UVAFinance welcomes Kelela Perovich

Payroll Specialist and Dance
Instructor Kelela Perovich

UVAFinance is pleased to welcome Kelela Perovich to the Payroll Team.  Perovich’s career path has been shaped by curiosity and a willingness to lean into challenges, even when they lead somewhere unexpected.

Originally from Austin, Texas, and now living in Dallas, Perovich studied dance and Spanish before beginning her payroll career in 2011. What started as an unplanned step quickly became meaningful work. She began at a small company, learning the details from the ground up, and later moved into large retail organizations, including GameStop and Michaels. 

With each role, Perovich looked for something new to learn, believing that growth comes from stepping into unfamiliar spaces. At UVA Finance, she has been especially excited to learn more about Workday's various functions and how the system can be leveraged to support the University. During her time at UVA, she has already seen how the University encourages continuous learning and growth.

Outside of work, Perovich’s connection to dance remains strong. She currently teaches belly dance classes at a recreation center in Dallas and has trained in a wide range of styles, including contemporary dance, ballet, and Irish dance. Her journey from student to performer to instructor reflects her love for learning and sharing what she knows with others.

At home, Perovich spends time with her husband and their two cats, Vilya and Nenya, named after her favorite books, The Lord of the Rings. An introvert at heart, she enjoys work that allows her to focus, stay organized, and make a quiet but meaningful impact. She values roles that offer both structure and variety, and she has found that balance at UVA. We are excited to welcome Kalela Perovich to UVA Finance and consider her a valued part of the UVA community.

Professional Development Corner: January 2026

Make a plan!

Why Is Professional Development Important?

Professional development offers a valuable opportunity to stay engaged and navigate the constantly changing landscape of higher education—and beyond. Whether you’re looking to learn new skills, sharpen existing ones, strengthen your leadership abilities, explore new interests, stay on top of emerging trends, or simply connect with colleagues, there’s something for everyone.

Worth a read: 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.

Making Space to Recharge: Rest as Part of Professional Growth

Starting the Year Right: Planning for Professional Development

Last month, we encouraged stepping back from professional development to rest and recharge. Now, as the new year begins, it’s a good moment to start again and think intentionally about professional development for the year ahead.

Professional development isn’t about doing more; it’s about focusing on what matters most. Taking a few minutes to reflect on what you want to learn, how you might share that learning with others, and where you can apply it in your daily work helps turn development into real impact.

Quick reflection

• What is one skill, mindset, or area of knowledge you want to learn this year?
• How could you share that learning with your team or colleagues?
• Where might you apply it to make a difference in your work?

A little planning now creates space for learning, sharing, and applying—professional growth that makes a difference every day.

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Professional Development Opportunities

As you begin thinking about and planning for the year ahead, below is a collection of workshops, courses, events, and resources to support your ongoing growth. Some opportunities are free, others have a cost, and many are offered virtually or locally with no travel required.

Have something to add?

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

Coursera

Remember that UVA has a university-wide subscription for Coursera—an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses, specializations, certifications, and degree programs from universities and institutions around the world.

Explore Coursera

Upcoming Offerings

Reminder about funding:

If you are requesting departmental funds, make sure you have approval before you register for or enroll in any offering.

• University of South Florida (free through February 2026): AI Whisperer: A Microcourse in Crafting Prompts
  Note: The enrollment page indicates the course will not be available after 2/28/26.
  View AI Whisperer Course

EDUCAUSE Events

What is EDUCAUSE?

“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.”

Explore EDUCAUSE Opportunities

NACUBO

• Award nominations open (deadline for accounting award: 2/20/26)
• Washington Updates and recordings
  • Next live Washington Update: February 3, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
• Other live online events (many free to NACUBO members; some offer CPE credits)
• Conferences and forums
  • NACUBO 2026 Annual Meeting – July 18–21 (Anaheim, CA)
  • 2026 Higher Education Accounting Forum – April 13–15 (Boston, MA)
  • New: 2026 Actionable Insights for AI Series – May 12–28 (online)
• 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)
  • New to Higher Education ($49)
• Podcasts
  • Career Conversations
  • NACUBO in Brief

NACUBO membership note:

