Chris Peper Appointed as Assistant VP for Financial Planning & Analysis

We’re very excited to share that Chris Peper has recently been appointed Assistant Vice President for Financial Planning & Analysis! 

Those across the University may already know Peper through his interim work with Financial Planning & Analysis. During that time, he provided strong leadership and thoughtful partnerships to schools, units, and senior leaders across UVA.

Since joining the UVAFinance Team in 2022 as Director of Budgets and Planning, Peper has become a trusted advisor and collaborator throughout the Academic Division. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in the School of Education and Human Development, where he most recently served as Senior Director of Finance, he brought a broad understanding of the University’s academic mission and operations to his work in Financial Planning & Analysis.

Over the last four years, Peper has helped strengthen budgeting and planning processes, supported strategic efforts, and fostered productive partnerships across the University. In his interim role, he successfully led the University’s budget development process while helping UVA leadership navigate essential financial priorities to position the University for continued success. 

Please join us in congratulating Peper on his well-deserved appointment as Assistant VP for Financial Planning & Analysis. We are looking forward to his continued leadership and the positive impact he’ll have both within Finance and the greater University community.

2026 Small Business Expo Connects UVA with Local Vendors

See all the pictures on our Flickr page

On June 10, Newcomb Hall welcomed faculty, staff, and suppliers from across the community for the 2026 Small Business Expo. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to discover new vendors, learn about available goods and services, and build connections with small businesses that help support the University's mission.

274

Attendees

206

Departments & Organizations Represented

73

Small Business Vendors

With 73 participating vendors representing a wide variety of industries, attendees had the opportunity to explore new options for everything from professional services and office support to specialized products and business solutions. The breadth of exhibitors highlighted the depth and diversity of the small business community that surrounds and supports UVA.

Why It Matters

The Small Business Expo helps strengthen connections between the University and local suppliers while creating opportunities for departments to identify qualified vendors that can support their business needs.

UVAFinance is proud to support the vibrant small business community that contributes so much to the success of the University and the broader region. Events like the Small Business Expo help foster relationships that benefit both UVA and the local economy.

Sponsor Recognition

Special thanks to our event sponsors for helping make the 2026 Small Business Expo possible. Their support helped bring together attendees and vendors from across the UVA and local business communities.

Rotunda Sponsor

ReRePlacement Parts, Inc.

Cavalier Sponsors

RetirePathVA

Custom Ink

Sabre Sponsors

Journey Group

SHI International Corp

Want to see more? Check out photos from the event to relive the day and see some of the vendors, attendees, and connections that made the 2026 Small Business Expo such a success.

Visit the Photo Album on Flickr

See NBC29 News' Interview with Mark Cartwright, Senior Director of Procurement Services at UVA

Five Reminders for a Smooth Fiscal Year-End Close

Year-End Close is Approaching!

With June 30 fast approaching, now is the time to review the Fiscal Year-End Close Calendar and ensure your remaining year-end activities are on track. This year, UVAFinance extended many submission deadlines to give departments additional flexibility and more time to complete critical transactions.

Start Here

Review the Fiscal Year-End Close Calendar and pay close attention to upcoming deadlines. Because many dates were extended, there is very little flexibility available once deadlines pass.

1. Know Your Deadlines

Many of the early deadlines focused on ETF-related activities, but the busiest portion of year-end is now underway. Departments should review the calendar carefully and ensure transactions are submitted on time. Meeting published deadlines helps avoid delays and allows Central Finance teams to process transactions as efficiently as possible.

2. Ask Questions Early

Throughout the close process, teams from Accounting, Financial Reporting, Fixed Assets, and other areas of Central Finance are meeting daily to review outstanding issues and support departments across Grounds. If questions arise, submit them through Ask Finance as early as possible so they can be addressed before a deadline becomes an issue.

Year-End Tip: Practice Good Financial Hygiene

Year-end is an excellent time to review designated funds, gifts, grants, and other worktags to ensure balances are accurate and appropriately funded. Cleaning up lingering balances now can help prevent unnecessary explanations, adjustments, and follow-up work after the fiscal year closes.

3. Resolve Small Issues Before They Become Large Ones

Reviewing fund balances and addressing deficits before year-end can make the close process significantly smoother. Departments are encouraged to identify and resolve outstanding issues now rather than carrying them into the new fiscal year.

4. Take Advantage of Available Support

If you're unsure how to address a fund balance issue, transaction, or accounting question, don't hesitate to reach out. Central Finance teams are available to help departments work through challenges and identify appropriate solutions before deadlines arrive.

