[{"id":1962,"date":"2026-03-31T13:56:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T17:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1962"},"modified":"2026-03-31T13:58:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T17:58:17","slug":"extra-extra-read-all-about-it-for-free-%f0%9f%97%9e%ef%b8%8f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/extra-extra-read-all-about-it-for-free-%f0%9f%97%9e%ef%b8%8f\/","title":{"rendered":"Extra! Extra! Read All About It (For Free!) \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Did you know your VCU login is a golden ticket to the world\u2019s top news?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VCU Libraries<\/strong> provides all faculty, staff, and students with <strong>no-cost access<\/strong> to a massive range of local, national, and international publications\u2014including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The New York Times<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Wall Street Journal<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Washington Post<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Why pay for a personal subscription when you already have the front page at your fingertips?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlock your free access by visiting the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.library.vcu.edu\/\">VCU Libraries site here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Procurement Services<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know your VCU login is a golden ticket to the world\u2019s top news? VCU Libraries provides all faculty, staff, and students with no-cost access to a massive range of local, national, and international publications\u2014including: Why pay for a personal subscription when you already have the front page at your fingertips? Unlock your free [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[262,259,13,89,258,261,260],"class_list":["post-1962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-expenses","tag-nyt","tag-pcard","tag-reimbursements","tag-subcriptions","tag-wp","tag-wsj"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1962","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=1962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1958,"date":"2026-03-31T12:38:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1958"},"modified":"2026-03-31T13:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T17:35:24","slug":"candex-payee-early-registration-guidance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/candex-payee-early-registration-guidance\/","title":{"rendered":"Candex Payee Early Registration Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When planning to utilize Candex, it is advisable to request that individuals who will receive payments complete their registration in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ensuring that payees are registered prior to initiating the purchasing process enables greater efficiency when creating purchase orders. This proactive approach facilitates a more streamlined workflow and supports the timely processing and delivery of payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please visit the Procurement Services website to access the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/media\/procurement\/pdf\/candex\/PayeeTrainingGuide.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Payee Early Registration Guidance<\/a> which can be shared with payees for step-by-step registration instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Business Solutions, VCU Procurement Services<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When planning to utilize Candex, it is advisable to request that individuals who will receive payments complete their registration in advance. Ensuring that payees are registered prior to initiating the purchasing process enables greater efficiency when creating purchase orders. This proactive approach facilitates a more streamlined workflow and supports the timely processing and delivery of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1961,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[65,79,257],"class_list":["post-1958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-candex","tag-individual-payments","tag-payee-early-registration-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1958","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=1958"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1958\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1956,"date":"2026-03-31T12:25:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1956"},"modified":"2026-03-31T13:24:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T17:24:12","slug":"were-moving-%f0%9f%93%a6-visit-treasury-services-at-our-new-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/were-moving-%f0%9f%93%a6-visit-treasury-services-at-our-new-home\/","title":{"rendered":"We\u2019re Moving! \ud83d\udce6 Visit Treasury Services at Our New Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Disbursement Operations, Treasury Accounting, Debt &amp; Investments, and Treasury Administration teams within Treasury Services are heading to a new space, and we can&#8217;t wait to welcome you.\u00a0 Starting\u00a0<strong>April 2nd<\/strong>, you can find us at the\u00a0<strong>Grace Street Center on the 7th floor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Details:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>When:<\/strong> Thursday, April 2nd<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Where:<\/strong> Grace Street Center, 912 W Grace Street, Floor 7<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why:<\/strong> A fresh new space to better serve you!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Come stop by and say hello!<\/strong> We\u2019re looking forward to seeing you at our new spot on Grace Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Treasury Services, VCU Finance and Administration<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Disbursement Operations, Treasury Accounting, Debt &amp; Investments, and Treasury Administration teams within Treasury Services are heading to a new space, and we can&#8217;t wait to welcome you.