[{"id":2234,"date":"2026-09-22T15:15:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2234"},"modified":"2026-09-22T15:15:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:15:56","slug":"savoring-the-selection-america-to-go-vendor-tasting-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/savoring-the-selection-america-to-go-vendor-tasting-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Savoring the Selection: America To Go Vendor Tasting Event"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finding the right catering for your next department meeting or campus event just got much easier\u2014and a lot more delicious. With the launch of our new America To Go e-catalog, VCU faculty and staff now have streamlined access to a diverse network of approved local restaurants and caterers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To celebrate this new partnership and help you discover your new favorite caterer, VCU Procurement Services is hosting a free vendor tasting event!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Experience the E-Catalog in Person<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While browsing the new e-catalog is the best way to see the full scope of what America To Go has to offer, nothing beats trying the food firsthand. This tasting event brings our vendor partners directly to you. It&#8217;s a fantastic opportunity to sample a variety of menus, meet the caterers, and learn exactly how the America To Go platform can simplify your ordering process while keeping your department fully within university purchasing guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Event Details<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please join us for an afternoon of great food and networking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Date: Monday, October 5th<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time: 2:00 PM \u2013 3:15 PM<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Location: Monroe Park Campus, Student Commons &#8211; Virginia Rooms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What to Expect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attendees will enjoy free food samplings from a wide array of our America To Go vendor partners. Whether you are planning a small team lunch, a large departmental conference, or a student event, this tasting will give you a flavorful preview of the high-quality options now available at your fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next time you need to place a catering order, you\u2019ll have firsthand experience with the menus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Space is limited. Register early to secure your spot at the America To Go Vendor Showcase. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this new catering experience with the VCU community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click the link below to RSVP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdBZWEVaFI67nkAHuw6Gwg5WVeLFJM1o5MLIiNJutW5RTV9JA\/viewform?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=113738040551684981291\">America To Go Vendor Showcase: Event Registration Form &#8211; October 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Finding the right catering for your next department meeting or campus event just got much easier\u2014and a lot more delicious. With the launch of our new America To Go e-catalog, VCU faculty and staff now have streamlined access to a diverse network of approved local restaurants and caterers. To celebrate this new partnership and help [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[215,117,328,361],"class_list":["post-2234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-america-to-go","tag-catering","tag-e-catalog","tag-vendor-showcase"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2234","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=2234"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2237,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2234\/revisions\/2237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2247,"date":"2026-09-22T15:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2247"},"modified":"2026-09-22T15:15:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:15:04","slug":"work-started-without-a-po-heres-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/work-started-without-a-po-heres-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Work Started Without a PO? Here\u2019s What to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If goods and\/or services have already been ordered or a vendor has started work without the required purchase order, <strong>contact Procurement Services as soon as you recognize the issue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not wait until the invoice arrives to address it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What happens next?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When VCU has committed to the delivery and acceptance of goods and services prior to the appropriate purchasing process being completed, Procurement Services may need to determine whether and how the purchase can be addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the circumstances:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Additional documentation and review may be required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Payment may be delayed or may not be approved.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Procurement may need to review pricing, terms, competition or other requirements after the commitment has already been made.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An unauthorized commitment may create <strong>personal financial responsibility for the individual who made the commitment<\/strong>, depending on the circumstances and applicable requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serious noncompliance or recurring issues may require a <strong>corrective action plan<\/strong> explaining what occurred and how the department will prevent it from happening again.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Significant or repeated issues may be escalated for additional review.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why can payment be a problem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A vendor beginning work does not, by itself, create an authorized VCU purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The purchasing process is intended to establish VCU\u2019s commitment <strong>before<\/strong> goods or services are provided.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What should you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Contact Procurement Services promptly and provide the facts.<\/strong> The earlier the issue is identified, the more opportunity there is to determine the appropriate path forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need help?