5. Start the New Fiscal Year Strong

Taking time now to review balances, meet deadlines, and address outstanding questions can help ensure a smoother close and a cleaner start to the new fiscal year. A little attention to detail in June can save significant time and effort in July.

Visit the Fiscal Year-End Close Calendar for deadlines, resources, and additional guidance. If you need assistance, contact Ask Finance.

_______________________________________________

Related Content: Year End Closing Reminder (and Fiscal New Year's Resolutions)

Victoria Peprah-Asante Transitions to Director of Payment Solutions

Victoria Peprah-Asante

Since joining UVAFinance in 2024 as Payroll Accounting Manager, Victoria Peprah-Asante has brought more than two decades of experience in higher education finance to the University. Prior to UVA, she spent over 20 years at the University of Florida, most recently serving as Associate Controller for Disbursements and Travel Services, where she oversaw accounts payable, supplier maintenance, invoicing, and travel operations. Throughout her career, Peprah-Asante has worked across payroll, accounting, procurement, and financial operations, developing a broad understanding of how financial processes connect across an organization.

Peprah-Asante recently transitioned into the role of Director of Payment Solutions within Procurement Services. She assumes the position as Addie Coe temporarily joins the OneUVA Workday implementation project team, where she will help support the university's effort to unify Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Human Resources across UVA and UVA Health. While Peprah-Asante steps into the role, Coe remains an important member of the Procurement Services team and will continue to support the organization throughout the transition.

In her new role, Peprah-Asante will oversee accounts payable, payments and invoicing, travel and expense reporting, and related payment operations. Having previously held similar responsibilities at the University of Florida, she is excited to return to a fast-paced operational environment.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to support UVA in this role and to work alongside such a dedicated team,” she says. “My goal is to continue building strong, efficient processes that not only support our daily operations but also position us well for future initiatives like OneUVA Workday. Collaboration and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything I do.”

Outside of work, Peprah-Asante enjoys reading, walking, and spending time with family. A self-described Hallmark enthusiast, she enjoys romance novels and appreciates having time to relax with a good book after a busy day. As an empty nester with three daughters, she is embracing a new chapter as she prepares to move to Charlottesville. 

Welcome, Victoria! UVAFinance is happy you're bringing your experience, collaborative approach, and passion for operational excellence to the Procurement Services leadership team.

Summer Professional Development Opportunities for UVA Employees

Be well this summer

June/July Wellness Book Club

Join the UVA Wellness Book Club as participants explore The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal and learn how physical activity can improve happiness, connection, and overall well-being. All are welcome!

When: June 26 and July 31, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Join HERE
 

Starting July 21: Stay Strong, Steady, and Social with SAIL

Build strength, improve balance, and support your well-being through SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life), a free four-week program that combines fitness, mindfulness, and social connection. 

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning July 21, 7:30 a.m.
Details: Free four-week program for adults. Registration required.

Register HERE

Heart of Hoos Well Award Nominations

Recognize a leader who promotes well-being, supports work-life balance, and helps create a positive workplace culture. Nominations are open through August 15, and selected recipients will receive special recognition. Learn more and apply.

Summer Recreation Opportunities

Take advantage of free classes and programs available through UVA's partnership with UVA Recreation. Offerings include small-group training, swim lessons, Pilates, and more opportunities to stay active this summer. Learn more here.

July 15: Saving for Education with Invest529

Join this virtual session at 1:00 p.m. to learn how Invest529 can help you save for future education expenses through tax-free growth, flexible spending options, and plans designed for learners of all ages. BONUS for attending! You’ll receive a $25 gift code to kick-start your new Invest529 account.

When: July 15, 1:00 p.m.
Register HERE

Your Work Experience

Strengthening Connections, Building for Tomorrow: 2025 UVA HR Annual Report

The 2025 UVA Human Resources Annual Report highlights a year of progress and innovation in support of the University and UVA Health workforce. Guided by the HR Roadmap, the report showcases achievements across five strategic priorities: talent acquisition, employee well-being and recognition, professional development, HR technology and services, and workforce readiness. From expanding Career Journeys and leadership development opportunities to improving systems and employee resources, the report reflects UVA HR's ongoing commitment to enhancing the employee experience and preparing for the future.

HR FAQs

Get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about FEAP, Hoos Well, Total Rewards, and career development resources.

Celebrating UVA's 2026 Outstanding Student Employee Award Recipients

2026 Outstanding UVA Student Employees

The University of Virginia recognized ten exceptional students during the second annual Outstanding Student Employee Award reception held on April 29, 2026, in the Rotunda.

