[{"id":2028,"date":"2026-06-02T13:38:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2028"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:39:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:39:01","slug":"index-reconciliations-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/index-reconciliations-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Index Reconciliations Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the Finance and Research Dashboards are moving from the preferred method of documenting index reconciliations to the required method.&nbsp; To request an exemption from use of the dashboards, email the Controller&#8217;s Office at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:controller@vcu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">controller@vcu.edu<\/a>. The exemption request should include where your reconciliations will be documented and why this method is superior to the dashboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the Finance and Research Dashboards are moving from the preferred method of documenting index reconciliations to the required method.&nbsp; To request an exemption from use of the dashboards, email the Controller&#8217;s Office at&nbsp;controller@vcu.edu. The exemption request should include where your reconciliations will be documented and why this method is superior [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[301,302,304,303],"class_list":["post-2028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-controllers-office","tag-dashboards","tag-exemption","tag-finance-and-research","tag-fy2027"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2028","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=2028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2028\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2026,"date":"2026-06-02T13:30:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2026"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:30:18","slug":"know-before-you-buy-new-restricted-manufacturer-lookup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/know-before-you-buy-new-restricted-manufacturer-lookup\/","title":{"rendered":"Know Before You Buy: New Restricted Manufacturer Lookup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A handful of federal lists restrict purchases of equipment from specific <strong>manufacturers<\/strong> \u2014 even when you&#8217;re buying through a familiar reseller like Amazon Business, B&amp;H, or Grainger. Drones, network gear, video surveillance cameras, and certain lab equipment are the most common cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make these easier to catch before checkout, we&#8217;ve put together a quick lookup tool. Type a manufacturer or brand name in the search box and see whether it appears on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>DoD Section 1260h<\/strong> \u2014 Chinese military companies list<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FCC Covered List<\/strong> \u2014 restricted telecom, surveillance, and drone equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NDAA Section 889<\/strong> \u2014 covered telecommunications and video surveillance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The tool refreshes automatically each week from the federal sources, so it stays current as entities are added or removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd0d <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/14zZ02k0dgYaJeSCaZY2tNGwWPmXTdwbdWcJ4rR9rxuM\/edit?usp=sharing\"><strong>Restricted Manufacturer Lookup <\/strong><\/a><strong>\u2192<\/strong> \u2014 bookmark it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A few things worth knowing:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A match doesn&#8217;t automatically mean &#8220;don&#8217;t buy.&#8221; The actual restriction depends on the list, the funding source, and the intended use. Some items may still be purchased with state funds even when federal funds are off the table.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aliases work. Searching &#8220;DJI&#8221; pulls up the full corporate name; searching &#8220;Jonhon&#8221; surfaces the AVIC affiliate. Use whatever&#8217;s on the box.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This tool sits alongside the standard vendor screen we already run at registration \u2014 it&#8217;s the manufacturer-layer companion, not a replacement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Final purchasing decisions remain the responsibility of the requesting department \u2014 this tool is a check, not a clearance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Questions, or got a match you&#8217;re not sure about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Office of Research Security and Export Compliance owns this space and can help you figure out next steps for your specific situation, funding source, and intended use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2709\ufe0f VCU EXPORTCTRL &lt;<a href=\"mailto:exportctrl@vcu.edu\">exportctrl@vcu.edu<\/a>&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2709\ufe0f <a href=\"mailto:burkhartj@vcu.edu\"><strong>Jason Burkhart<\/strong><\/a>, Director of Research Security and Export Compliance&nbsp;\u2709\ufe0f <a href=\"mailto:landsmanpt@vcu.edu\"><strong>Peter Landsman<\/strong><\/a>, Assistant Director, Export Compliance Program<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A handful of federal lists restrict purchases of equipment from specific manufacturers \u2014 even when you&#8217;re buying through a familiar reseller like Amazon Business, B&amp;H, or Grainger. Drones, network gear, video surveillance cameras, and certain lab equipment are the most common cases. To make these easier to catch before checkout, we&#8217;ve put together a quick [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2027,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[296,158],"tags":[300,4,299],"class_list":["post-2026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-office-of-research-and-innovation","category-procurement-services","tag-lookup-tool","tag-purchasing","tag-restricted-purchases"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026","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=2026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2015,"date":"2026-05-26T14:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T18:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2015"},"modified":"2026-05-26T14:28:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T18:28:38","slug":"america-to-go-catering-training-begins-may-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/america-to-go-catering-training-begins-may-27\/","title":{"rendered":"America To Go Catering Training Begins May 27!