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contact <strong>University Purchasing at purchasing@vcu.edu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related guidance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/make-a-purchase\/make-a-purchase-of-10000-or-less\/\">Make a Purchase of $10,000 or Less<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/make-a-purchase\/make-a-purchase-over-10000\/\">Make a Purchase over $10,000<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/procurement.vcu.edu\/i-want-to\/make-a-purchase\/understand-the-procurement-methods\/\">Procurement Methods<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/before-signing-a-vendor-document\/\">Before Signing a Vendor Document<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/link-the-contract-before-submitting-your-realsource-requisition\/\">Link the Contract and Protect the Deal in RealSource<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If goods and\/or services have already been ordered or a vendor has started work without the required purchase order, contact Procurement Services as soon as you recognize the issue. Do not wait until the invoice arrives to address it. What happens next? When VCU has committed to the delivery and acceptance of goods and services [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[76,4,5,60],"class_list":["post-2247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-invoices","tag-purchasing","tag-realsource","tag-vendors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247","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=2247"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2250,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247\/revisions\/2250"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2244,"date":"2026-09-22T15:10:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2244"},"modified":"2026-09-22T15:10:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:10:46","slug":"fy27-gsa-per-diem-rates-take-effect-october-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/fy27-gsa-per-diem-rates-take-effect-october-1\/","title":{"rendered":"FY27 GSA Per Diem Rates Take Effect October 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beginning <strong>October 1, 2026<\/strong>, the U.S. General Services Administration\u2019s <strong>FY2027 per diem rates<\/strong> will take effect, replacing the current FY2026 rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VCU follows the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsa.gov\/travel?topnav=travel\">GSA<\/a> per diem schedule for university travel reimbursement and business meal purposes. For most travelers, the transition will be seamless, but there are a few rate changes to be aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Changing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Location Type<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Lodging<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Meals &amp; Incidentals (M&amp;IE)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Richmond (23298)<\/td><td>$161\/night, up from $157<\/td><td>$80\/day, unchanged<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Standard CONUS*<\/td><td>$113\/night, up from $110<\/td><td>$68\/day, unchanged<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Other locations<\/td><td>Varies by destination<\/td><td>Varies by destination<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travelers should continue to check the applicable rate for their destination when planning university travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Traveling Outside the Contiguous United States?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travel outside the lower 48 states follows a different per diem structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories<\/strong> use rates established by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travel.dod.mil\/\">U.S. Department of Defense<\/a>. Travelers can use the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travel.dod.mil\/Travel-Transportation-Rates\/Per-Diem\/Per-Diem-Rate-Lookup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Defense Travel Management Office Per Diem Rate Lookup<\/a><\/strong> to determine the applicable rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>International destinations<\/strong> use per diem rates established by the U.S. Department of State. Rates can be found through the <a href=\"https:\/\/allowances.state.gov\/web920\/per_diem.asp\"><strong>State Department Foreign Per Diem Rates Portal<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does This Mean for VCU Travelers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no additional action required for travelers or approvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For travel dates on or after <strong>October 1, 2026<\/strong>, Emburse Enterprise will automatically apply the updated FY2027 rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For trips that cross the fiscal year boundary, the system will calculate the appropriate rate by travel date. For example, a trip beginning September 29 and ending October 3 will use FY2026 rates for eligible dates before October 1 and FY2027 rates beginning October 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travelers are encouraged to review the applicable per diem rate when planning upcoming trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions about how the new rates apply to your travel? Contact the <strong>VCU Travel &amp; Expense team <\/strong>at<strong> <\/strong>travel@vcu.edu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>*Standard CONUS applies to locations that do not have a specific GSA-established rate.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beginning October 1, 2026, the U.S. General Services Administration\u2019s FY2027 per diem rates will take effect, replacing the current FY2026 rates. VCU follows the GSA per diem schedule for university travel reimbursement and business meal purposes. For most travelers, the transition will be seamless, but there are a few rate changes to be aware of. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158,1],"tags":[367,366,353],"class_list":["post-2244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","category-uncategorized","tag-conus","tag-gsa-rates","tag-per-diem"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244","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=2244"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2245,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244\/revisions\/2245"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2241,"date":"2026-09-22T15:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2241"},"modified":"2026-09-22T15:00:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:00:08","slug":"european-union-eu-delays-border-checks-what-the-new-pauses-mean-for-your-next-trip-to-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/european-union-eu-delays-border-checks-what-the-new-pauses-mean-for-your-next-trip-to-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"European Union (EU) Delays Border Checks: What the New Pauses Mean for Your Next Trip to Europe\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the official September 6 grace period coming to an end, the European Union has hit the brakes on its massive digital Entry\/Exit System (EES). Facing imminent travel chaos, system crashes, and furious pushback from the airline industry, European authorities have quietly granted a reprieve to nine Schengen countries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which Countries Are Delaying Controls?