The Outstanding Student Employee Awards celebrate students who demonstrate excellence both in the classroom and in their roles across the University. Selected from an impressive pool of nominees, this year's recipients were recognized for their initiative, dedication, leadership, and lasting impact within their departments and the broader UVA community.

Representing a wide range of schools, departments, and programs across Grounds, the 2026 award recipients have contributed to research initiatives, student engagement programs, public service efforts, academic support services, healthcare programs, and more. Their work reflects the talent, commitment, and innovation that student employees bring to UVA every day.

Congratulations to the 2026 Outstanding Student Employee Award recipients:

• Samantha Abrishami, Center for the Liberal Arts
• Emma Brazier, Youth-Nex, School of Education and Human Development
• Maddi Crowe, Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
• Ellie Graff, Public Service Pathways
• Rose La Serte, School of Nursing
• Jaeyoung Lee, Shea House, Housing and Residence Life
• Dasani Madipalli, Open Structures Research Group, School of Architecture
• Isaiah Swann, Office of Medical Sciences Outreach
• Kaitlin Truslow, Special Collections Library
• Jenny Turner, Student Health and Wellness

These students exemplify the dedication, creativity, and leadership that help strengthen the University community.

To learn more about each recipient and their accomplishments, visit the Student Employment website.

You Don’t Want to Miss This: Upcoming Summer Workshops

This summer, the UVA Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity will continue offering workshops designed to help build skills that foster a community of care, respect, ethical engagement, and excellence.

Summertime is Professional Development Time!

Upcoming Workshop Sessions

It's the Little Things: 

Learn how small actions and everyday interactions can build trust, strengthen relationships, and support a positive community culture.

When: June 23, 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: Zoom

Register HERE

Can We Talk? 

Develop skills for active listening, clear communication, and navigating challenging conversations with confidence and empathy.

When: July 21, 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: Zoom

Register HERE

Visit the Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity’s learning programs page for more information about the core series, constructive dialogue offerings, learning partners, and custom or dedicated workshop opportunities.

Capital Equipment Threshold Increasing to $10,000 on July 1

A change is coming

Beginning July 1, 2026, the University will increase the capital equipment dollar threshold from $5,000 to $10,000. The change aligns UVA policy with federal guidance, creates greater consistency across regulatory requirements, and helps streamline accounting, reporting, and compliance practices.

What’s Changing?

Equipment purchases must now meet a $10,000 threshold to qualify as capital equipment. Other elements of the capital equipment definition remain unchanged.

For most departments, the primary impact will be how equipment purchases are categorized in Workday. Beginning July 1, requisitions submitted on or after that date should use a capital spend category only when the updated requirements are met. Equipment purchases below $10,000 will no longer be classified as capital equipment.

Key Dates

• Through June 30, 2026: Continue following the current $5,000 capital equipment threshold.
• Beginning July 1, 2026: Apply the new $10,000 threshold when submitting requisitions and selecting spend categories.

What About Existing Purchases?

The change applies prospectively and will not affect existing assets. Assets currently in inventory will continue to be depreciated according to their original schedules and will remain subject to existing inventory requirements until fully depreciated.

UVAFinance will review open and in-progress purchase orders that span the transition period. Any necessary accounting updates or change orders will be handled centrally by the Business Assets team, minimizing the impact on departments across Grounds.

Please Note

UVA Health System follows its own fixed asset policy and is not impacted by this change.

