Employee Training Opportunity - Project Drawdown

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Interested in merging sustainability into your current job? Project Drawdown, a U.S. nonprofit organization whose mission is to help stop climate change, is launching a new employee training designed to help folks who might not work directly in sustainability, but want to integrate sustainability practices into their current roles. The goal is to make every job a green job!

The virtual three-part training includes content and activities to: 

• Demystify the role of business and institutions in sustainability solutions
• Equip employees with a personalized plan of action 
• Connect employees with resources and peers ready to drive impact 

Sessions will be held virtually on June 11th, 18th, and 25th at 12:00 - 1:30 pm EDT. If you are interested in this training, please see this one-page overview and submit the application form. The application takes about 5 minutes to complete. If you are unable to join the trainings but would like to discuss how to integrate sustainability into your job at UVA, please reach out to the UVA Sustainability team.

Spring 2025 FOCUS Conference Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us—both in person and online—for the 2025 Spring FOCUS Conference! With nearly 350 attendees, this event provided a fantastic opportunity for the finance community to connect, learn, and grow together.

We’re especially grateful to our sponsors—EY, Workday, Nelnet, Transact + CBORD, and Flywire—for their generous support, and to all the presenters and volunteers who made the day possible. From insightful sessions to meaningful networking, it was a great reminder of the power of collaboration.

• 📽️ Check out the video for a look back at some of the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-TfxKCCkcQ 
• See all the event pics on our Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/144779052@N06/albums/72177720326317260
• Want to stay in the loop for future FOCUS events? Visit focus.vpfinance.virginia.edu to learn more.

Treasury Transformations

UVA's Treasury department has recently implemented a few specific transformations to improve accuracy, efficiency, and help sustain a strong financial foundation. 

Phase 2 of the General Ledger (GL) Integrity initiative at Medical Center for Payroll

UVAFinance is currently progressing to Phase 2 of the GL Integrity initiative, the next step forward in our broader GL transformation strategy (read more about our progress toward GL Integrity here). The new structure will enhance controls and clearing accounts that more closely align with bank activity, significantly improving the accuracy of cash recording, exception identification, and reconciliation processes in follow-up to earlier efforts within the Accounts Payable function (Phase 1). 

Additional efforts from the project team include consolidation of banking services under Bank of America, such as planned outsourcing of residual check printing/mailing to enhance fraud protection and gain operational efficiencies, increasing payments via electronic methods (card and ACH) while reducing the number of checks issued to vendors to provide risk mitigation, fraud protection, and payment-related rebates, as well as the implementation of a validation tool to verify payee banking information prior to payment execution. 

Exploration of Modern Debt Management Tools 

UVA Treasury has launched an initiative to evaluate and adopt best-in-class tools for managing the University's debt portfolio. These tools will support more effective planning, tracking, and optimization of UVA's debt strategy, ensuring we remain agile and forward-looking in a complex financial landscape.

Special thanks to Stephanie McAteer and Yvonne Metheny, who have maintained thoughtful participation in this review process and their insights are helping Treasury assess third-party platforms that will assist with tracking obligations, modeling future debt scenarios, and maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. 

Ultimately, these tools will enhance UVA's ability to deliver data-driven insights, support long-range planning, and sustain a strong, resilient financial framework.

Progress in Action: Advancing Our 2025 Priorities

We're making progress!

Earlier this year, UVAFinance shared our 2025 priorities with the Finance Advisory Network and the broader UVA finance community. These priorities—Operational Priorities, Workday Optimization, and Engagement—are designed to enhance financial accuracy, operational ease, and community connection. Since then, we've made significant progress thanks to the dedication, partnership, and expertise of finance professionals across Grounds.

Here’s an update on how we’re moving these priorities forward.

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A Community-Driven Approach to Improvement

Over the last quarter, the many of our improvement initiatives have gained meaningful traction. What began as targeted remediation and technical clean-up efforts has grown into a broader movement toward consistency, accountability, and clarity in our financial processes.

One standout example is the Payroll team’s recent “listening tour,” where they met with nearly 20 departments to understand challenges related to payroll costing and accounting adjustments. This effort, led by Victoria Peprah-Asante and Joel Kreider, shows a commitment to continuously reviewing and improving payroll processes within Workday. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, the team has prioritized early and authentic engagement with the community of financial partners across grounds. This approach was met with enthusiastic support from those closest to the work.