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

SACUBO

• 2026 Leadership Forum – February 25–27 (Destin, FL) – $500; online registration ends 2/16/26
• 2026 Annual Convention – April 19–21 (Dallas, TX) – $895; early bird registration ends 2/23/26
• 2026 Fall Conference – November 11–13 (Myrtle Beach, SC) – Save the date

EACUBO

• EACUBO Leadership Forum – March 23–24 (Newport, RI)
• Higher Education Leadership Program – August 10–13, 2026 (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY) – $2,999

The Chronicle of Higher Education

• Professional Development Programs
  • Leadership Transformation Collaborative – starts late January 2026 (registration still available)
  • Women Leading Change Program – 2026 dates coming soon
  • Administrative Leadership Institute – 2026 dates coming soon
  • Higher Education Mental Health Forum – 2026 dates coming soon
• Virtual Events (many are on-demand)

Additional Organizations

• AGA – Professional association for people who support government (financial management, IT, HR, cybersecurity, and more). (Requires membership.)
• LearnBFSI – Fee-based courses (Australia-based).

UVA Organizations

• UVA Organizational Excellence (learning opportunities, resources, and articles)
  • Plan to Pivot: Applying Agile Principles in HE Planning and Strategy
    February 26, 2026 | 11:00–12:15 | In person: Newcomb Hall, Commonwealth Room
  • Strategic Doing for Collaborative Change: Accelerating Department-Level Innovation at UVA
    March 19, 2026 | 1:00–2:15 | In person: Newcomb Hall, South Meeting Room
• UVA Miller Center – ongoing programs and events
• UVA Human Resources – many free programs and courses
• Learning Tracks (UVA HR) – Aspiring Managers, New Managers, and Personal Growth (for individual contributors).
  About a year-long commitment; requires an online form. (A track for Experienced Managers is in development.)
• LinkedIn Learning – microlearning courses (often no Professional Development Request Form required)
• UVA Darden Executive Education – many programs under $2,000 with 50% UVA staff discount (use code UVA50).
• UVA School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) – certificate programs

Other Institutions

• Harvard Business School Online – multi-course credentials and certificate programs (many under $2,000)
• University of Pennsylvania Wharton School – online programs (many $1,000 or less)
• Stanford University Executive Education – self-paced programs ($1,500)

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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. To be eligible, you must have had six months of service in a benefits-eligible position at UVA by the start date of the class (and intend to remain on active payroll during the term).

View UVA Education Benefit Details

Professional Development Request Form (UVAFinance)

UVAFinance team members: please discuss with your manager and use the Professional Development Request Form before you register for any program. Not all opportunities require the form.

When you don’t need the form

If an opportunity is less than ½ day and there is no cost, do not submit a form. Many LinkedIn Learning courses and some UVA HR/UVA department offerings meet these criteria.

If you’re unsure, feel free to ask before registering.

Open Professional Development Request Form View UVA HR Learning Tracks

Article on Leadership

The Top 20 Leadership Challenges (Center for Creative Leadership) – an informative article with links to other articles and resources.

Read: Top 20 Leadership Challenges

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

UVAFinance in Action: January 29, 2026

 

Sustainable Regalia

Sustainable Regalia Options

UVAFinance continues to support University stakeholders by expanding sustainable and affordable supplier options, including new graduation regalia now available through the UVA Bookstore. Oak Hall, a Virginia-based company headquartered in Roanoke, offers complimentary student regalia made from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles, helping reduce waste while maintaining a traditional academic look. The regalia includes UVA details such as the Rotunda printed inside the back collar, and is supported by a take-back program that allows garments to be recycled after commencement. Oak Hall’s broader sustainability practices include recycling fabric scraps and packaging, using carbon-based dry cleaning, and supporting campus plastic bottle collection programs, with materials processed in South Carolina.

Oak Hall will be part of GradFest in the Bookstore (February 23-27), if you're interested in seeing their products.   More information on Oak Hall / More information on UVA Caps & Gowns

Procurement Services Connecting with Community

Procurement Services recently participated in a Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) Innovation Mixer, connecting with alumni, small business owners, and community stakeholders. These monthly mixers, held on the second Tuesday of each month, provide ongoing opportunities to strengthen relationships and support the local business community.