Questions about the updated threshold or how it may affect a specific purchase can be directed to Ask Finance.

```

T&E Card Management Moves to Workday on June 25

Managing Travel & Expense (T&E) Cards is about to become more streamlined. Beginning June 25, T&E Card Applications, Change Requests, and the Active Cardholder Search will move from the UVAFinance website into Workday, creating a more centralized experience for cardholders, expense data entry specialists, supervisors, and approvers.

What’s Changing?

Instead of submitting T&E Card applications and change requests through web forms, eligible users will initiate requests directly in Workday and be able to track their status throughout the approval process.

This change is designed to make card management easier and more transparent. Approvers will receive Workday inbox notifications, and users will have visibility into where requests stand, similar to the experience already available for requisitions, expense reports, and other Workday transactions.

Card Activities Moving into Workday

Card Management Changes

Several common T&E Card activities will now be managed through Workday, including:

• New T&E Card applications
• Spending limit changes
• Leave requests
• Card cancellation requests
• Active Cardholder Search
• Other T&E Card Change Requests

Benefits of the New Process

• More visibility: Users can check request status directly in Workday.
• Less manual entry: Employee, supervisor, and work location information will populate from Workday HR data.
• Clearer routing: Approval steps will move through Workday inbox tasks.
• Better integration: Data exchange with Bank of America will be more automated behind the scenes.

The new process also uses existing HR data in Workday to populate information such as employee details, supervisor information, and primary work location. New card requests will include a question about the card’s primary business purpose—such as travel, event planning, or procurement of goods—which will help align spending limits with typical business needs.

What’s Staying the Same?

While the process is changing, many aspects of the T&E Card program remain the same. T&E Card policy requirements are unchanged, expense report submission processes will continue as they do today, and Bank of America will remain the University’s card provider.

The T&E Team and Finance Solutions Center will also continue to provide support and assistance through Ask Finance.

Important Process Update

If a card is lost, stolen, or affected by fraud, Bank of America will continue to cancel the card, but replacement cards will no longer be automatically reissued.

Instead, cardholders will submit a request for a new card through Workday. This helps ensure that University records remain synchronized with Bank of America systems.

Support and Resources

To support the transition, UVAFinance is updating training and support resources, including Quick Reference Guides, website content, and cardholder training materials. Topic hours will also be available beginning in July for users who have questions or would like additional guidance.

For more information, including recordings, presentation materials, and training resources, visit the T&E Card Enhancements Resource Center on the UVAFinance website.

___________________________________________________

Related News:  T&E Card Management Downtime Scheduled for June 18-24

UVAFinance Welcomes Abdul Opeloyeru to the Planning and Analysis team.

Abdul at Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Abdul Opeloyeru's path into finance began with a personal experience that shaped his career. Growing up, he watched his father’s business face major financial challenges due to poor money management. Seeing the impact that experience had on his family inspired him to pursue a career in finance, with the goal of helping people and organizations build stronger financial stability.

 
Abdul earned his bachelor's degree in finance and banking from Lagos State University and immediately launched his career in Investment Research at TrustBanc Financial Group. There, he conducted company valuations and developed recommendations for institutional and unit investors. After about 2 years in Investment research, he decided to pursue an advanced, specialized master’s degree in finance at the University of Iowa.

During graduate school, Abdul managed a $26 million endowment fund, focusing on the real estate and financial services sectors of the portfolio, and presented investment recommendations to an experienced board of asset managers. Although he appreciated the analytical and technical side of corporate finance, he realized he wanted to work where the impact felt more visible and personal.

 
“I wanted to deploy my financial training and expertise in environments with much larger impact, whether that means supporting students, quality patient care, or larger institutional missions,” says Abdul

That realization led him to higher education finance. At the University of Iowa, he served as a financial analyst for a clinical department, supporting operational budget, grants, and healthcare-related financial operations before relocating to the East Coast.

Now at UVA, Abdul is excited to apply his background in planning and analysis to work that supports the broader university community.

“What drew me to UVA was the structure of UVA Finance and the opportunity to contribute to financial planning at a high level across Grounds,” he says. “As I settle into the role, I’m excited to learn from experienced colleagues, build relationships across Grounds, and find ways to contribute to the great work already happening at UVA.”

 
In his first few weeks at UVA, he has already noticed a strong sense of collaboration and support within the organization.

 
“I can already tell there is a real commitment to excellence and service here,” he shares. “Everyone has been welcoming, helpful, and invested in helping new employees succeed.”

 