Now in its next phase, the team is analyzing feedback and exploring improvements such as targeted training, streamlined workflows, and system enhancements within Workday.

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The Power of Partnership

As we continue to make progress, the cross-functional teamwork within UVAFinance and across grounds has been instrumental in many of our priorities:

• Payroll Transparency and Reconciliation: In partnership with the Workday Support Team, the Payroll Team led improvements that separate garnishment and tax withholdings into distinct ledger accounts. This involved updating posting rules, financial logic, and reporting templates, making payroll reconciliation easier and more accurate across UVA.
• Balance Sheet Reconciliations Near Completion: The UVA’s institution-wide balance sheet reconciliation effort is now fully underway within the Workday system. The work spans nearly every ledger account and was made possible by the Financial Reporting Team and the Workday Support Team, but numerous functional teams across Grounds are engaged quarterly to complete the reconciliation work that underscores our commitment to financial accuracy and institutional financial integrity.
• Lease Accounting at Work: In conjunction with the UVA Foundation, the Financial Reporting team completed a thorough review of the lease accounting treatment for a new complex lease, establishing best practices for handling complex lease arrangements and ensuring reporting accuracy for the future.

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Thank You for Engaging in the Journey

As always, these advances are only possible through collaboration across teams, departments, and disciplines. Thank you for your continued commitment to strengthening financial operations at UVA. We look forward to sharing more updates as we build on this momentum and move closer to our 2025 goals.

General Accounting Team Updates

UVAFinance is excited to share the recent changes to the General Accounting team structure that reflect both transitions and big opportunities for growth. The team is confident that these changes will create a stronger, more agile collaborative dynamic where everyone feel seen, supported, and ready for what's next!

Team Updates ---------------------------------------

Stephanie McAteer  

Transferring to General Accounting from the Financial Reporting team, McAteer plays a key role in strengthening financial infrastructure through her focused work on intercompany activity and compliance reporting. Her current responsibilities offer her a strong platform to grow into a financial operations expert while developing versatile, cross-functional skills. 

Andrew Moomaw 

Moomaw has transitioned from Accounts Receivable to be our resident State Accounting expert. Andrew's evolving role reflects a strong foundation in financial operations with growing opportunities for learning and cross-functional expertise. 

Vicki Malamphy  

A recent addition to General Accounting, Malamphy joined the team from Business Services. She is playing a growing role in core financial operations, with a focus on general ledger integrity and payment processing. Malamphy's responsibilities offer strong development opportunities in both technical accounting and operational finance. 

Katrina Widner 

Widner's role is pivotal in the day-to-day operations of the team, with a strong focus on cash management, customer accounts, and banking reconciliations. Her responsibilities enable her to develop in-depth operational knowledge while expanding into broader finance functions through cross-training and team support. 

Workday Attestation Campaign Success!

Starting April 28th through mid-May, UVA underwent a verification period, the Workday Attestation campaign, to ensure all employees had the correct Workday access to stay within compliance and on top of security.

We are proud to say that this campaign was an enormous success. Over 1,300 managers and 3,300+ employees were certified across 38,000+ assignable roles within UVA's Academic, Medical Center, and UPG departments! In total, 99.8% of attestations were completed during this process. Certifiers allowed users to keep 96.5% of attestations, with only 2.2% of user access removed and 1.1% of access reassigned. 

The campaign's amazing success is credited to the following:

• UVAFinance Compliance Team - Christine Kennedy-Tyburski
• The Compliance team helped head the attestation campaign, overseeing the work done throughout the process to make sure UVA remained within Compliance standards.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM) team - Jennifer Shiflett, Stacey Hughes, & Christopher Zysk
• This team administered the user attestation campaign across all systems, partnering with UVAFinance and UVA HR as functional owners for Workday, and with Workday Security for data integration with IAM data.
• Workday Security team, ITS - Kelli O'Dell & Crystal Tapia
• Responsible for extracting the Workday user assignment data from Workday, taking final action on access identified to be removed, and deleting user access for those whose managers did not complete the attestation by the end of the campaign.
• AskFinance/User Success team - Senior Service Experience Associates Dawn Wood, Kellyn Morris, & Ann Paxton
• Dawn Wood provided constant, all-day customer support and "white glove" service, Kellyn Morris aided with tag team support, and Ann Paxton helped hold things down for the team throughout the duration of the attestation campaign.
• Training and Development Director, Patty Marbury
• Patty Marbury took hold of the reins with outreach to FAN reps and MBU leaders/contracts, collaborated with Christine Kennedy-Tyburski and IAM on reassigning certifiers when needed, and got the certification progress going smoothly. 
• UVAFinance Communications Manager, Brandi Van Ormer
• Brandi Van Ormer helped facilitated communications across departments throughout the duration of the campaign with back and forth emails, messages, and all last minute comms needs.
• Business Intelligence team - Michelle Gregory & Randy Sule
• This team created reports in Workday to view role-based access assignments by manager/certifier ahead of the campaign. 
• Institutional Research and Analytics/UBI team - Marcus Hall & Ashley Bagby 
• Created a dashboard and reports in Qlik to aid tracking the status of the attestation campaign.
• Sponsors - Adam Weikel & Olga Weider