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In February, we announced <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/a-new-catering-partner-for-vcu-introducing-america-to-go\/\">VCU\u2019s collaboration with <strong>America To Go (ATG)<\/strong><\/a> to streamline catering orders, improve compliance, and strengthen visibility into university catering spend. Since then, Procurement Services has been working closely with ATG to prepare the campus community for a smooth transition to the new RealSource e\u2011catalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are now ready to begin the next phase of implementation- <strong>training sessions<\/strong> for departments and event planners across campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Upcoming Training Opportunities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To support users as they begin placing orders through the ATG platform, we will offer <strong>virtual<\/strong> training sessions. Each session will include a live demonstration, Q&amp;A segment, and guidance on navigating the ordering process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; Session Type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Date &amp; Time<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Registration<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ud83d\udcbb Virtual Session&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>5\/27 @10am<\/em><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.google.com\/calendar\/event?action=TEMPLATE&amp;tmeid=NTMwaXFhZWU3dGJyMGh1cGYwMmZkZGU1MWMgamNhcnJpY29AdmN1LmVkdQ&amp;tmsrc=jcarrico%40vcu.edu\">\ud83d\udd17 <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/t8N48qy5TOmuqrPSIKF_fg\">May 27th, 10AM<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ud83d\udcbb Virtual Session&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>5\/27 @2pm<\/em><\/td><td>\ud83d\udd17<a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/6YkEcwJ2R7Sx6elEhZWqsA\">May 27th, 2PM<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ud83d\udcbb Virtual Session&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>5\/28 @10am<\/em><\/td><td>\ud83d\udd17<a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/0AsjgK5MSa-eQgsS-Oml-g\">May 28th, 10AM<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ud83d\udcbb Virtual Session&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>5\/28 @2pm<\/em><\/td><td>\ud83d\udd17<a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/eLcttmG0RI2DFRK1FsjcGg\">May 28th, 2PM&nbsp;<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">\ud83d\udc49 <em>Register to reserve your spot! All sessions will contain the same information so please only register for one session.<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What You\u2019ll Learn<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During these sessions, the following topics will be covered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Navigating the <strong>ATG RealSource e\u2011catalog<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Selecting caterers and building compliant orders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understanding billing, documentation, and approval workflows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Managing changes, cancellations, and delivery issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensuring purchases follow VCU\u2019s procurement and audit requirements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you coordinate events regularly or only occasionally, this training will help ensure a smooth and compliant ordering experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important: <\/strong>Beginning May 27th, all applicable university catering orders should be placed through ATG in RealSource.&nbsp;Thank you for your engagement as we transition to this new catering platform. If you have questions, please contact <strong>Justin Carrico<\/strong> at <a href=\"mailto:jcarrico@vcu.edu\"><em>jcarrico@vcu.edu<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In February, we announced VCU\u2019s collaboration with America To Go (ATG) to streamline catering orders, improve compliance, and strengthen visibility into university catering spend. Since then, Procurement Services has been working closely with ATG to prepare the campus community for a smooth transition to the new RealSource e\u2011catalog. We are now ready to begin the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":1881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[215,214,117,50,5,289,290],"class_list":["post-2015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-america-to-go","tag-atg","tag-catering","tag-procurement","tag-realsource","tag-training-sessions","tag-virtual-training"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015","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=2015"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2023,"date":"2026-05-26T14:26:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T18:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2023"},"modified":"2026-05-26T14:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T18:34:24","slug":"united-airlines-checked-bag-fee-increase-domestic-and-international","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/united-airlines-checked-bag-fee-increase-domestic-and-international\/","title":{"rendered":"United Airlines Checked Bag Fee Increase (Domestic and International)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>United Airlines has increased its checked baggage fees by $10 for tickets purchased on or after <strong>April 3, 2026. <\/strong>The fee increase applies to all domestic flights, short flights to Latin America, or flights from the US to Canada, Caribbean and Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most passengers, the first checked bag is now $50 when paid at the airport ($45 prepaid). The second checked bag is $60 at the airport ($55 prepaid).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baggage fees on international United Airline flights (Africa, Asia, Europe and South America) increased on tickets purchased on or after <strong>May 12, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exact cost of your baggage depends on your destination, fare class, and loyalty status. However, for Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific routes, the 1<sup>st<\/sup> bag is free for most seat classes (excluding Basic Economy).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2<sup>nd<\/sup> Baggage &#8211; $100 (Economy), Free (Premium Economy and above)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All standard checked bags must not exceed 50lbs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other fees apply for extra checked bags or overweight and oversized bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.united.com\/en\/us\/fly\/baggage\/checked-bags.html\">https:\/\/www.united.com\/en\/us\/fly\/baggage\/checked-bags.