Outside of work, Abdul is passionate about soccer, or football, as he jokingly insists it should be called. He previously played professionally, then decided to pursue finance full-time, and remains a devoted Liverpool supporter and fan of Lionel Messi. In his free time, he also enjoys reading and solving puzzles. 

We are excited to welcome Abdul to UVA Finance and look forward to the experience and perspective he brings to the team.

T&E Card Management Downtime Scheduled for June 18-24

T&E Card Request Functions Temporarily Unavailable June 18–24

Existing T&E Cards will continue to work normally during this period.

The Travel & Expense Team will be launching enhancements to the T&E Card program on June 25 that move card applications and management processes into Workday.

To support this transition, T&E Card request and management functions will be temporarily unavailable from June 18–24, 2026.

Current T&E Cards will continue to function normally for approved business purchases during this time. No action is required for existing cardholders unless you anticipate needing a card-related change during the downtime period.

What Will Be Affected?

During the downtime period, users will not have access to process:

• New T&E Card Applications
• Spending Limit Changes
• Leave Requests
• Card Cancellations
• Department Transfers
• Other T&E Card Management Requests

Please Note: T&E Card request forms will be unavailable from June 18–24 and cannot be submitted during that time.

How to Prepare

If you anticipate needing a new T&E Card or card-related changes in June, we encourage you to submit requests as early as possible.

All requests must be approved by June 17 at 4:00 p.m. to be in effect during the downtime period.

Critical Business Need?
If an urgent card-related issue arises during the downtime period, please email AskFinance@virginia.edu for guidance.

What Happens After June 24?

Beginning June 25, T&E Card requests and management activities will transition to a new Workday-based process that will provide:

• Enhanced request visibility
• Streamlined approval routing
• Improved card management capabilities

Looking Ahead
Additional information, resources, and communications will be shared as the launch date approaches.

Questions?

Email AskFinance@virginia.edu.

______________________________________

Related News: T&E Card Enhancements Moving Toward Launch

Michael Phillips Selected for NACUBO Fellows Program

Congratulations Michael!

We are proud to celebrate Michael Phillips on his selection to the 2026-2027 National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Fellows Program, one of higher education's renowned leadership development opportunities for business and finance professionals. 

As assistant vice president and university controller at UVA, Phillips joins an accomplished national cohort of 18 higher education leaders chosen for this immersive year-long program. The NACUBO Fellows Program is designed to prepare leaders for chief business officer roles by strengthening strategic leadership and management expertise through collaboration with university presidents, provosts, and senior financial officers from across the country. 

Since its founding in 2016, the program has helped develop dozens of higher education leaders who now serve as chief business officers at colleges and universities nationwide.

Congratulations to Phillips on this amazing achievement and well-deserved recognition of his leadership contributions to the realm of higher-ed finance. 

To read more about the NACUBO Fellows Program, check out this link.

Anaplan Updates: Training is Coming!

As we move closer to Anaplan go-live, several important activities are underway to help prepare users and support a successful transition from Adaptive. The updates below include information about upcoming training opportunities, key data conversion considerations, and actions units can take now in advance of the July 31 conversion deadline.

Self-Paced Training is Coming Soon

Only users with active Adaptive access will receive a notification when the training becomes available and how to enroll.

• As part of this rollout, the FIN-BI team will enroll users in the Anaplan training workspace, where both self-paced and instructor-led training will take place. Users will receive an email notification from Anaplan like the example shown below.

Example Anaplan email notification

Data Conversion

The FIN-BI team has created a source on the Anaplan Transformation site titled Academic Anaplan Overview for Budget Managers, which is a high-level overview of key changes, planning expectations, and behavior shifts for budget analysts, managers, and leads. This document is not a comprehensive training guide.

While it is important to review this document in preparation for go-live, we want to highlight the Year-One Conversion Notes and Planning Considerations, along with actions you can take now to support data cleanup efforts:

Actions You Can Take Now

Adaptive Input Sheet Notes

Adaptive Input Sheet Notes will not convert to Anaplan. These notes will be archived and made available to units as needed. If there are any current or relevant notes tied to a budget record, they should be moved to the Description field in Adaptive.

This must be completed by July 31 for the information to convert as a budget note in Anaplan.

Position-Employee Conversion

Only active position-employees will convert to the Base and State Bonus, Supplemental, or Wage planning pages in Anaplan. All others will convert to Pooled Labor. The FIN-BI Team will provide impacted units with a list of costing record limit exceptions within the next two weeks.

• If you have budgeted against an employee who is no longer in the position, we recommend cleaning this up in Adaptive prior to July 31.
• Similarly, if an employee is linked to an invalid or outdated position, please update the position association in Adaptive before July 31.

Costing Records Limit

Position-employees will be limited to 10 costing records. Currently, there are over 500 costing exceptions exceeding this threshold. The FIN-BI Team will provide impacted units with a list of costing record limit exceptions within the next two weeks.