Connor Finn Joins UVA Finance

Connor exploring Virginia

Connor Finn has joined UVA Finance as an international tax analyst. In this role, he will work directly with international students on tax-related questions, helping students understand which forms they need to file, how to complete them, and what steps to take next, reducing uncertainty around a process that can feel unfamiliar. When a student contacts Ask Finance regarding international tax, Finn is the person who responds and walks them through the process.

Originally, Connor Finn moved from California to Virginia for college. Four years later, he has established both a professional and a personal life in the area. Finn says the sense of community and access to the outdoors have made Charlottesville, Virginia, a place he is proud to call home.
After graduating from Liberty University, Finn began his career at an accounting firm, where much of his work was conducted behind a desk on a screen. While the role provided valuable experience, he found himself seeking an opportunity that would allow for more direct client engagement.

Outside of work, Finn enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring Virginia’s mountain trails through hiking and mountain biking. One of his more memorable outings included reaching the top of a mountain with a group of friends just as a storm rolled in, sending them back down in heavy rain. Experiences like these, along with the occasional unexpected wildlife sighting, are part of what Finn enjoys most about spending time outside.

Looking ahead, Finn is eager to continue growing at UVA within a collaborative, mission-driven environment. He looks forward to building strong relationships across the Finance community and contributing to a culture centered on service and shared purpose. We are pleased to welcome Connor Finn to UVA Finance and look forward to the perspective and professionalism he brings to the team.

A Quick Reminder: Set Up Delegation in Workday Before Extended Absences

Out of office?  Keep processes flowing!

If you’ll be away from the office for vacation, medical leave, parental leave, or any other extended absence, please remember to delegate your Workday purchasing and approval transactions before you leave.

When approvals aren’t delegated, tasks remain in your Workday Inbox and can delay requisitions, invoices, and sourcing requests (just to name a few).  In some cases, resolving these delays may require additional security role requests or manual intervention, which can take time and may not always be possible.

Just as important as setting up delegation is choosing the right delegate. Delegates should be:

• Familiar with the types of transactions they will be approving
• Appropriately positioned within your department to exercise approval authority

Taking a few minutes to set up intentional delegation helps keep work moving smoothly while you’re away!

Helpful Resources

📝 Delegate Workday Transactions QRG
This Quick Reference Guide walks you through the delegation process in Workday, answering many of the questions you may have along the way.

🔄 Cancel Delegation QRG
Returned from leave early? Has your delegate left the University? This guide walks you through how to cancel a delegation in Workday.

Call for 2026 Sustainability Leadership Award Nominations

Nominations are accepted until February 23

UVA Sustainability is accepting nominations for the 2026 Sustainability Leadership award, honoring those who exhibit an unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable practices and solutions in our community. 

 Please feel free to nominate yourself, your department or organization, or nominate others in any of the four categories: 

• UVA student/student group
• UVA staff/department
• UVA faculty/department
• Community member or organization

Nominations are due Monday, February 23.  Email any questions to Erika Herz at ekh5k@virginia.edu

Visit the Sustainability Webpage to learn more Link to Nominate for 2026 Webinar with more Info

Wellness Resources January 29

Our colleagues in the Faculty & Employee Assistance Program (FEAP) are offering a thoughtful slate of upcoming wellness opportunities ranging from webinars and group experiences to on-demand well-being tools. Whether you’re looking to reflect, reconnect, or recharge, there’s something here for you.

Upcoming Webinar

Why Love Belongs at Work

When: February 18 • 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.

What if one of the most powerful drivers of trust, engagement, motivation, and belonging at work is the one we rarely name out loud—love?

Register for Webinar

Group Events

Hope in the Ruins: Writing Our Way Out of The Waste Land

When: January 29 • 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

This FEAP poetry and reflection course invites participants to read T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land as both a literary and emotional landscape—one that mirrors cycles of exhaustion, fragmentation, and renewal.

Learn More

Mental Health First Aid Training

When: February 3 • 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Interested in becoming certified in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)? An upcoming training session is now open for registration.

Learn More

Reset Space

When: February 10 • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Take an hour to step away, reset, and recharge. This interactive session offers practical, evidence-based strategies for managing stress in real time.