And a big thank you to everyone else who made this User Attestation campaign such a huge success that wasn't named above, we appreciate you and all of the hard work you've contributed!

Professional Development Corner: May 15, 2025

 

by Patty Marbury, Director of Training & Development

Professional development is a great way to stay connected and to meet the challenges of our ever-evolving world of higher education and beyond. Whether you’re interested in learning new or refreshing current skills, building your leadership competencies, or just staying current with the latest trends, there are plenty of opportunities to grow. It’s also a chance to connect with other colleagues, explore new interests, and find ways to make a meaningful impact on Grounds and in the community. We’re excited to share a range of workshops, courses, and resources to support your journey—wherever it takes you next. Some of these offerings are free, and some have fees; none have travel beyond the UVA offerings that require local travel.  

(Remember to discuss all professional development opportunities with your manager before applying for any funds. See below for more information on the Education Benefit.)

Why is professional development important?

Check out this article from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, How Professional Development Can Boost Employee Engagement on how participating in learning activities benefits all.

How do you maintain a growth mindset?

In March, I shared an article on why cultivating a growth mindset is important when considering professional development and lifelong learning - Growth Mindset and Professional Development: Do you Have a Growth Mindset or a Fixed Mindset? Then in April, I shared some tips on moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. However, once you’ve made that shift, how can you maintain a growth mindset during these challenging times?

Maintaining a growth mindset during times of challenge—whether it’s navigating budget constraints, shifting priorities, or unexpected setbacks—means staying open to learning, adapting, and finding opportunity in the midst of uncertainty. It’s about focusing on what’s possible rather than what’s limited, being creative with available resources, and viewing obstacles as a chance to build resilience and new skills. Even small steps forward can lead to meaningful progress, and by staying curious and solution-oriented, we can continue to grow and support our institutions through change.

Coursera

Remember that we have access to Coursera, and an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses, specializations, certifications, and degree programs from universities and institutions around the world. UVA has a university-wide subscription for Coursera. Check it out and start learning!

Upcoming Offerings

Listed below are links to offerings that may be of interest – this month we’ll focus on opportunities for which you can use your centrally-funded education benefit and are offered virtually, or in a few cases, locally, so there are no travel costs! (Remember, if you are requesting departmental funds, make sure it you have approval before you register for or enroll in any offering.)

NACUBO*

Washington Updates:

• Washington Update: Funding Outlook, Legislative Priorities, and Regulatory Developments (recorded on 4/9/25)
• What’s Next for Higher Education Policy: Navigating a New Congress and Administration  (recorded on 2/11/25)
• 2024 Post-Election Analysis (Recorded on 11/19/24)

Recordings:

• Navigating (Un)certainty in Higher Education: Proactive Strategies to Drive Institutional Agility (recorded on 4/29/25)
• Demystifying AI: Opportunities for Using AI in Higher Ed Business and Operations 
• 2025 Higher Education Accounting Forum – Online ($350) – This is an online option of the in-person 2025 conference which will be held April 22-24 in Las Vegas.
• Understanding Financial Exigency: What it Is, How it Works, and Why it Matters – May 8 at 1:00 pm

Other Live Online Events - unless indicated, the session is free to NACUBO members, which we are, although you need an individual account.* Some also offer CPE credits.

• NACUBO 2025 Annual Meeting Online ($350)  – July 27-29, 2025
• 2025 Planning, Budgeting, and Analytics Forum – Online (fee TBA) – This is a “save the date” announcement. The online conference will be held Sept 29-30.

