates applicable to fiscal year 2027. The new rates are applicable to transactions incurred on or after Jul 01, 2026.Faculty\/Classified Fringe 38.7% (Decrease from 38.8%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hourly Fringe 7.8% (Increase from 7.4%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Updated Process <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Payroll:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
o input new rates in Banner; new rates to be automatically applied to labor starting on July 10, 2026 (Pay Period 14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost Accounting and Financial Reporting:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
o prepare and post in Banner adjusting journal entries for all applicable labor from Jul 1, 2026 \u2013 July 9, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G&C Accounting:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
o fringe on ongoing grants and contracts will be included at the FY27 rates on the invoices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information visit https:\/\/controller.vcu.edu\/cost-analysis\/fringe-benefit-rates\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Controller’s Office is working on updating the fringe rates applicable to fiscal year 2027. The new rates are applicable to transactions incurred on or after Jul 01, 2026.Faculty\/Classified Fringe 38.7% (Decrease from 38.8%) Hourly Fringe 7.8% (Increase from 7.4%) Updated Process Payroll: o input new rates in Banner; new rates to be automatically applied to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161,188],"tags":[179,264,309],"class_list":["post-2068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-controllers-office","category-grants-and-contracts","tag-financial-reporting","tag-fringe-rates","tag-gc-accounting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2068","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=2068"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2078,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2068\/revisions\/2078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2061,"date":"2026-07-14T14:37:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T18:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2061"},"modified":"2026-07-14T14:46:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T18:46:25","slug":"new-software-release-realsource-downtime-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/new-software-release-realsource-downtime-2\/","title":{"rendered":"New Software Release & RealSource Downtime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
RealSource will be unavailable due to a scheduled system update beginning Friday, July 17, at 9:00 PM<\/strong> through Sunday, July 19, at 12:00 PM<\/strong> while Release 26.2<\/strong> is deployed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a minor software release, and only minimal changes are included. Users should plan accordingly and complete any time-sensitive transactions before the scheduled downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we complete this update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RealSource will be unavailable due to a scheduled system update beginning Friday, July 17, at 9:00 PM through Sunday, July 19, at 12:00 PM while Release 26.2 is deployed. This is a minor software release, and only minimal changes are included. Users should plan accordingly and complete any time-sensitive transactions before the scheduled downtime. Thank you for your patience and understanding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[5],"class_list":["post-2061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-realsource"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061","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=2061"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2063,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061\/revisions\/2063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2052,"date":"2026-07-07T15:04:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2052"},"modified":"2026-07-07T15:04:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:04:48","slug":"happy-fiscal-new-year-from-procurement-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/happy-fiscal-new-year-from-procurement-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Fiscal New Year from Procurement Services!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A new fiscal year marks a fresh start and new opportunities for our campus community. Procurement Services is excited to continue partnering with departments across campus to support your purchasing needs and help make the year ahead a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you’re planning new projects, launching initiatives, or preparing for what’s next, we’re here to help you navigate the procurement process with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s to a year of new possibilities, strong partnerships, and shared success. Happy Fiscal New Year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A new fiscal year marks a fresh start and new opportunities for our campus community. Procurement Services is excited to continue partnering with departments across campus to support your purchasing needs and help make the year ahead a success. Whether you’re planning new projects, launching initiatives, or preparing for what’s next, we’re here to help […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2053,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052","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=2052"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2054,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052\/revisions\/2054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2043,"date":"2026-07-06T20:11:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2043"},"modified":"2026-07-06T20:11:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:11:52","slug":"subject-important-reminder-matching-your-travel-profile-to-your-id","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/subject-important-reminder-matching-your-travel-profile-to-your-id\/","title":{"rendered":"Important Reminder: Matching Your Travel Profile to Your ID"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