Register for Reset Space

Writing Through Estrangement

When: February 10 • 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Held every second Tuesday, this offering supports those living with estrangement from an immediate family member through gentle reflective writing and optional sharing. This is not a reconciliation or therapy group.

Register

Embrace Your Menopause Journey

When: February 17 • 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.

An inspiring five-week Zoom group exploring menopause as a powerful new chapter, guided by expert facilitators Beth Frackleton and Mary Sherman.

Learn More

Well-Being at Your Fingertips

FEAP Well-Being Pulse-Check
In just 30 minutes, this one-on-one check-in offers space to pause, reflect, and practice simple strategies to strengthen your resilience.

Request a Well-Being Pulse-Check

FEAP Well-Being at Work Resource Navigator
Take a two-minute anonymous well-being check-in and get connected with helpful resources.

Explore the Resource Navigator

Ask FEAP
Submit an anonymous question to the FEAP team. Each month, one question is featured with expert insight and a practical challenge—no names, just honest questions.

Ask FEAP

Two Great Events from Organizational Excellence

Our colleagues in UVA Organizational Excellence are offering two upcoming in-person learning sessions this spring.  Both are focused on practical frameworks for navigating complexity, accelerating collaboration, and turning strategy into action.

In-Person Session • February 26

Plan to Pivot: Applying Agile Principles in HE Planning and Strategy

Presenter: Gerry Starsia, PhD (UVA SEHD ’10), MBA
When: February 26, 2026 • 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Where: Newcomb Hall, Commonwealth Room

Register Now

Drawing on Plan to Pivot: Agile Organizational Strategy in an Age of Complexity (2023) and Survival to Success: Leading Small, High-Growth Enterprises (2025), Gerry Starsia explores how higher education leaders can manage complexity and keep pace with accelerating change by applying battle-tested agile frameworks to planning and management.

This session will focus on the intersection of planning and management—how to decide where to spend time, how much to invest, when (and how) to make change, and how to adjust as conditions evolve.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand new approaches to planning and strategy
• Strengthen competency in leading strategy implementation
• Explore intersections between planning and strategy
• Propose a framework for developing teams of highly competent, agile members

In-Person Session • March 19

Strategic Doing for Collaborative Change: Accelerating Department-Level Innovation at UVA

Presenters: Scott Barker (Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering); Linda Columbus (Chair & Professor of Chemistry);
Alanna Felts (Instructional Designer, Learning Design & Technology); Andrew Kennedy (Assistant Director of STEM Education Initiatives)
When: March 19, 2026 • 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Where: Newcomb Hall, South Meeting Room

Register Now

As part of the UVA Success in Science program, STEM departments are strengthening student success through new forms of collaboration, shared ownership, and rapid-cycle innovation.

This session introduces the core elements of Strategic Doing, highlights how UVA departments are applying it to co-create initiatives that improve the student experience, and includes an applied mini-workshop to help participants practice the framework and leave with tools they can use across departments, units, and cross-functional groups.

You’ll gain an understanding of how Strategic Doing:

• Accelerates collaboration in complex environments
• Aligns diverse stakeholders around shared goals
• Helps teams move ideas into action through adaptive, repeatable processes

Questions? Reach out to UVA Organizational Excellence for details, and please consider sharing these opportunities with colleagues who may be interested.

What UVAFinance is Focused on in 2026

As we move through 2026, UVAFinance is focused on a small number of priority areas that support strong stewardship, effective operations, and continued modernization across Grounds.

These focus areas reflect both institutional needs and ongoing collaboration with our partners across schools and units.

2026 Focus Areas

🛒 Procurement Transformation

Continuing to optimize procurement processes and systems that streamline vendor onboarding, improve the buying experience, and strengthen strategic sourcing to support efficiency, compliance, and the user experience.

🏥 UVA Health Workday Implementation Support

Providing coordinated project support as UVA expands the use of Workday pan-enterprise to include the UVA Health entities. Through this multi-year project, UVA will focus on developing consistencies in systems and reporting while also developing strong collaborations across the enterprise.

🧭 Fiscal Stewardship

Continue to ensure strong fiscal stewardship across the institution and further support this shared responsibility through policies, processes, and partnership that support financial integrity, data drive decision-making, and effective compliance.