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nine key European nations have informed the European Commission that they will not fully apply the biometric border controls until ongoing technical problems are resolved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>France<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Germany<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Italy<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Netherlands<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Belgium<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Greece<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Portugal<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Switzerland<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Malta<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brussels has informally accepted their decision to maintain &#8220;border fluidity,&#8221; leaving the rollout without a fixed enforcement deadline.&nbsp; Major international transit points like Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam are explicitly pausing full enforcement to avoid catastrophic passenger backups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What This Means for Travelers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This sudden pause changes how you cross European borders. If you hold a United States passport,there are several critical shifts:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manual Passport Stamps Return as Needed:<\/strong> When EES technology stalls or queues build up, border guards will continue falling back on traditional passport stamping to keep lines moving.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inconsistent Experience Across Borders:<\/strong> Because controls are being applied flexibly, non-EU travelers (including UK citizens) may encounter full biometric checks at some ports and relaxed, manual checks at others. So prepare for inconsistent experiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No Fixed Timeline:<\/strong> With no new deadline currently set, enforcement will depend on how quickly technical bugs can be fixed and systems stabilized.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why the Digital System Crashed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EES is designed to replace manual passport stamps with digital registration\u2014including fingerprints and facial scans\u2014for non-EU travelers entering the 29-country Schengen area. However, the rollout has faced severe operational hurdles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Technical Glitches:<\/strong> Border posts have struggled with software bugs, particularly when uploading biometric scans to the central EU database or retrieving them later. The central database experienced regular overloads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Longer Wait Times:<\/strong> System failures and understaffed border desks caused airport queues to double at major hubs (like Frankfurt) during peak travel periods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Industry Pressure:<\/strong> Major airlines and travel operators\u2014including Eurostar, Ryanair, and International Air Transport Association (IATA)\u2014pushed back against strict enforcement, warning of widespread travel chaos. Ryanair has even called for an extension until at least April 2027 so that proper software stabilization can take place.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While digital borders remain the ultimate goal for Brussels and other hubs, passenger flow is the current priority. Protect your travel plans with this quick checklist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Print physical copies of your flight confirmations and accommodations in case digital airport networks go offline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check live airport wait times online before heading to the terminal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bookmark the <a href=\"https:\/\/etias.com\/what-is-etias\">European Travel Information and Authorization System<\/a> (ETIAS) page to track new deadline announcements from the European Commission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re traveling to Europe soon, expect potential variations in how border checks are handled, but rest assured that authorities are actively relaxing rules to prevent severe delays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite the official September 6 grace period coming to an end, the European Union has hit the brakes on its massive digital Entry\/Exit System (EES). Facing imminent travel chaos, system crashes, and furious pushback from the airline industry, European authorities have quietly granted a reprieve to nine Schengen countries.&nbsp; Which Countries Are Delaying Controls? Nine [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2242,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[364,363,3,365],"class_list":["post-2241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-delays","tag-eu","tag-travel","tag-travel-delay"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2241","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=2241"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2243,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2241\/revisions\/2243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2238,"date":"2026-09-22T14:52:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2238"},"modified":"2026-09-22T14:52:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:52:30","slug":"need-a-ride-enterprise-offers-free-pickup-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/need-a-ride-enterprise-offers-free-pickup-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Need a Ride? Enterprise Offers Free Pickup Service!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve ever needed to rent a car locally you know the first logistical hurdle: <em>How do I actually get to the rental lot?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you book a pricey rideshare or haggle with a friend for a ride,&nbsp; remember Enterprise\u2019s long-standing signature perk.: They will pick you up at no extra cost!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How the Pickup Service Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enterprise built much of its reputation on the famous promise, <em>&#8220;We\u2019ll Pick You Up!