Travel Optimization Taskforce Report
Dear Lumberjacks,
I am pleased to share the results of our Travel Optimization Taskforce’s work. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all who served as part of this group for the investment of their time and energy to develop this comprehensive report, which includes many thoughtful considerations for how we can improve and optimize our travel processes and policies. I encourage all of you to download and read the full report and review the slides presented to the University Advisory Board.
Based on the recommendations of the taskforce, we will be moving forward with immediate changes to our travel processes and policies this summer, with the goal of having the following implemented during the Fall 2022 semester:
- Eliminate the requirement for employees and students to submit receipts for meals and incidental travel expenses and move to a daily reimbursement rate instead.
- Implement transparent metrics that define target turnaround times for travel claim processing and employee/student reimbursement.
- Enable individuals and departments to direct-book travel following completion of an authorized traveler training.
In addition, we will advance several longer-term changes to improve efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and user experience and education. These include streamlining approval flows, accelerating reimbursements timelines, and engaging in a comprehensive evaluation of staffing opportunities and how personnel might be optimally localized within units throughout the university to provide greater expertise and responsiveness to area travel needs.
As these changes roll out, I have asked that our travel reimbursement processing team share regular updates beginning in August about the status of process and policy changes.
I look forward to the collaborative efforts that will continue to improve our service delivery and advance our mission.
Sincerely,
José Luis Cruz Rivera
President