📈 Anaplan Implementation

Implementing Anaplan as the budget and planning tool for the academic division to support more robust planning, forecasting, and data-informed decision-making across the UVA academic and health divisions.

Moving this Work Forward

Each of these focus areas will be supported through ongoing engagement with finance professionals across Grounds, bringing together strategic perspective, functional expertise, and frontline experience to shape solutions that are practical and effective.

Details for specific initiatives will continue to evolve throughout the year in partnership with schools and units.

Meeting schedules, engagement resources, and updates related to these priorities are available on our Finance Community Engagement page:

👉 Meetings & Resources for 2026

👉 More about our 3-Tier Engagement Strategy for 2026

A New Engagement Model for the Finance Community in 2026

Our 2026 Finance Community Engagement Model

Three tiers of engagement in 2026

In 2026, UVAFinance is engaging with the finance community across Grounds through a three-tier framework designed to support collaboration at the strategic, operational, and frontline levels.

 Each tier plays a distinct yet interconnected role that helps ensure finance initiatives are well-informed, practical to implement, and effective across schools and units.

The Three Engagement Tiers

Finance Advisory Network (FAN)

The Finance Advisory Network (FAN) is our highest-level engagement group, with one senior financial officer representing each major business unit (MBU).

• Provides strategic, MBU-level perspective
• Advises on institution-wide finance priorities
• Identifies cross-MBU needs and opportunities

FAN helps ensure University-wide planning reflects the priorities and realities of schools and units across Grounds.

Department Finance Partners (New in 2026)

Department Finance Partners is a new engagement group introduced in 2026. This tier bridges strategy and implementation by bringing functional expertise into the process earlier.

• Represent MBUs based on functional expertise (e.g., procurement, accounting, travel & expense)
• Test and refine solutions ahead of broader rollouts
• Provide feedback on operational readiness and feasibility
• Serve as change champions within their units

Fiscal Administrators (FAs)

Fiscal Administrators (FAs) are the largest engagement group and the backbone of UVA’s day-to-day financial operations.

• Implement finance initiatives across schools and units
• Provide frontline feedback to their MBU Finance Advisory Network and Department Finance Partners representatives that help refine processes and tools

This group ensures that initiatives translate effectively into practice.

A side-by-side comparison of the three engagement groups, along with the full 2026 meeting schedule, is available on our Finance Community Engagement page:

👉 Meetings & Resources for 2026

👉 More about our Focus Areas for 2026

Fresh Amazon Resources to Make Purchasing Easier

New on the Amazon Purchasing Guide site!

New Amazon Quick Reference Guides Available

If you use Amazon Business as part of your purchasing activities, we’ve added new Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) to help you navigate common tasks more easily.

These short, step-by-step guides are designed to support you in day-to-day purchasing and serve as quick reminders when you need them.

Available Amazon Business Quick Reference Guides

We’ve added four new tools to help you navigate Amazon Business with confidence:

📝 Quick Reference Guide: Creating and Assigning an Amazon Business Cart

This QRG is helpful for faculty or students who cannot submit a requisition and need to assign a cart to an administrator.

View Cart QRG

🛒 Quick Reference Guide: Creating an Amazon Business Catalog Purchase Requisition

This QRG is helpful for UVA purchaserrs with Security Roles that allow them to submit a requisition. 

View Requisition QRG

💳 Quick Reference Guide: Gaining Access to the Amazon T&E Card Portal

This QRG is helpful for UVA purchasers who will have Amazon purchases delivered outside the Charlottesville area. 

View T&E Portal QRG

You'll also find additional Amazon business support information on the site below, including access-related help.

Visit Amazon Purchasing Training & Resources

Learn More

You can access the quick reference guides, additional information, and FAQs on Amazon Business at UVA on our Amazon Purchasing Guide webpage.

If you have questions or need assistance, please continue reach out to AskFinance@virginia.edu.

Two New Microlearnings to Boost Your Purchasing Know-How

Got 10 minutes?

New to purchasing at UVA or just want a quick refresher? Our Procurement & Training teams have created two short microlearning videos (10 minutes or less) to help you navigate some of the most common questions we hear from finance partners across Grounds.