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>United Airlines has increased its checked baggage fees by $10 for tickets purchased on or after April 3, 2026. The fee increase applies to all domestic flights, short flights to Latin America, or flights from the US to Canada, Caribbean and Mexico. For most passengers, the first checked bag is now $50 when paid at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[294,295,3,293],"class_list":["post-2023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-checked-bag-fee","tag-checked-bag-increase","tag-travel","tag-united-airlines"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2023","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=2023"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2023\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2020,"date":"2026-05-19T15:24:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2020"},"modified":"2026-05-19T15:24:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:24:04","slug":"mail-services-rate-update-for-alternate-delivery-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/mail-services-rate-update-for-alternate-delivery-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Mail Services Rate Update for Alternate Delivery Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Effective July 1, 2026, the monthly cost for non-mandatory mail pickup and delivery services (alternate delivery) for VCU, VCU Health, and MCVP departments will increase to $66 per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The current rate of $60 per month has remained unchanged since the service was first established through outsourcing in July 1996. This adjustment reflects operational cost increases and ongoing support for campus mail delivery services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Departments that would prefer to transition to department-managed pickup and delivery of outgoing mail may arrange to utilize a campus satellite location at Valentine House or the VMI Building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For questions or to discuss delivery options, please contact Donnette Haynes, Service Delivery Manager, at&nbsp;<a>haynesds@vcu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Effective July 1, 2026, the monthly cost for non-mandatory mail pickup and delivery services (alternate delivery) for VCU, VCU Health, and MCVP departments will increase to $66 per month. The current rate of $60 per month has remained unchanged since the service was first established through outsourcing in July 1996. This adjustment reflects operational cost [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[159,161,158,160],"tags":[291],"class_list":["post-2020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budget","category-controllers-office","category-procurement-services","category-treasury-services","tag-rate-change"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020","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=2020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2018,"date":"2026-05-12T15:05:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T19:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2018"},"modified":"2026-05-19T15:10:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:10:56","slug":"celebrating-years-of-dedication-at-gc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/celebrating-years-of-dedication-at-gc\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Years of Dedication at G&amp;C"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We invite you to share your appreciation and&nbsp;<strong>congratulations to Delois Alexander-Garnes<\/strong>, who will be<strong>&nbsp;retiring this summer&nbsp;<\/strong>after many years at G&amp;C. Delois has been instrumental in helping with process improvements, training fellow team members and creating a collaborative environment both within our team and at VCU. We will miss having her charismatic personality around daily!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will be transitioning Delois&#8217;s awards to other team members in the upcoming months. If you have any questions, please contact\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:gcagamma@vcu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gcagamma@vcu.edu<\/a> \u00a0or Nancy Nicholson, Gamma Team Manager.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We invite you to share your appreciation and&nbsp;congratulations to Delois Alexander-Garnes, who will be&nbsp;retiring this summer&nbsp;after many years at G&amp;C. Delois has been instrumental in helping with process improvements, training fellow team members and creating a collaborative environment both within our team and at VCU. We will miss having her charismatic personality around daily!&nbsp; We [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2019,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161,188],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-controllers-office","category-grants-and-contracts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018","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=2018"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2011,"date":"2026-05-12T12:18:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2011"},"modified":"2026-05-12T12:18:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:18:44","slug":"were-moving-grants-contracts-accounting-new-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/were-moving-grants-contracts-accounting-new-address\/","title":{"rendered":"We&#8217;re Moving! Grants &amp; Contracts Accounting New Address"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>G&amp;C is excited to share that we are moving to the Monroe Park Campus to cohabitate with the rest of our Controller&#8217;s Office colleagues at the Stagg &amp; McAdams houses. All the same, we are going to miss being down the hall from our OVPRI colleagues in Biotech and on the MCV campus with our Health Sciences colleagues. Our last day in our current suite will be Thursday, May 28th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning June 1st, please route all mail through interoffice mail, to our new address: Grants &amp; Contracts Accounting, 912 West Franklin Street, BOX 843039, Richmond VA 23284-3039.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Come by to see us off, grab a sweet treat, and drop off any last minute checks, on\u00a0Tuesday, May 26th between 11am-2pm at Biotech 1 Suite 3100.