\u00a0 Starting\u00a0April 2nd, you can find us at the\u00a0Grace Street Center on the 7th floor. The Details: Come stop by and say hello! We\u2019re looking forward to seeing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[254,256,255],"class_list":["post-1956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-treasury-services","tag-grace-street-center","tag-relocating","tag-treasury-services"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956","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=1956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1951,"date":"2026-03-31T11:49:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1951"},"modified":"2026-03-31T11:51:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:51:44","slug":"personalizing-your-experience-on-realsource","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/personalizing-your-experience-on-realsource\/","title":{"rendered":"Personalizing Your Experience on RealSource"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Your digital workspace should adapt to you. Whether you\u2019re coordinating across time zones or require specific accessibility features, adjusting your settings in RealSource only takes a few clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Update Your Preferences<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these steps to customize your account:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Log in<\/strong> to the RealSource platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the <strong>person icon<\/strong> in the top-right corner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>User Profile Preferences<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adjust your <strong>Language<\/strong>, <strong>Time Zone<\/strong>, and <strong>Display Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scroll to the bottom to find <strong>Accessibility Options<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>\u201cYes\u201d<\/strong> to enable these features, then click <strong>Save<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Customize?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Updating these settings ensures your project deadlines align with your local time and your interface is optimized for your specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By enabling <strong>Accessibility Options<\/strong>, you activate enhanced support for screen readers and keyboard navigation\u2014ensuring that RealSource remains a powerful tool for every professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Always remember to hit <strong>Save<\/strong> at the bottom of the page to ensure your new preferences take effect immediately!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/03\/RS-preferences.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1954 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 940px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 940\/788;aspect-ratio:1.1929170549860204;width:690px;height:auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/03\/RS-preferences.jpg 940w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/03\/RS-preferences-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/03\/RS-preferences-768x644.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Need help?<\/strong> Reach out to our support team if you have questions about optimizing your profile!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Procurement Services Business Solutions Team <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your digital workspace should adapt to you. Whether you\u2019re coordinating across time zones or require specific accessibility features, adjusting your settings in RealSource only takes a few clicks. How to Update Your Preferences Follow these steps to customize your account: Why Customize? Updating these settings ensures your project deadlines align with your local time and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[251,253,5,252],"class_list":["post-1951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-accessibility","tag-preferences","tag-realsource","tag-time-zone"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1951","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=1951"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1951\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1947,"date":"2026-03-24T13:34:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T17:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1947"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:35:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T17:35:26","slug":"armics-kick-off-fy26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/armics-kick-off-fy26\/","title":{"rendered":"ARMICS Kick-Off FY26"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>What is ARMICS?<\/strong><br>ARMICS (Agency Risk Management and Internal Control Standards) is a State Comptroller directive that ensures VCU\u2019s fiscal processes are accurate, compliant, and well-documented. It sets expectations for internal controls, risk management, and proper oversight of financial activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you<\/strong><br>ARMICS helps make sure financial processes run smoothly and accurately. This means reviewing key processes, assessing risks, testing controls, and addressing any gaps. Completing these steps also contributes to VCU\u2019s annual certification to the Virginia Department of Accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Dates To Remember:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>April 24<\/strong> \u2013 Certification deadline for VPHS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>May 1<\/strong> \u2013 Certification deadline for Provost units<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>May 1<\/strong> \u2013 Certification deadline for Central units<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Need more info?<\/strong><br>Check out the Controller\u2019s website for resources, training videos, templates, and guides: <a href=\"https:\/\/controller.vcu.edu\/reporting\/internal-control-standards\/\">VCU Internal Control Standards<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is ARMICS?ARMICS (Agency Risk Management and Internal Control Standards) is a State Comptroller directive that ensures VCU\u2019s fiscal processes are accurate, compliant, and well-documented. It sets expectations for internal controls, risk management, and proper oversight of financial activities. What this means for youARMICS helps make sure financial processes run smoothly and accurately. This means [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[178,249,250],"class_list":["post-1947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-controllers-office","tag-armics","tag-controller","tag-internal-controls"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1947","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=1947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1947\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1943,"date":"2026-03-24T12:41:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1943"},"modified":"2026-03-24T12:42:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:42:01","slug":"choosing-your-path-a-guide-to-vendor-payment-options-at-vcu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/choosing-your-path-a-guide-to-vendor-payment-options-at-vcu\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing Your Path: A Guide to Vendor Payment Options at VCU"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At VCU Procurement Services, we strive to provide a transparent and efficient experience for our campus departments and the businesses that support our university. A frequent question we hear from staff and faculty is: <em>\u201cHow is a vendor\u2019s payment method determined?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer is simple: <strong>The vendor is always in the driver\u2019s seat.&nbsp; They choose their payment method and must agree to making a change.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VCU and our banking providers do not sign up companies for specific programs unilaterally. Instead, we offer a &#8220;continuum&#8221; of options, and each vendor opts into the method that best aligns with their business goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Payment Continuum: Benefits for Our Vendors<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our goal is to pay our suppliers in the most efficient and timely way possible\u2014virtually.