Spring brings changes to travel procedures

Ongoing efforts are enabling greater efficiency in travel operations at the University of Colorado. With the guidance of a Travel Council composed of campus representatives, the Procurement Service Center (PSC) will implement key changes to travel policies and procedures this spring, including:

• Beginning May 1, Christopherson Business Travel – which has been on the CU list of approved travel agencies since the end of March – will become the university's sole approved travel agency.
• Effective May 2, the new Concur travel and expense system will provide online booking capability for air, hotel and rental cars while incorporating university policies and procedures. It will further streamline the travel and expense report preparation process through e-receipts (electronic receipts), itinerary creation and distribution, and travel card transaction matching.
• Travel assistants (also known as travel arrangers) may be designated to help departmental travelers with bookings and trip preparations.
• The new corporate liability travel card soon will be available to facilitate individual and group travel. Like the procurement card, the new travel card will be direct paid by the university, further enhancing travel operation efficiency.
• Beginning May 1, you will not create Travel Authorization (TA) numbers. Travelers must continue to obtain approval from their departments before a trip, and Concur travel and expense will facilitate distribution of trip itineraries to designated travel arrangers and HR supervisors.

The Procurement Service Center (PSC) will be working with the university community to ensure a smooth transition to the new travel management system. Travel training sessions have been scheduled for April and May (to sign up, see the PSC website at www.cu.edu/psc). Questions on the new agency, system or process may be sent to CUTravel@cu.edu.