&#8221;<\/em>\u2014and some local branches (non-airport locations) still honor this service to make your rental completely&nbsp; seamless. Those branches that provide this service typically offer free pickup within a <strong>5 to 10 minute drive<\/strong> (roughly 3 to 5 miles) of the branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Book your car (online, through CTP, or via the app)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call the local office directly to arrange a pickup time.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A representative will drive a rental car to your home or office, pick you up, and drive you back to the branch to finalize your paperwork.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In many cases, if you return the car to the same non-airport location, they can also give you a lift back home once you drop off the keys.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why You Should Use It<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond saving money on an Uber or Lyft, there is a practical reason to take advantage of this service: parking limitations and it\u2019s 100% free..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike massive airport hubs with expansive multi-story garages, local neighborhood Enterprise offices operate on smaller footprints. Most neighborhood branches do not have designated space for customers to leave personal vehicles parked on site during their rental period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using their pickup service solves both problems at once: you keep your personal car safely in your driveway, and you get to the rental office without spending a dime on transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Few Quick Tips Before You Book<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>24 Hour Notice Required: Pickup service is <\/strong><strong>not<\/strong><strong> automatically triggered by an online booking. You must call your specific branch <\/strong><strong>at least 24 hours in advance<\/strong><strong> to coordinate.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Airport Locations Excluded:<\/strong> This service is strictly for local, non-airport branches. Airport locations do not offer door-to-door pickups due to high volume and shuttle operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Confirm the Distance:<\/strong> If you live near the edge of their service zone, double-check with the branch manager to ensure your address falls within their pickup radius.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Operating Hours<\/strong>: Pickups are strictly available during standard local branch business hours. Most neighborhood offices have limited hours on weekends, so plan your weekday or Saturday morning timing carefully.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By letting Enterprise handle the logistics, you save time and&nbsp; money while skipping the rideshare hassle entirely. Ready to experience the ultimate curbside convenience? Head over to Enterprise today, secure your vehicle, and remember to call your local branch to lock in your free ride. Your journey starts at your front door!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve ever needed to rent a car locally you know the first logistical hurdle: How do I actually get to the rental lot? Before you book a pricey rideshare or haggle with a friend for a ride,&nbsp; remember Enterprise\u2019s long-standing signature perk.: They will pick you up at no extra cost!! How the Pickup [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2239,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[100,362,198,3],"class_list":["post-2238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-enterprise","tag-pick-up-service","tag-rental-cars","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2238","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=2238"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2240,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2238\/revisions\/2240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2230,"date":"2026-09-15T14:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2230"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:10:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T19:10:44","slug":"unlocking-efficiency-hybrid-rental-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/unlocking-efficiency-hybrid-rental-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking Efficiency: Hybrid Rental Vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, selecting a hybrid at the rental counter felt like a special treat\u2014a high-tech premium reserved for luxury upgrades or specialized eco-conscious tiers. Times have changed. Hybrid technology has transitioned from a novelty to the industry baseline, transforming how major rental agencies classify and distribute these fuel-efficient vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hybrid rental vehicles are no longer categorized as an elite upgrade. They are a standard, practical choice designed to lower fuel expenses and streamline corporate travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What This Means for Preferred Vendors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shift toward hybrid adoption varies slightly depending on the vendor, but both Enterprise and Hertz make it effortless to choose a greener drive without breaking corporate rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enterprise Rent-A-Car:<\/strong> Enterprise now includes hybrid vehicles directly within their general inventory. Choosing a hybrid no longer requires navigating separate specialty categories or paying tier-upgrade fees. You can simply book a standard class and receive a hybrid car at no additional cost.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hertz:<\/strong> Hertz applies a slight upcharge for selecting a hybrid vehicle compared to a standard gas-only model. However, this minor fee is officially recognized as an allowable business expense, meaning you can take advantage of the added fuel savings without incurring out-of-pocket expenses or triggering expense compliance flags.