Elements of a Good Purchase Requisition

This 10-minute video will show you how to create an effective purchase requisition and highlight the value it brings to the entire procurement process.

Great requisitions set your purchase – and your supplier – up for success.

Launch in Workday

Guidelines for Competition

This 8-minute video will help you understand and follow the University's guidelines for competition when making purchasing decisions for any procurement method.

Learn when competition is required, what it looks like, and how to document it.

Launch in Workday

UVAFinance in Action: January 15, 2026

Way to go, UVAFinance Team!

UVAFinance Gives Back:  Toys for Tots

Just before winter break, the UVAFinance team rallied together to support the Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive, collecting three big boxes of toys and $375 in donations.

Procurement Services Support the Haven

The UVAFinance Procurement Team started 2026 off with a drive to support The Haven, a housing resource center and day shelter in Charlottesville.  The team collected three boxes of much-needed toiletries and personal care items for local people experiencing homelessness.  

We're so proud of our team for their generosity, their teamwork, and the heart they bring to our community!

Re-Imagining Finance Engagement in 2026

Good things ahead in 2026!

As we begin 2026, UVAFinance is strengthening our approach to engaging with finance professionals across Grounds. This refreshed model builds on a few core truths that guide our work:

• Fiscal stewardship is a shared responsibility between UVAFinance and units across Grounds.
• Cross-unit expertise and perspectives strengthen our decisions, our processes, and our ability to solve problems.
• Clarity, transparency, and timely action are essential in a decentralized environment like ours.

In 2025, we took important steps to enhance engagement through regular meetings with the Finance Advisory Network (FAN) and Fiscal Administrators (FAs), as well as through ongoing communication channels, including blog digests, targeted emails, office hours, and more. This year, we’re expanding and refining that structure to better match the needs of our community.

A 3-Tier Engagement Strategy for a More Connected Finance Community

In 2026, we’re moving to a three-tiered engagement framework designed to support collaboration at every level—strategic, operational, and frontline. Each tier contributes unique experience and expertise and plays an essential role in how we move the work of finance forward together.

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1. Finance Advisory Network (FAN): Strategic, MBU-Level Perspective

FAN remains our highest-level advisory group, composed of one senior financial officer from each major business unit (MBU). FAN members:

• Collaborate with UVAFinance to shape strategic priorities for the University’s finance community.
• Provide MBU-level input on institution-wide initiatives.
• Identify cross-MBU needs and opportunities.

Their insight ensures that big-picture planning reflects the realities and priorities of schools and units across Grounds.

2. NEW!  Department Finance Partners: Bridging Strategy and Implementation

New for 2026 is a middle layer of engagement: Department Finance Partners. This group fills a crucial gap between the strategy work completed by FAN and the operational implementation of Fiscal Administrators. 

Representatives from MBUs will participate based on functional expertise (procurement, payroll, budget, and more), allowing units to include more than one member.

This group’s role includes:

• Testing and refining solutions with UVAFinance ahead of institution-wide rollouts.
• Providing expert feedback on operational feasibility, implementation impacts, and readiness.
• Serving as change champions to support adoption within their units.

Their work will strengthen the bridge between high-level priorities and day-to-day operations across Grounds.

3. Fiscal Administrators (FAs): Turning Ideas Into Action

Fiscal Administrators—our largest engagement group—continue to be the backbone of UVA’s financial operations. This group includes finance administrators across Grounds, as well as other stakeholders who want to stay engaged in finance activities and the community.

FAs:

• Implement initiatives developed by UVAFinance, FAN, and the Department Finance Partners.
• Provide essential frontline feedback that enhances processes and supports success across Grounds.

This group keeps our financial operations running smoothly and ensures that decisions made at higher levels translate effectively into practice.

Supporting All Three Tiers

To help every group succeed, we’re strengthening the “infrastructure” of engagement:

• Hybrid meeting opportunities will be offered across all tiers to ensure access, flexibility, and connection.
• Engagement guides and manuals are being developed to clarify roles, expectations, and time commitments for each tier.
• A listening tour is underway with MBUs to help shape flexible engagement structures tailored to unit-specific needs.