Please review and clean up these records, where applicable, prior to July 31.

HCM Salary Exceptions

Some position-employees have salaries in Adaptive that do not align with their Workday HCM salary (e.g., Adaptive shows $125,000 while Workday reflects $50,000). The FIN-BI Team will provide impacted units with a list of costing record limit exceptions within the next two weeks.

• These discrepancies can be corrected in the Working Budget version in Adaptive by July 31.
• If not addressed, we will provide a listing of these exceptions, as they will impact Workforce Planning reconciliation efforts between Adaptive and Anaplan.

Budget Office Hours

Please join us at Budget Office Hours on June 10<sup>th</sup> as we dive into these areas in further detail.

Professional Development Corner June 2026

Professional Development Corner

Contributed by Patty Marbury, Director of Training and Development, UVAFinance

Note: Remember to discuss all professional development opportunities with your manager prior to applying for any funds. See below for more information on the Education Benefit.

Small Habits, Big Growth

Make a plan!

Professional development often happens through small actions repeated consistently over time—asking questions, trying new approaches, reflecting on experiences, or making time to learn something new in small doses.

These habits may seem minor in the moment, but over time they build confidence, strengthen skills, and create momentum. A few intentional minutes spent reading an article, listening to a podcast, or completing a short online course, can have a lasting impact when practiced consistently.

In busy times especially, small steps can make development feel more manageable and sustainable. Growth doesn’t always require major changes; sometimes the smallest habits lead to the biggest progress. So this month, choose one small learning habit to focus on this month—something realistic, repeatable, and easy to build into your routine.

Professional Development Opportunities

To help with your planning, following is information about a variety of workshops, courses, and resources to support your ongoing growth. While some opportunities are free and others may have a fee, many do not require travel. Please feel free to share other opportunities you come across and I’ll include them in future communications!

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!

EDUCAUSE Events

What is EDUCAUSE? From their website: “EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to lead the way, advancing the strategic use of technology and data to further the promise of higher education. We connect and empower our member community through insights, advocacy, resources, and learning opportunities to anticipate trends and strengthen professional practice.”

NACUBO*

Washington Updates

• June 29, 2-3 pm ET
• April 6 Recording

Conferences and Forums

• NACUBO 2026 Annual Meeting – July 18-21 in Anaheim, CA
• Virtual Option – July 20-21
• 2026 Planning, Budgeting, and Analytics Forum – October 5-7 in San Diego, CA (Coronado)
• Virtual Option – October 5-7
• 2026 Tax Forum – October 25-27 in Indianapolis, IN
• 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.
• Recordings

Self-Paced Courses and Microlearning

• Strategic Higher Education Finance and Planning ($595)
• F&A Short Form ($150)
• Essentials of College and University Accounting ($125)
• Facilities Management ($49)
• Endowment Fundamentals ($49)
• New to Higher Education ($49)

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.

SACUBO

• College Business Management Institute – July 26-31 in Lexington, KY (Late registration ends July 21 and the cost is $1025 for the session.)
• 2026 Fall Conference – November 11-13, Myrtle Beach, SC (Save the date; more info coming soon!)
• Did you know?  Through UVA's institutional membership, you have access to lots of SACUBO opportunities.  Read more on the blog.

EACUBO

• Higher Education Leadership Program – August 10-13, 2026, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY ($2,999)
• 2026 Annual Meeting – October 12-15, 2026, Buffalo, NY (Save the date; more info coming soon!)

The Chronicle of Higher Education

• Professional Development Programs
• Virtual Events (many are on-demand and/or free)

Additional Organizations and Resources

NCCI (Network for Change and Continuous Innovation) - NCCI positions higher education institutions to be agile, lifelong learning models to transform lives and communities around the world. All efforts of NCCI trace back to the goal of advancing sustainable excellence in higher education by promoting successful practices and approaches used to drive change, innovation, and continuous improvement across academic and administrative functions.

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 (several interesting for fee courses – note this company is in Australia.)

UVA Organizations

• UVA Organizational Excellence has many learning opportunities, resources, and articles.
• Staying Connected Across Grounds: Organizational Knowledge and Information – June 16 11:00-12:00, Shannon Library, Room 330
• Subscribe to OE’s newsletter.
• UVA Miller Center always has interesting programs.
• UVA Human Resources offers many free programs and courses.
• Learning Tracks | UVA HR – HR has created three learning tracks: Aspiring Managers, New Managers, and Personal Growth (for individual contributors.) These are about a year-long commitment and requires completion of an online form.
• 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 Darden Executive Education – Several programs are (with the 50% discount for UVA staff) are under $2,000. Use the discount code UVA50 when registering. (The prices listed are for the full cost.) See the Darden Executive Education program schedule for upcoming dates.
• UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) offers many Certificate programs.

Other Institutions

• 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.

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.)