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Remember the Core Travel Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While hybrid models are allowable, company travel guidelines still apply across all bookings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Policy Reminder:<\/strong> To remain compliant, employees must continue to book a mid-size or smaller vehicle class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Selecting a hybrid is fully supported, provided the underlying vehicle size matches standard policy limits (Economy, Compact, Intermediate, or Mid-size). Premium hybrid SUVs, full-size trucks, or luxury trims remain subject to standard upgrade restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please note: Fully electric vehicles are still not allowable by VCU guidelines at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next time business takes you on the road, consider booking a hybrid. You will enjoy a smoother ride, spend less time at the gas pump, and stay fully within policy guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For years, selecting a hybrid at the rental counter felt like a special treat\u2014a high-tech premium reserved for luxury upgrades or specialized eco-conscious tiers. Times have changed. Hybrid technology has transitioned from a novelty to the industry baseline, transforming how major rental agencies classify and distribute these fuel-efficient vehicles. Hybrid rental vehicles are no longer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2231,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[360,198,3],"class_list":["post-2230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-hybrid-vehicles","tag-rental-cars","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2230"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2233,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230\/revisions\/2233"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2227,"date":"2026-09-15T14:33:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2227"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:33:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:33:07","slug":"amtrak-to-suspend-virginia-to-d-c-service-for-critical-track-upgrades-oct-16-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/amtrak-to-suspend-virginia-to-d-c-service-for-critical-track-upgrades-oct-16-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Amtrak to suspend Virginia-to-D.C. service for critical track upgrades Oct. 16\u201326"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amtrak will temporarily suspend rail service between Virginia and Washington, D.C. from <strong>October 16 through October 26<\/strong>.&nbsp; This ten-day service disruption is connected to the multi-million dollar infrastructure initiative,&nbsp; known as <em>Pause for Progress<\/em>,&nbsp; reported earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Passengers traveling to and through the region should prepare for route changes and possible train cancellations.&nbsp; The 10-day shutdown is focused on replacing aging infrastructure at the A-Interlocking control point inside Washington D.C.\u2019s First Street Tunnel.&nbsp; As rail travelers know, this crucial junction acts as a rail traffic hub, routing all Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains between Virginia stations and Washington Union Station. Currently, the outdated switches and crossovers in the tunnel are well beyond their useful service life, forcing trains to slow to a restrictive 10 mph speed limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How Your Travel Will Be Affected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travelers heading to or from D.C. from southern origin points should expect significant disruptions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Alexandria Terminus:<\/strong> Most northbound trains traveling through Virginia will effectively stop at Alexandria, with only a handful continuing past the station.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Express Bus Alternatives:<\/strong> Most passenger trips originating from or heading to Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Hampton Roads will be served via express bus connections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>North of D.C.:<\/strong> Northeast Corridor service running north of Washington\u2014toward New York and Boston\u2014will operate under a normal schedule.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commuter Alternatives:<\/strong> VRE plans to run service to L\u2019Enfant Station in D.C. during the workweek (Oct. 19\u201323), while partnering agencies coordinate extra transfer options via WMATA (Metro).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While a 10-day disruption is far from convenient, transit leaders emphasize that the fix is necessary for safety and future expansion. Replacing A-Interlocking directly impacts a massive portion of the network, as over 40% of Amtrak Virginia passengers rely on this bottleneck to connect to the broader Northeast Corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full rail service is scheduled to resume the morning of <strong>October 26<\/strong>. Be sure to check Amtrak&#8217;s official schedules before booking your trip!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amtrak will temporarily suspend rail service between Virginia and Washington, D.C. from October 16 through October 26.&nbsp; This ten-day service disruption is connected to the multi-million dollar infrastructure initiative,&nbsp; known as Pause for Progress,&nbsp; reported earlier this year. Passengers traveling to and through the region should prepare for route changes and possible train cancellations.&nbsp; The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2228,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[227,359,3],"class_list":["post-2227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-amtrak","tag-express-bus-alternatives","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2227"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2229,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227\/revisions\/2229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2224,"date":"2026-09-15T14:23:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2224"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:23:42","slug":"streamlining-your-expense-experience-whats-new-in-emburse-formerly-chrome-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/streamlining-your-expense-experience-whats-new-in-emburse-formerly-chrome-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Streamlining Your Expense Experience: What\u2019s New in Emburse (Formerly Chrome River)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re constantly looking for ways to make your day-to-day tools easier to navigate.&nbsp; We\u2019ve made a few quick visual updates to the Emburse Tile Mosaic. These changes will appear in the mobile app as well as the desktop version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What\u2019s Changed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rail Travel Front &amp; Center:<\/strong> You\u2019ll now find <em>Rail Travel<\/em> directly on the main page for faster access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Travel Agency Fee Access:<\/strong> No more searching under sub-menus\u2014the <em>Travel Agency Fee<\/em> tile now lives right on the main page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tile Renaming (Personal Reimb \u2192 Non-Travel):<\/strong> The <em>Personal Reimbursement<\/em> tile has been renamed <em>Non-Travel.