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>G&amp;C is excited to share that we are moving to the Monroe Park Campus to cohabitate with the rest of our Controller&#8217;s Office colleagues at the Stagg &amp; McAdams houses. All the same, we are going to miss being down the hall from our OVPRI colleagues in Biotech and on the MCV campus with our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2012,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161,188],"tags":[200,268,288,286,285,287],"class_list":["post-2011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-controllers-office","category-grants-and-contracts","tag-grants","tag-grants-and-contracts","tag-mcadams-house","tag-monroe-campus","tag-new-address","tag-stagg-house"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011","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=2011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2007,"date":"2026-05-12T11:55:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2007"},"modified":"2026-05-12T11:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:55:27","slug":"invoice-submission-reminder-use-trustflow-for-all-invoice-intake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/invoice-submission-reminder-use-trustflow-for-all-invoice-intake\/","title":{"rendered":"Invoice Submission Reminder: Use Trustflow for All Invoice Intake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For questions regarding invoices, payment status, or invoice-related support requests, RAMS Central remains the appropriate resource for departmental assistance and issue resolution. However, to support a more streamlined and efficient Accounts Payable review process, invoices should be submitted directly through AP\u2019s centralized Trustflow intake process rather than attached to RAMS Central tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Please save the AP invoice intake email for future submissions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udce7&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:VCU.Invoices@trustflowds.com\"><strong>VCU.Invoices@trustflowds.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emailing invoices directly to <a href=\"mailto:VCU.Invoices@trustflowds.com\"><strong>VCU.Invoices@trustflowds.com<\/strong><\/a> helps ensure invoices are routed as efficiently as possible, while also improving invoice visibility, reducing duplicate submissions, and minimizing delays associated with misrouted documentation. This process applies to all invoice submissions, including new invoices, past-due invoices, and invoices previously submitted through other channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Departments are encouraged to review invoice status in RealSource by invoice number or PO number <em>prior<\/em> to resubmitting documentation. In many cases, invoices may already be in workflow, pending review, or previously processed for payment. Avoiding unnecessary resubmissions helps reduce duplicate invoice exceptions and supports more timely processing across the payment cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If an invoice is rejected through Trustflow and you have confirmed it is not a duplicate submission, please contact your AP Payment Officer for further guidance and resolution support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For additional invoicing guidance, including invoice requirements and payment information, please review:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/for-suppliers\/vendor-invoicing--payment\/\"><strong>Vendor Invoicing &amp; Payment<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For questions regarding invoices, payment status, or invoice-related support requests, RAMS Central remains the appropriate resource for departmental assistance and issue resolution. However, to support a more streamlined and efficient Accounts Payable review process, invoices should be submitted directly through AP\u2019s centralized Trustflow intake process rather than attached to RAMS Central tickets. Please save the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2010,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[21,284,76,4,60],"class_list":["post-2007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-accounts-payable","tag-invoice-processing","tag-invoices","tag-purchasing","tag-vendors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2007","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=2007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2000,"date":"2026-05-05T11:22:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2000"},"modified":"2026-05-05T12:26:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:26:36","slug":"updates-to-the-emburse-rental-car-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/updates-to-the-emburse-rental-car-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Updates to the Emburse Rental Car Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Whether you\u2019re heading to a conference across the state or visiting a partner institution, getting from point A to point B should be the easiest part of your trip. To support a smoother booking and reimbursement experience, we\u2019ve enhanced the Rental Car Tile in Emburse with updated guidance and policy prompts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s New<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>New in-system alerts when selections fall outside policy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Required justifications for non-contracted vendors or larger vehicle types<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updated guidance aligned with current preferred vendor agreements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>While the tile itself will look familiar, you\u2019ll notice these updates as you move through the booking and expense process. These enhancements reflect our current preferred partnerships and policy requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"114\" height=\"115\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/05\/tile.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 114px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 114\/115;aspect-ratio:0.9913344887348353;width:122px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The Rental Car Tile in Emburse (shown above) remains the same\u2014updates occur after you select the tile and begin the booking or expense process.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Preferred Partners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>VCU maintains contracts with the following vendors to provide discounted rates and integrated insurance coverage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enterprise \/ National<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hertz<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These agreements are designed to protect both you and the university by including necessary insurance and pre-negotiated rates that align with budget guidelines. All rental vehicles for university business should be booked through one of these contracted vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vehicle Selection Guidelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When selecting a vehicle, please keep it practical:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Midsize \/ Intermediate vehicles (or smaller) are within policy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your travel requires a larger vehicle\u2014such as transporting equipment or traveling with a group of four or more\u2014you may still reserve one. However, an additional justification step will be required in Emburse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding Emburse Justifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Emburse will automatically flag rentals that fall outside standard policy. You\u2019ll be prompted to provide a written justification in your expense report if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You use a non-contracted vendor (other than Enterprise, National, or Hertz)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You reserve a vehicle larger than a midsize\/intermediate (e.g., full-size or SUV)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Tip: You can sign up for a free Emerald Club membership to access potential upgrades when booking a midsize vehicle. Details are available on the Travel <a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/travel\/learn-about-transportation-options\/#rental-car\">website<\/a> (behind CAS security).