When booking your next flight, please take a moment to ensure the name on your ticket exactly matches<\/strong> your government-issued ID. If your middle name or initial(s) appears on your ID, it should be included on your ticket as well. Even a minor name mismatch can cause the TSA system to flag your ticket, risking missed flights, boarding denials, or costly change fees. Following this TSA guideline is the best way to ensure a smooth, stress-free experience at the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This consistency is especially important for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- International Travel:<\/strong> Passport requirements are often more stringent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Screening Programs:<\/strong> Services like TSA PreCheck\u00ae<\/strong>, Global Entry<\/strong>, and CLEAR<\/strong> require an exact name match to verify your status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Frequent Flyer Miles:<\/strong> Name discrepancies can prevent miles from posting to your account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
A Note on Your Travel Profile:<\/strong> Your Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP) profile is automatically created using your name as it appears in HR records\u2014typically just your first and last name. We highly recommend logging in<\/a> to CTP to add your middle name if included on your ID to your profile<\/strong> before booking your next trip. If your first and last name in your profile are inconsistent with your Identification documents, please contact travel@vcu.edu<\/a> for guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Airlines often merge the first and middle names together with no separating space on the ticket. This will not cause any problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please keep in mind that once a flight is confirmed, airlines make it quite difficult (and sometimes costly) to change the name on a ticket. Taking a minute to update your profile now will save you a lot of time later!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When booking your next flight, please take a moment to ensure the name on your ticket exactly matches your government-issued ID. If your middle name or initial(s) appears on your ID, it should be included on your ticket as well. Even a minor name mismatch can cause the TSA system to flag your ticket, risking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2044,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[3],"class_list":["post-2043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2043","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=2043"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2046,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2043\/revisions\/2046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2039,"date":"2026-07-06T19:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T23:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2026-07-06T19:56:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T23:56:14","slug":"travel-advisory-india-now-requires-mandatory-air-suvidha-2-0-health-declaration-for-international-arrivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/travel-advisory-india-now-requires-mandatory-air-suvidha-2-0-health-declaration-for-international-arrivals\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Travel Advisory: India Now Requires Mandatory Air Suvidha 2.0 Health Declaration for International Arrivals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In an ever-changing world where global health dynamics shift rapidly, travelers need to be aware of news that may impact study abroad programs, academic research travel and institutional travel compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, the Government of India has reinstated its Air Suvidha health self declaration system – now updated as Air Suvidha 2.0<\/strong> – for all international passengers arriving in the country. This updated requirement follows a heightened global health surveillance over an Ebola (Bundibugyo virus disease) outbreak. It applies to all international arrivals, regardless of nationality, including Indian citizens, NRIs, OCI cardholders, and foreign nationals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Travelers Need to Know:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Who must comply: <\/strong>All international travelers arriving in India, without exception.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s required: <\/strong>A digital self-declaration disclosing your 21-day travel history, any travel to high risk zones, and potential exposure or active symptoms consistent with the Ebola virus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Deadline: <\/strong>The form must be submitted online within 24 hours of your scheduled departure to India. VCU travelers are encouraged to complete it during web check-in to avoid delays at the airport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Information needed: <\/strong>Passport details, flight itinerary, travel history, and contact information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Before You Travel:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
VCU faculty and staff must use the Air Suvidha 2.0 form<\/a> before traveling, which can be done online. Use of this form applies to all India trips booked through Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP). The form is available online. It can be completed as part of the traveler\u2019s pre-departure checklist along with standard passport and visa preparations. Save a digital copy of your confirmation receipt, as it may be requested by Immigration officials upon your arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s required: <\/strong>A digital self-declaration disclosing your 21-day travel history, any travel to high risk zones, and potential exposure or active symptoms consistent with the Ebola virus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Screening Programs:<\/strong> Services like TSA PreCheck\u00ae<\/strong>, Global Entry<\/strong>, and CLEAR<\/strong> require an exact name match to verify your status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- International Travel:<\/strong> Passport requirements are often more stringent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fewer Rejections:<\/strong> Date mismatches are one of the most common reasons expense reports get sent back. Auto-population keeps your data consistent, ensuring faster approvals and quicker reimbursements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Rail<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
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