UVAFinance will be collecting feedback throughout the year to help us refine the model and ensure it supports the full range of MBU needs. 

2026 Focus Areas

• Procurement Transformation
• HVA Health Workday Implementation Support
• Fiscal Stewardship
• Anaplan implementation

While we’re still working with our MBU partners on some of the finer points, the new framework is already in place. You can explore a side-by-side comparison of the three engagement groups, along with the full 2026 meeting schedule, on our Finance Community Engagement page:

👉 Meetings & Resources for 2026

T&E Cardholder Training this February

T&E Card Training begins in February

Annual T&E Cardholder Training is required for all cardholders and will be available in February. 

Cardholders who recently obtained a new T&E card and have completed New Cardholder training since October 1, 2025, are exempt from this year’s annual training.

If you have a T&E card you no longer need, please complete a Card Change Request Form to cancel your card. If you will be on leave for more than 3 weeks during training, please report the Leave of Absence by submitting a Card Change Request Form to suspend your card.

The training link will be emailed directly to all cardholders when available. Please wait for this link and do not complete the new cardholder training on our website, as it will not count towards your annual training credit.

For questions about this training or your T&E card, please email askfinance@virginia.edu.

January 2026 Wellness Offerings

Wellness offerings

Here are a few Hoos Well and UVA Rec opportunities coming up soon, plus ongoing resources you can tap into anytime.

Upcoming class

Hope in the Ruins: Writing Our Way Out of The Waste Land
A 3-week poetry & reflection course based on T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land.

• Date & time: Jan 29, 5:30 PM
• Presented by: FEAP

Note: This course is not eligible for Hoos Well rewards. Reward-eligible webinars will resume in February 2026.

Learn more about Hoos Well

Be well in 2026

It’s a new year and a fresh start—a perfect time to set well-being goals. Check out this short video to learn more about Hoos Well offerings, including group fitness classes, nutritional counseling, financial wellness webinars and resources, and ways to connect with others. Plus, earn rewards along the way.

Take part, take care, and earn rewards this year!

Watch the short Hoos Well overview video

Small Group Training & RENU

Small Group Training (UVA Rec)

Registration for small group training with UVA Rec opens on Jan 2. Enjoy free classes such as swim lessons, tennis, boxing, and more.

Tip: Classes tend to fill up quickly, so sign up early if you’re interested.

Explore small group training and register

RENU (Resistance Exercise and Nutrition)

Applications: Jan 7–Jan 23

RENU is a 10-week program designed for individuals who are ready to embrace positive lifestyle changes through exercise and nutrition. This healthy lifestyle program is geared toward beginner-level exercisers.

• Sessions: Feb 3 through Apr 16

Find more information about RENU

Support for a healthy mind

Would you like to reduce stress and experience more calm and focus? Healthy Minds @Work is an evidence-based, customizable program that can help you achieve this in just 5–10 minutes a day. The tool is offered at no cost to all UVA employees and their benefits-enrolled spouses.

• Use the mobile app for podcast-style lessons and guided meditations designed to fit easily into your daily life.
• The “@Work” tab includes 2-minute micro practices, @Work practices, and Team practices.
• 70% of users report lower depression, anxiety, and stress.

Learn more about Healthy Minds @Work

More Hoos Well opportunities (ongoing)

• Create a Hoos Well Portal account and earn up to $500 in rewards while enhancing your well-being. Thousands of your colleagues are already using the Portal and its offerings.
  • Watch a short video: Getting the most from the Hoos Well Portal
• Join WW (WeightWatchers) through UVA for no monthly fee if you’re on a UVA health plan, or at a discounted rate if you’re not on a UVA health plan.
• Nutrition counseling: Get one complimentary nutrition counseling session if you’re covered by a UVA health plan through the UVA Nutrition Counseling Center.
• Live Health Coach: Meet with a health coach to set personalized goals and build a strategy to support your well-being.
• Drop-in exercise classes: Join free Hoos Well drop-in classes such as Yoga, Cycling, or Body Pump.
• Healthy Minds @Work: Get free access to a guided journey to a healthier mind.

If you have questions about any of the offerings above, visit the Hoos Well portal or the program pages linked here for details and registration information.