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Tips for a Smooth Trip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Book through Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP) to automatically receive VCU contract rates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure a personal credit card is saved in your traveler profile when reserving through CTP<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You may also book directly with vendors using VCU corporate <a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/travel\/learn-about-transportation-options\/#rental-car\">discount codes<\/a> available on the Travel website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When using preferred vendors, CDW and LDW insurance are already included<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save your final itemized receipt\u2014you\u2019ll need to upload it with your expense report<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Questions about an upcoming trip? Contact <strong><a>travel@vcu.edu<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re heading to a conference across the state or visiting a partner institution, getting from point A to point B should be the easiest part of your trip. To support a smoother booking and reimbursement experience, we\u2019ve enhanced the Rental Car Tile in Emburse with updated guidance and policy prompts. What\u2019s New While the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[184,198],"class_list":["post-2000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-emburse","tag-rental-cars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000","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=2000"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1996,"date":"2026-05-04T13:33:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T17:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=1996"},"modified":"2026-05-05T13:04:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:04:29","slug":"enhancing-safety-new-international-travel-approval-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/enhancing-safety-new-international-travel-approval-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Enhancing Safety: New International Travel Approval Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At VCU, our commitment to our faculty, staff, and students extends far beyond the borders of our campus. We are dedicated to providing excellent <strong>Duty of Care<\/strong>\u2014the moral and legal obligation to ensure your safety and well-being while you represent the University abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To further strengthen this commitment, we are introducing a key update to our international travel workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\u2019s Changing?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As of <strong>Tuesday, April 28, 2026<\/strong>, the routing process for international travel pre-approvals will include an additional layer of review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before your request follows its traditional departmental routing path, it will first be reviewed by the International Travel Advisory Committee (ITAC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why the Change?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The global travel landscape is constantly evolving. By involving ITAC at the start of the process, VCU can provide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expert Risk Assessment: Real-time evaluation of health, safety, and security conditions in your destination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proactive Support: Ensuring travelers have the necessary resources, insurance information, and emergency protocols before they depart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consistent Compliance: Streamlining University standards for international engagements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What This Means for You<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While the primary goal is safety, this update does add a step to the electronic workflow. To ensure your plans stay on track, we recommend the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Submit Early: Aim to submit your international pre-approval requests well in advance of your booking date to allow ITAC sufficient time for review.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitor Your Requests: You can track the progress of your pre-approval within the Emburse system to see when it has moved from ITAC to your standard departmental approvers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide Detail: Ensure your travel itinerary and purpose are clearly outlined to help the committee provide a swift and informed approval.<\/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>Our Priority is You<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This enhancement to our Duty of Care program isn&#8217;t about adding &#8220;red tape&#8221;\u2014it&#8217;s about adding a safety net. VCU wants to ensure you can focus on your work with the peace of mind that we have your back.If you have any questions, please email <a href=\"mailto:Travel@vcu.edu\">Travel@vcu.edu<\/a> for questions regarding Emburse or the pre-approval process and email &nbsp;ITAC@vcu.edu &nbsp;for questions regarding international destination alerts or about the required employee or student travel petitions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At VCU, our commitment to our faculty, staff, and students extends far beyond the borders of our campus. We are dedicated to providing excellent Duty of Care\u2014the moral and legal obligation to ensure your safety and well-being while you represent the University abroad. To further strengthen this commitment, we are introducing a key update to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2004,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[229,282],"class_list":["post-1996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-international-travel","tag-travel-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1996","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=1996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]