Self-Paced Courses and Microlearning

• Strategic Higher Education Finance and Planning ($595)
• F&A Short Form ($150)
• Facilities Management ($49)
• New to Higher Education ($49)
• Essentials of College and University Accounting (this is currently undergoing regular review cycle and updates.)

Podcasts

• Career Conversations
• NACUBO in Brief

*Individual NACUBO membership is free through UVA’s institutional membership. To join go to nacubo.org and click on “Login or Join”. From the Login box, click on “Don’t have an account” and fill out the form. In the “Primary Affiliate” field enter “University of Virginia” and select the appropriate affiliate.

The Chronicle of Higher Education

• Professional Development Programs
• Virtual Events (many are on-demand)
• Free webinar series: Navigating Uncertainty Under Trump

The Chronicle also has many interesting articles.

AGA

AGA is the association that connects and empowers professionals who support government, from financial management to IT, human resources, cybersecurity and more, to advance good government initiatives, grow their expertise, and accelerate their careers. (Requires membership.) 

LearnBFSI 

LearnBFSI (several interesting for-fee courses - $199 each for live webinar and $159 for recording – note this company is in Australia), including: ChatGPT for CPAs and Finance Professionals as well as courses in Excel and ChatGPT for PowerPoint.

Other Considerations

Also consider the following as you plan your professional development for the year:

• UVA Organizational Excellence has many learning opportunities.
• *New* UVA Miller Center always has interesting programs.
• UVA Human Resources offers many free programs and courses.
• Learning Tracks | UVA HR – HR has created two new leadership tracks: one for Aspiring Managers and one for New Managers. This is about a year-long commitment and requires completion of an online form. Note UVAFinance Managers – we are working with HR to have a customized curriculum for managers, so if you’re interested in one of these tracks, please contact Patty Marbury, pam5w@virginia.edu before you enroll.
• LinkedIn Learning - Human Resources also has links to microlearning courses and to LinkedIn Learning. (Participating in these courses does not require submitting a Professional Development Request Form.)
• UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) offers many Certificate programs.
• *New*  Harvard Business School Online offers multi-course credentials and certificate programs – many are less than $2000.
• University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business online programs; many are $1,000 or less. 
• Stanford University Executive Education – the self-paced programs are $1,500.
• UVA Darden Executive Education - There are two programs less than $2,000, using the discount. (Leading Mindfully and Collaboration and Influence.)
• Use the discount code UVA50, which provides a 50% discount for the cost of the program. (The prices listed are for the full cost.)
• See the Darden Executive Education program schedule for upcoming dates.

Education Benefit

Each year, you have $2,000 of centrally-funded education benefit for professional development or $5,250 to use for tuition toward a degree-seeking program. See https://hr.virginia.edu/career-development/education-benefits-1 for more information. (To be eligible for this benefit, you must have had six months of service in a benefits-eligible position at UVA by the start date of the class, with the intent to remain on the active payroll during the entire term of the class.) 

Professional Development Request Form 

UVAFinance team members – Since we have submitted initial FY 2025 professional development requests already, please discuss with your manager and use the Professional Development Request Form before you register for any program. Remember, not all professional development opportunities require submission of the form. If an opportunity is less than ½ day AND there is no cost associated with it, then do not submit a form. Many LinkedIn Learning courses and some courses offered by UVA Human Resources or other UVA departments meet these criteria. Otherwise, the form must be submitted. If unsure, feel free to ask!

For LEADERS

Here’s an article from the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL):  The Top 20 Leadership Challenges – this informative article provides many links to other articles and resources. (This is not a new article – it has been posted in past newsletters.)

Please feel free to share other opportunities you come across, and I’ll include them in future communications!

Amazon Punchout Is Live—Training Recording and FAQ Now Available

Training recording, FAQ, and more!

The Amazon Punchout Tile is now live in the UVA Marketplace, making it easier than ever for schools and units across the University to purchase through Amazon Business—while maintaining the compliance and oversight UVA requires.

To support your transition to this new purchasing method, Procurement Services has posted a recording of the Amazon Punchout Training, along with a helpful FAQ, on our website. Whether you’re brand new to the process or just need a quick refresher, these resources are available anytime you need them.

Access the training and FAQ here: https://uvafinance.virginia.edu/resources/amazon-punchout-post-training-faq  

What’s the Amazon Punchout Again?

As of April 21, more users across UVA can access Amazon Business directly through the Marketplace using the new Amazon Punchout Tile. This expanded access brings added flexibility and convenience while keeping UVA’s purchasing policies front and center.