<\/em> You can continue using this tile for eligible non-travel purchases, even while in travel status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Refreshed Look &amp; Feel:<\/strong> Select tile names and icons have been updated so everything is clearer and easier to spot at a glance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What This Means for You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing about the underlying system is changing! All core functionality, approval workflows, and key features remain exactly the same. These updates simply mean less time searching for options and a smoother submission process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"622\" height=\"259\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/09\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2225 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/09\/image-1.png 622w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1257\/2026\/09\/image-1-300x125.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 622px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 622\/259;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These visual updates are just one of the ways we are working to make your day-to-day tools easier to navigate. By putting your most-used options front and center and simplifying tile names, our goal is to speed up your workflow and deliver a truly intuitive expense experience. Log in to Emburse today to check out the refreshed layout and enjoy a smoother, faster process!\u00a0\u00a0<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re constantly looking for ways to make your day-to-day tools easier to navigate.&nbsp; We\u2019ve made a few quick visual updates to the Emburse Tile Mosaic. These changes will appear in the mobile app as well as the desktop version. What\u2019s Changed? What This Means for You Nothing about the underlying system is changing! All core [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[16,184,358,3],"class_list":["post-2224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-chrome-river","tag-emburse","tag-emburse-updates","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2224"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2226,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions\/2226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2221,"date":"2026-09-15T14:17:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2221"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:17:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:17:35","slug":"vcu-to-retire-vantage-point-logistics-freight-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/vcu-to-retire-vantage-point-logistics-freight-program\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU to Retire Vantage Point Logistics Freight Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VCU will retire the Vantage Point Logistics (VPL) Freight Program effective <strong>September 28, 2026<\/strong>. Departments do not need to take any action as a result of this change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Departments should continue placing orders through their normal procurement processes. There is no need to contact vendors, provide a VCU shipping account number, or make changes to existing purchase orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VCU\u2019s standard purchase order terms will remain in effect. Unless otherwise specified, purchases will continue under <strong>F.O.B. Destination<\/strong> terms with prepaid transportation charges. This means vendors remain responsible for arranging and managing delivery to VCU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For departments, the transition should be seamless, with no changes needed to current ordering practices. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VCU will retire the Vantage Point Logistics (VPL) Freight Program effective September 28, 2026. Departments do not need to take any action as a result of this change. Departments should continue placing orders through their normal procurement processes. There is no need to contact vendors, provide a VCU shipping account number, or make changes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2222,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[21,4],"class_list":["post-2221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-services","tag-accounts-payable","tag-purchasing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2223,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221\/revisions\/2223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2214,"date":"2026-09-08T14:37:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/?p=2214"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:48:43","slug":"employee-tuition-benefit-and-applicable-taxes-webinar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/employee-tuition-benefit-and-applicable-taxes-webinar\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In August 2026, VCU Human Resources and Payroll Services hosted a <strong>Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar<\/strong> to help employees better understand the tuition benefit program and its potential tax implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The webinar covered program eligibility, the application process, the difference between tuition benefit and tuition reimbursement, and how the benefit may affect annual taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employees who would like to review the information, can watch the <strong>recorded webinar here<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.mediaspace.kaltura.com\/media\/VCU+Tax+Topics%3A+Tuition+Benefit+-+Aug+14%2C+2026\/1_ksfe0gen\">Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For questions about the tuition benefit program, contact <a href=\"mailto:learndev@vcu.edu\">learndev@vcu.edu<\/a>. For questions regarding tax implications, contact Veronica King at <a href=\"mailto:vbking@vcu.edu\">vbking@vcu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In August 2026, VCU Human Resources and Payroll Services hosted a Tuition Benefit Taxation Overview Webinar to help employees better understand the tuition benefit program and its potential tax implications. The webinar covered program eligibility, the application process, the difference between tuition benefit and tuition reimbursement, and how the benefit may affect annual taxes. Employees [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2024,"featured_media":2216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[355,356],"tags":[357,168,241,240],"class_list":["post-2214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-resources","category-payroll","tag-human-resources","tag-payroll","tag-taxation","tag-tuition-benefit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2214"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2218,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2214\/revisions\/2218"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/procurement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]