&nbsp; <\/strong>By choosing electronic methods over traditional checks, vendors can significantly improve their cash flow and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Virtual Payment Card<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Advantage:<\/strong> This is the fastest payment method VCU offers, typically featuring <strong>Net 20-day<\/strong> terms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why Vendors Choose It:<\/strong> It provides immediate access to funds and enhanced security, as vendors do not need to share or maintain bank account information with the university.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Paymode-X (ACH)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Advantage:<\/strong> Offers expedited <strong>Net 20-day<\/strong> terms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why Vendors Choose It:<\/strong> It is ideal for businesses looking to streamline their bookkeeping. This service provides enhanced digital data that helps vendors automatically match payments to their outstanding invoices without manual research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Standard ACH<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Advantage:<\/strong> A secure, paperless alternative to checks with <strong>Net 35-day<\/strong> terms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why Vendors Choose It:<\/strong> It eliminates the risk of mail delays or lost checks, ensuring funds are deposited directly into their bank account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mailed Check (Default)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Terms:<\/strong> This is the default selection for vendors who do not opt into an electronic program, featuring <strong>Net 35-day<\/strong> terms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Note for Departments:<\/strong> Mailed checks are the most expensive payment method for VCU to process. We always encourage exploring electronic options to help the university operate more efficiently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Enrollment Works<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Vendors can update their preferences at any time. There are two primary ways this happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Direct Opt-In:<\/strong> Vendors can visit the<a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/for-suppliers\/vendor-invoicing--payment\/\"> VCU Vendor Invoicing &amp; Payment page<\/a> for instructions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Targeted Outreach:<\/strong> Periodically, we work with Bank of America to coordinate payment method campaigns to highlight the benefits of electronic payments. <strong>We are currently wrapping up our most recent campaign<\/strong>, during which many of our vendors have successfully transitioned to electronic methods.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Even during these outreach efforts, <strong>enrollment is never automatic.<\/strong> A vendor must always take action to opt into a new program. By providing these choices, we ensure that doing business with VCU is as flexible and efficient as possible for everyone involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At VCU Procurement Services, we strive to provide a transparent and efficient experience for our campus departments and the businesses that support our university. A frequent question we hear from staff and faculty is: \u201cHow is a vendor\u2019s payment method determined?\u201d The answer is simple: The vendor is always in the driver\u2019s seat.&nbsp; They choose [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[129,248,60,247],"class_list":["post-1943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-ach","tag-paymode-x","tag-vendors","tag-virtual-payment-card"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1943","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=1943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1943\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1941,"date":"2026-03-24T12:25:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1941"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T18:48:08","slug":"amtrak-launching-express-bus-service-between-metro-richmond-and-d-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/amtrak-launching-express-bus-service-between-metro-richmond-and-d-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Amtrak launching express bus service between Metro Richmond and D.C."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>New express bus service connecting Richmond and Washington, D.C. began on March 7. The buses are designed to supplement rail travel while&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.henricocitizen.com\/staples-mill-amtrak-station-commuters-and-travelers-adjust-to-new-schedule-as-d-c-bridge-construction-gets-underway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">construction continues on the Long Bridge Project<\/a>, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at expanding passenger rail capacity between Virginia and the nation\u2019s capital. Amtrak will offer round-trip, nonstop bus service between Richmond\u2019s Staples Mill Road and Main Street stations and Washington\u2019s Union Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Richmond routes will allow passengers to travel north to Washington in the morning and return to Richmond in the late afternoon by either bus or rail. Once at Union Station, travelers can connect to Amtrak\u2019s Northeast Regional for service to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and other cities along the Northeast Corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reservations can be made through Collegiate Travel Planner\u2019s (CTP)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/us.ctmsmart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online booking tool<\/a>&nbsp;or by contacting a CTP agent at&nbsp;888-742-2896 \/ 402-242-6570 or&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:vcu@ctptravelservices.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vcu@ctptravelservices.