UVAFinance team members – if you have questions about Professional Development opportunities, please contact Patty Marbury, pam5w@virginia.edu.

Article on Leadership

The Top 20 Leadership Challenges--this informative article provides many links to other articles and resources. (Center for Creative Leadership)

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

__________________________________________________________

Related Content: Microsoft Copilot Workshop at UVA School of Data; Organizational Excellence Building Connections Workshop

Microsoft Copilot Workshop - June 25

Join us!

Looking to get more value out of your everyday work and increase productivity? Microsoft Copilot can help! UVA Information Technology Services (ITS) is hosting a hands-on Microsoft Copilot workshop designed to help faculty and staff utilize Copilot for their daily workflows. 

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, June 25
• Time: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
• Location: UVA School of Data Science, Classroom 305
• Cost: Free!
• In-person, interactive sessions

What You'll Learn 

Copilot 101: Foundations & Everyday Use

• Learn how to access and navigate Microsoft Copilot 
• Explore core capabilities across M365 tools like Outlook 
• Understand real-world use cases to boost productivity 
• Get introduced to newer features such as Outlook grounding and Office agents 

Agent 101: Building Your First Copilot Agent 

• Learn how to create simple Copilot agents 
• Explore practical scenarios for automation and customization 
• Understand how to extend Copilot to meet your specific needs 

Flexible Session Options 

Attend one or more sessions depending on your schedule: 

• Morning Track
• 9:00 - 10:30 AM: Copilot 101
• 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Agent 101 
• Afternoon Track 
• 1:30 - 3:00 PM: Copilot 101
• 3:30 - 5:00 PM: Agent 101

Why Attend?

Through attending these sessions, you'll gain practical skills you can use immediately in your everyday work, while building confidence with AI-powered tools in Microsoft 365. You'll learn directly from Microsoft-led instruction to explore how Copilot can streamline communication, content creation, and workflows. 

How to Register

• Reserve your spot via Eventbrite (limited capacity)
• Eventbrite link to register 

Join Organizational Excellence on June 16: Building Connections Through Knowledge Sharing

As UVA continues to grow, effective communication and knowledge sharing across departments, schools, and teams are more important than ever. 

Join Organizational Excellence on June 16 for an interactive discussion exploring how information moves across the University and how we can strengthen collaboration, learning, and connection across Grounds.

Presenter: Peer-to-peer sharing and learning

When: June 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Shannon Library, Room 330
Register Now

Participants will share experiences, discuss what is working well, identify challenges, and explore questions such as what types of information are most valuable, how knowledge is accessed and shared across the University, and where opportunities exist to strengthen communication and connection across roles, teams, and departments. 

Together, attendees will consider how UVA can foster greater shared understanding and organizational learning in support of its mission.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to register and join the conversation.

Year End Closing Reminder (and Fiscal New Year's Resolutions!)

Get ready to ring in the fiscal new year!

As fiscal year-end continues, now is a great time to revisit the 2026 Year-End Closing Dates and make sure upcoming deadlines are on your radar.

The Year-End Closing Dates page allows you to:

• Sort activities by date
• Filter by functional area
• Focus on the deadlines most relevant to your work

With several important deadlines approaching in the weeks ahead, a quick check now can help avoid last-minute surprises later.

Fiscal New Year’s Resolutions

Year-end is also a great opportunity for a little financial housekeeping before we begin FY27.

As you review your area’s financial activity, consider adding a few “Fiscal New Year’s Resolutions” to your checklist:

• Review DN/GR/GF combinations within your cost centers to ensure appropriate fund balances (all fund balances should either be zero or have a credit balance) 
• Deactivate outdated or unused worktags
• Review recurring suppliers, subscriptions, or services to confirm they are still needed
• Clean up old reports, files, or approval queues
• Revisit processes or documentation that may need updates for the new fiscal year

Taking time for this kind of data hygiene now can help support cleaner reporting, smoother processes, and better decision-making all year long.

Need Help?

Year-end can be busy, but you do not have to navigate it alone.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Ask Finance at askfinance@virginia.edu.

Olga Weider Joins SACUBO Committee + Membership Benefits

Congrats, Olga!

UVAFinance is proud to share that Olga Weider, Deputy Vice President for Finance, will serve on the Research Universities Constituent Committee for the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers (SACUBO).  

SACUBO brings together higher education business and finance professionals to share ideas, develop professional skills, and build relationships that help strengthen our colleges and universities. Through this role, Weider will collaborate with peers from other institutions to help support professional development opportunities and foster the exchange of leading practices across the higher education community. 

While committee service is one way to engage with SACUBO, the broader opportunity is available to all of all UVA employees through our institutional membership. We encourage UVA's fiscal administrators to explore the benefits of our institutional membership and consider becoming involved. 

Through UVA's institutional membership, employees have access to valuable opportunities, including: 