Key Benefits Recap:

• Wider Access: More departments and buyers can now purchase through Amazon Business.

• Built-In Controls: Automated oversight helps ensure responsible spending and policy compliance.

• Amazon Business Perks: Tax exemption, quantity discounts, and support for diverse suppliers continue with the punchout process—now in a more streamlined format.

We’re excited about this change and hope the new resources make the transition even smoother for your teams.

Have questions? We’re here to help! Reach out to askfinance@virginia.edu; we'll be happy to hear from you!

UVAFinance in Action: May 8, 2025

Congrats Andrew!

Andrew Clark Receives His CompTIA Security+ Certification 

Recently, Andrew Clark, Supplier Management Specialist, obtained his CompTIA Security+ CE Certification from CompTIA. This certification course builds a foundation of knowledge in baseline cybersecurity skills, including general security concepts, threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations, security architecture and operations, and security program management. This certification encompasses the latest updates in cybersecurity and covers the most in-demand skills related to current threats. Congratulations Andrew on this achievement!

Great job, Garett!

New Training Empowers Contract Administrators across Grounds

Procurement Services' Garrett Morris has developed a valuable new resource that’s set to make a big impact across UVA. His new Contract Administrator training presentation is designed to help departments better understand their responsibilities once formal procurement processes are complete.

By clarifying contract administration roles, the training empowers units to manage supplier relationships more effectively, streamline operations, reduce risk, and ensure performance standards are met. This work is a great example of how thoughtful, proactive tools can strengthen University-wide processes and outcomes.

Well done, Sarah!

Childcare Services RFP Complete

Shoutout to Sarah Johnson-Ward of Procurement Services for her outstanding work finalizing the Child Care & Backup Care Services RFP—on behalf of UVA Academic, UVA Medical Center, and UPG. From initial development through evaluations, presentations, negotiations, and final awards, this complex process took over a year—and Sarah navigated every step with expertise, diligence, and care.

Bike to Work Week

Happy Bike Month!

Happy Bike Month, UVA!

Next week is National Bike to Work Week, and we will celebrate on Tuesday (5/13) with a UVA Bike Social, sponsored by Ben and Jerry’s! 

 

🚲🍦UVA Bike Social 
Tues, May 13, from 3:30-5:30pm 
Grassy area outside the Aquatic and Fitness Center (AFC)- rain location will be inside the AFC
Whether you are already a bike commuter or just interested in learning more, join us for this Bike Social supporting Bike to Work Week. Music, lawn games, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, bike-related organizations tabling, demo e-bikes, lots of bike-loving people to socialize with, and plenty of bike parking! Hosted by UVA Parking & Transportation, UVA Recreation, and UVA Office for Sustainability. Sponsored by Ben and Jerry’s. 

 

If you are interested in biking, you might also like: 

• C’ville Bike Month Events – Celebrate biking all throughout the month of May with a wide variety of fun and impactful events in our area. 

• Logging bike trips in the ConnectingVA app - Earn points toward prizes and perks for every bike ride you log between May 1-31. 

• Bike to Work Day Appreciation Station on Friday, May 16, 7:30-9:30am - Stop by 601 West Main Street (in front of Shenanigans Toys) for coffee, cookies, and a free tune-up from Blue Wheel Bikes. 

UVA Finance Is Transitioning Vendor Payments to Paymode ACH

Transitioning to Paymode

UVA Finance continues to transition vendor payments from PaymentWorks to Bank of America products, including Paymode and ePayables.  This change supports our continued efforts to improve efficiency and streamline payment processes for the vendors who work with UVA.
 

No Action Required from Departments

We’re sharing this update for your awareness—no action is required from departments. In late May to early June, our banking partner Bank of America, will begin reaching out to UVA vendors directly to support their transition to the payment method that best suits their needs.

 

Vendor Options: What’s Changing?

Bank of America’s outreach will help vendors choose the most efficient and cost-effective payment option:

• ePayables (Preferred)
• Payment Terms: Immediate upon approval (unless otherwise negotiated)
• Merchant fees apply
• Paymode ACH (Strongly Preferred)
• Payment Terms: Net 30 (unless otherwise negotiated)
• Free basic version; secure and widely used
• Paper Check (Discouraged)
• Payment Terms: Net 45
• Suppliers who do not transition by December 31, 2025 will be automatically moved to paper checks

Questions?