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New express bus service connecting Richmond and Washington, D.C. began on March 7. The buses are designed to supplement rail travel while&nbsp;construction continues on the Long Bridge Project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at expanding passenger rail capacity between Virginia and the nation\u2019s capital. Amtrak will offer round-trip, nonstop bus service between Richmond\u2019s Staples Mill [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1942,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[227,32,3],"class_list":["post-1941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-amtrak","tag-ctp","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1941","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=1941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1941\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1939,"date":"2026-03-24T12:21:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:21:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1939"},"modified":"2026-03-24T12:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:21:07","slug":"travel-tip-tips-and-gratuities-are-already-included","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/travel-tip-tips-and-gratuities-are-already-included\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Tip: Tips and Gratuities Are Already Included"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When traveling on behalf of VCU, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that the university follows federal Meals &amp; Incidental Expenses (M&amp;IE) per diem guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does that mean for you? Your daily per diem already includes a set amount to cover incidental expenses\u2014like tips and gratuities. Because of this, these costs should not be submitted separately for reimbursement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to federal guidelines, incidental expenses include things like tips for porters, baggage carriers, and hotel staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can learn more about what\u2019s included in M&amp;IE by visiting the GSA website:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsa.gov\/travel\/plan-a-trip\/per-diem-rates\/mie-breakdowns\">https:\/\/www.gsa.gov\/travel\/plan-a-trip\/per-diem-rates\/mie-breakdowns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re ever unsure about what can (or can\u2019t) be reimbursed, it\u2019s always a good idea to double-check before submitting your expenses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When traveling on behalf of VCU, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that the university follows federal Meals &amp; Incidental Expenses (M&amp;IE) per diem guidelines. What does that mean for you? Your daily per diem already includes a set amount to cover incidental expenses\u2014like tips and gratuities. Because of this, these costs should not be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[246,245,3],"class_list":["post-1939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-incidental-expenses","tag-meals","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1939","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=1939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1939\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1937,"date":"2026-03-24T11:49:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1937"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:50:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:50:01","slug":"ctp-lightning-update-improved-design-same-reliable-tools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/ctp-lightning-update-improved-design-same-reliable-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"CTP Lightning Update: Improved Design, Same Reliable Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On March 16, 2026, the Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP) online booking tool, Lightning, got a fresh new look. The updated design uses lighter, brighter colors to make the platform easier to read and navigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the appearance has changed, everything else remains the same. All features and functions are still in their usual places, so you can continue booking your travel just as you always have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new design also meets the latest WCAG 2.2 ADA accessibility standards, making Lightning more inclusive and easier for everyone to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any questions about VCU travel or the CTP online booking tool, feel free to reach out at <a>Travel@vcu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On March 16, 2026, the Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP) online booking tool, Lightning, got a fresh new look. The updated design uses lighter, brighter colors to make the platform easier to read and navigate. While the appearance has changed, everything else remains the same. All features and functions are still in their usual places, so [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[243,32,244,3],"class_list":["post-1937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-collegiate-travel","tag-ctp","tag-lightning","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1937","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=1937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1921,"date":"2026-03-17T13:29:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1921"},"modified":"2026-03-24T12:52:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:52:58","slug":"understanding-the-tax-impact-of-tuition-benefits-upcoming-payroll-services-webinars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/understanding-the-tax-impact-of-tuition-benefits-upcoming-payroll-services-webinars\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Tax Impact of Tuition Benefits: Upcoming Payroll Services Webinars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><br>Payroll Services will hold\u00a0<strong>Quarterly Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinars<\/strong>\u00a0to assist employees in understanding how this benefit may impact annual taxes.<br>Employees may register for an upcoming session via the below links. Future sessions may be found on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/controller.vcu.edu\/payroll\/#tax-updates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Employee Tax Updates<\/a>\u00a0section of the <strong>Payroll Services<\/strong> section of the <a href=\"https:\/\/controller.vcu.edu\/about-us\/our-team\/\">Controller&#8217;s Office website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.google.com\/calendar\/event?action=TEMPLATE&amp;tmeid=aHNnZGR2aHRmcnIyMTBvZDhpMzMxazJqbzAgdmJraW5nQHZjdS5lZHU&amp;tmsrc=vbking%40vcu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">March 31, 2026: 2:30pm-3:30pm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.google.com\/calendar\/event?action=TEMPLATE&amp;tmeid=amV1ZTB1ZWpzc3NhOXA4MWtxOXN1MmZhbHMgdmJraW5nQHZjdS5lZHU&amp;tmsrc=vbking%40vcu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">July 30, 2026: 2:30pm-3:30pm<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Payroll Services will hold\u00a0Quarterly Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinars\u00a0to assist employees in understanding how this benefit may impact annual taxes.Employees may register for an upcoming session via the below links. Future sessions may be found on the\u00a0Employee Tax Updates\u00a0section of the Payroll Services section of the Controller&#8217;s Office website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1946,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[168,241,240],"class_list":["post-1921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-controllers-office","tag-payroll","tag-taxation","tag-tuition-benefit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1921","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=1921"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1921\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]