• Annual conferences and regional events focused on higher education business 
• Networking and relationship-building opportunities with colleagues across higher education 
• Professional development programs and educational offerings at discounted member rates 
• Mentoring and career development opportunities 
• Volunteer and leadership opportunities within the profession 

Many of the challenges we face at UVA are shared across higher education. One of the greatest benefits of SACUBO membership is the opportunity to learn from colleagues who are tackling similar issues and to bring those ideas back to our institution. This spirit of collaboration and continuous improvement aligns closely with UVA Finance's commitment to learning, innovation, and service. 

Professional associations thrive because of volunteers who are willing to share their expertise and invest in the future of the profession. Through her service, Weider looks forward to strengthening connections between UVA and the broader higher education community while helping advance the profession across the region. 

To learn more about SACUBO membership opportunities and available resources, visit SACUBO Membership Information or contact Weider at oweider@virginia.edu.  

Paul Grisdale Receives PayrollOrg's 2026 Meritorious Service Award

Congratulations Paul!

We are excited to congratulate Paul Grisdale on being selected as a recipient of PayrollOrg's 2026 Meritorious Service Award.

Grisdale was formally recognized for this achievement during the Expo Grand Opening and General Session at PayrollOrg's 44th Annual Payroll Congress in Nashville, TN, earlier this May. The Meritorious Service Award honors PayrollOrg members who demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication toward advancing the payroll profession via meaningful volunteer service, at both national and local chapter levels. 

Representing more than 30,000 members and subscribers, PayrollOrg is widely recognized as the nation's leader in payroll education and advocacy. The organization is committed to advancing the expertise of payroll professionals through educational collaboration, representing professionals at the federal, state, and local levels, and providing public education on payroll and employment-related issues. 

Grisdale's dedication to both UVA and the payroll profession has made an incredible impact at the University and within the greater payroll community, and this recognition reflects his outstanding leadership, service, and overall commitment to excellence. 

Congratulations Paul, on this well-deserved award!

Procurement Corner

Concur Updates Are Coming

What Travelers and Travel Assistants Should Know

Updates are coming to UVA’s travel booking experience.

Updates arriving soon!

Christopherson Business Travel (CBT), UVA’s travel management company, will transition to a new reservation and ticketing system later this month as part of ongoing efforts to improve the travel booking experience and expand available travel options for the UVA community.

There are a few temporary impacts and important dates that travelers and Travel Assistants should be aware of during the transition period.

Concur Downtime

To complete the transition, Concur will be temporarily unavailable beginning Friday, May 22 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Access is expected to return by the morning of Saturday, May 23.

During downtime:

• Travelers may still book or modify reservations by contacting CBT directly
• Standard booking fees may apply for reservations requiring advisor assistance

What’s Changing?

CBT will complete its system upgrade on May 22.

Reservations booked before May 23 will remain active and valid, but previously booked trips will have limited self-service functionality after the transition.

This means:

• Travelers and Travel Assistants will still be able to view existing trips in Concur
• Existing reservations booked before May 23 cannot be modified directly in Concur
• Changes or cancellations for those reservations will require assistance from a CBT advisor
• Standard booking fees may apply when advisor assistance is required

The primary impact will be to reservations created before the upgrade.

Why This Update Matters

While transitions like this can have impact, the goal is a more modern and streamlined travel booking experience moving forward.

The upgrade supports expanded travel capabilities and continued improvements to how UVA travelers book and manage travel arrangements.

Key takeaways:

• Review upcoming travel before the May 22 downtime
• Be aware that older reservations may require advisor support for changes
• Allow extra time if modifications may be needed during the transition period

Need Help?

Travelers and Travel Assistants needing assistance with reservations during the transition should contact CBT directly:

Phone: 844-488-2228

Email: UVA@CBTravel.com

For more information and to see a preview of the new Concur platform, please see this FAQ page.

T&E Card Enhancements Moving Toward Launch

Enhancements are coming!

UVAFinance is preparing to introduce enhancements to the Travel & Expense (T&E) Card process later this June, including the transition of the T&E Card Application and Change Requests into Workday.  

These updates are intended to create a unified experience for cardholders, requesters, approvers, and support teams by leveraging Workday functionality to improve visibility and streamline the request process.  The enhancements also support ongoing efforts to modernize and align purchasing and payment-related activities within a cohesive Workday-First experience.  

Over the coming weeks, additional information will be shared regarding training resources, support materials, timelines, and what the transition will mean for the UVA community.  Prior to launch, there will also be a temporary period of downtime to support final transition activities.  

UVAFinance teams are available to the UVA community as these enhancements are introduced over the coming weeks.