If a vendor contacts you with questions about the outreach, you can reassure them that the communication is legitimate. Please direct them to askfinance@virginia.edu for additional support.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we modernize UVA’s financial operations and work to create a better vendor experience across Grounds.

FDM Validator Updates

Check out the new updates!

Recently, there have been a few new changes to the FDM Validator in Workday that have gone into effect. These changes shouldn't be too big for UVAFinance folks but it is important to be aware of them in case future questions arise. These changes are detailed below.

Taggable Type

Taggable Type will now default to Accounting Journal and cannot be changed. You will be able to use the validated worktag combination with other transaction types in Workday.

Transaction Date:

If you enter a Grant worktag, the current date will now automatically populate. You can adjust the date. It is recommended to change the date to when the transaction will occur to ensure the Grant will be Active at the time. The transaction date will appear on the validation page. 

For more details on the FDM Validator and updates, check out the UVAFinance website and the FDM Validator Quick Reference Guide (QRG).

New Process for Booking at Local Hotels

It's OK to sign the OCD!

The TravelUVA team has been working hard making booking groups and events at local contracted hotels as easy as possible. The team recently created a new and improved version of the Hotel Order Confirmation Document (OCD). This document is completed by a local hotel with a master agreement with UVA, and is then sent to the UVA department contact to confirm their group and event booking.

Starting May 5, 2025, when departments arrange an event with a local contracted hotel, they can expect to receive the new version of the OCD from the hotel via a DocuSign email. Once the hotel countersigns, a fully executed version of the OCD is sent to both parties via email. 

Enhancements to the OCD include: 

• Streamlined format 
• Attrition and cancellation terms (from the UVA master agreement) listed on the OCD
• Electronic signatures 
• Improved visibility into hotel spend

For more information, please see the Booking Groups at Locally Contracted Hotels resource. 

Please note: Only agreements on the University-approved OCD for a locally contracted hotel are permitted to be signed by the department.

If you have any questions about this new process, please email Travel@virginia.edu.

Wellness Resources: May 2025

Be well this spring!

May is Mental Health Month!

May is a month when the world exhales into color, warmth, and possibility. It represents a season that reminds us that growth is not just an idea, but something we can see and feel. For that reason, it's fitting that May is also Mental Health Awareness Month: a time to honor the often unseen landscapes of our inner well-being. Below are some mental well-being opportunities that are designed to support you.

• Caregiver Connection: Exploring Care and Support - May 15, 12-1:15 PM
• Learn practical techniques for approaching and discussing challenging topics in dementia care. This session offers tips for starting conversations around difficult subjects, such as seeking a diagnosis, determining when it’s time to stop driving, and creating essential legal and financial plans for future care. 
• Register for this event here.
• Rest, Reset, and Restore (In-Person Group Event) -- May 20, 4-5:30 PM
• The Human Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) manages stress and recovery. Modern life often  disrupts this balance, causing Nervous System Dysregulation (NSD) linked to chronic disease, anxiety, and depression. Learn to activate your Restore Branch at our R-3 drop-in sessions. Co-sponsored by FEAP and Population Health.
• Register for this event here.
• Braving the Arena: Leading Ourselves with Empathy, Self-Compassion, and Courage -- June 10, 12-1 PM
• ​​​​​​In today’s complex world, how we navigate our emotions shapes our personal well-being. Join this webinar to cultivate greater emotional awareness, connection, and self-kindness. Discover how to navigate vulnerability, understand the nuances of difficult emotions, overcome empathic barriers, and redefine self-compassion as a foundation for resilience and meaningful connection.
• Register for this webinar here.

Emotional & Financial Well-Being Class

• Investing Essentials: Five Principles to Invest with Confidence 
• May 12, 11 AM & 1 PM
• Presented by TIAA

Note: This class is eligible for earning $25 Hoos Well rewards. You must be enrolled in a UVA Health Care Plan to earn awards.

Join the Hoos Well 1% Challenge 

In only 14 minutes (just 1% of your day!), you can improve your mental health and well-being. How? Join the 1% Challenge offered by Hoos Well partner eM Life. You can also earn $50 in awards! Participation is open to employees and spouses on a UVA Health Plan. 

• Start the challenge anytime between May 5 - June 3.
• You must have or create an eM Life account (it's free).
• Practice (at least) 14 minutes in live or on-demand mindfulness sessions during a 40-day period from when you start the challenge.

Click here for more information.

Last Chance for Free Fitness Classes 

There's still time to join a free fitness class offered by Hoos Well in partnership with UVA Rec! Get in shape, meet your colleagues, and have some fun!

Classes run through May 9th and include Body Pump, Barre, Yoga, Aqua Jogging, Pilates, Zumba®, and Cycle, Strength, and Core.

View the class schedule or register for a program here.

More Hoos Well Opportunities

• Create a Hoos Well Portal Account and earn up to $500 in awards while enhancing your well-being. Thousands of your colleagues are already reaping the benefits of the Portal and its offerings.  Watch this recorded demo to learn how to get the most from the Portal.
• Join WW (WeightWatchers) through UVA at a discounted rate.
• Get one complimentary nutrition counseling session for those covered by a UVA health plan through the UVA Nutrition Counseling Center.
• Meet with a Live Health Coach to achieve your personalized health goals. Your Health Coach will work with you to formulate a strategy to achieve improved well-being. 
• Join a free Hoos Well drop-in exercise class such as Yoga, Cycling or Body Pump.
• Get free access to Healthy Minds@Work, a personal guided journey to a healthier mind.

Picnic Time 

May is the ideal month for picnics when the summer heat hasn't quite settled in yet and the flowers are in bloom. Picnics are also a great way to enjoy some restful time outdoors engaging your senses. Savor each moment, noticing what you see, hear, feel, and smell. As for taste, opportunities abound! Try out some of these healthy recipes that are perfect for picnics or an anytime lunch.

UVAFinance Team: Share Your 2025 Graduates With the Blog!

Celebrate you and your grads!

May is the season to celebrate students' academic achievements and success! 

If you or someone in your immediate family is graduating this year, your UVAFinance teammates would like to celebrate with you. Whether they graduated pre-K, high school, college, or became a doctor, we'd love to take the time to honor them. 

Please share your news with the blog by emailing us before the end of June. 

Please provide your name and your student's name(s), your relationship, plus where they graduated from. Feel free to include a picture as well! Graduates will be shared on the blog this June. 

Wahoowa!

OE June 5 Event: Introduction to Liberating Structures

Register now!

On June 5th from 11:00am - 12:15pm, UVA's Organizational Excellence will be sponsoring the online event, Introduction to Liberating Structures: Unleashing the Power of Groups for Better Results. 

This event, featuring presenters Sarah Collie and Mary Brackett from Organization Excellence, will help attendees discover how to use the transformative tools of Liberating Structures (LS) to enhance the effectiveness of groups. This experiential session introduces the foundational LS framework, a few structures, and resources available to support participants' ongoing learning and practical applications of LS. 

Liberating Structures are a collection of over 33 structured approaches designed to foster collaboration, inspire creativity, and drive innovation. These tools are versatile and adaptable, making them ideal for a wide range of settings and purposes, including brainstorming ideas, eliciting insights, solving complex problems, and planning for the future. Through this event, participants will engage in meaningful collaboration and unlock better results for their group’s work. 

Register here to sign up for this informative and engaging event!

Bring Your Pet to Work Day (Virtual)

Show off those furry friends!

June 20th is National Take Your Dog to Work Day!

Last year, UVAFinance participated in the fun by holding a Virtual Bring Your Pet to Work Celebration featuring any and all pets, and will be hosting the event again this year!

To participate, please share pictures of your pets with their names and any other fun facts about your furry, feathered, or scaly friends.  Send info to Brandi Van Ormer.

Pictures will be shared via the UVAFinance Flickr account by June 20th so all can enjoy. 

Pets make people happy - share the wealth with your colleagues!

Online Registration is Now Open for FOCUS!

Register now!

Online registration for the Spring 2025 FOCUS Conference is officially open! This year's event will be hosted by the University of Virginia from May 20 - 22, 2025, bringing together finance professionals for an engaging and informative experience. 

Registration Details

• Cost to attend online: $50
• Link to register: https://pci.foc.virginia.edu/UVA_FOCUS_CONFERENCE
• Deadline to register: May 16
• No CPE Credits for online attendees

After registering, you'll receive an email prompting you to download the Whova App, the official event platform for FOCUS 2025. This will help verify your registration details before your information is loaded into the system. If you do not receive this email, please contact Jonathan Duff at duffwj@vt.edu.

View the full agenda here.

Need Assistance? -- Contact us at askfinance@virginia.edu; the team will be happy to help!