To enter a FY 13/14 requisition, use SAP transaction ME51N (the same one your are currently using to enter 12/13 requisitions) and place a delivery date between 7/1/13 and 6/30/14 in the Delivery Date field. FY 13/14 requisitions will process without budget until 7/1/13, when budget availability checking for the new year is activated.

The Budget Office has sent Departmental Budget Allocation Worksheets to you for your completion and return to them by 5/13/13. Budget allocations for FY 13/14 should be posted by 7/1/13. This schedule will enable your department to continue daily operations in preparing for the new fiscal year.

Please keep in mind that while you are able to enter requisitions for FY 13/14, Procurement Services will still be processing FY 12/13 requisitions until June 30. Therefore, FY 12/13 requisitions will take priority over those received for the new fiscal year. If you are planning to enter additional FY 12/13 requisitions, we strongly recommend those requisitions be submitted as quickly as possible. Procurement Services must have sufficient processing time before June 30 to best meet your FY 12/13 procurement needs.

Please contact the staff of the Budget Office or Financial Operations for assistance if you have any problems or questions.

Please submit your Food/Refreshment Requests for your Commencement Activities as soon as possible. Be sure to include your quote from Crimson Catering and a program/agenda for your event. The Financial Manager's signature must be on the request.

It would be helpful to us (and Crimson Catering) if you submit your requests as far in advance as possible, but no later than May 3, 2013. We prefer that the Food/Refreshment Requests and documentation be submitted electronically to food-service-requests@iup.edu, as this is the most efficient process. However, requests may also be submitted via fax to 724-357-3026 or hand delivered to B25 Clark Hall.

The training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisition Training. If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requistions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in Procurement Services at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-com, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Office of Financial Operations

As in past years, the Financial Operations staff will not be conducting formal training sessions from May 17 through August 9, 2013. These sessions include SAP Finance System Training, Business Intelligence Training, Purchasing Card Training, and Travel Card Training. Should you have any problems or questions during this time period concerning these services, please contact any of the Financial Operations staff and we will assist you as rapidly as possible with your specific situation.

Also, if you anticipate needing issued a Purchasing Card or Travel Card before the coming Fall semester, please place your request before May 6, 2013, as this will help us respond more timely in providing you with the applicable card and training.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support during this extremely stressful time for Financial Operations staff.

Requisition Cutoff Date

The last day for submitting online requisitions to Procurement Services for processing against your FY 12-13 operating budgets is Friday, June 7, 2013. This means that all FY 12-13 online requisitions must be entered into SAP and released (approved) by the close of business on June 7. Please note that the delivery date for materials being purchased and the rendering date for services being requested must be no later than June 30, 2013.

All requisitions entered into SAP after Friday, June 7, 2013, should be for merchandise being delivered or services being performed after June 30, 2013.

Reservation Cutoff Date

The cutoff date and time for submitting online reservations to Central Stores for processing against your FY 12-13 operating budgets is 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 28, 2013. This means all FY 12-13 reservations must be completed in SAP no later that 2:00 p.m. on June 28.

The cutoff date and time for returning supplies to Central Stores and receiving credit for the returned supplies in your FY 12-13 operating budget is noon on Friday, June 28, 2013. Should you need to return items to Central Stores after the June 28 cutoff, please make your returns after July 1, 2013, and you will recieve credit in your FY 13-14 budget.

Travel Voucher Cutoff Date

All travel vouchers being charged to FY 12-13 must be received in the Travel Office by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. The travel period must have begun prior to June 30. Travel vouchers received after July 3 will be charged against your FY 13-14 budgets.

Purchasing Card and Travel Card Cutoff Date

To have purchases under these programs charged to your FY 12-13 budgets, please complete the purchases before June 25, 2013. This will allow the transaction to process in time to be included in the June 27 card cycle end date. Any purchases under these programs that process after June 27 will be expensed against your FY 13-14 budgets.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Patterson in Financial Operations at cpatter@iup.edu.

Thank you.

Instead, you'll be emailed a PDF file containing the same call usage information that you previously received in paper reports.

The email will be sent from owner-phone-charges-att@iup.edu.  The subject line will be "telephone expenses."

If you have any questions concerning the AT&T long distance reports, please contact Sandy Cribbs in the Accounts Payable Department at (724) 357-2516 or sandra.cribbs@iup.edu.

Preregistration is required. Please contact Chris Patterson (cpatter@iup.edu) to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisition Training. If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in Procurement Services at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

In accordance with Board of Governors’ Policy 1986-07-A, Travel Expense Regulations, the reimbursement rate for use of personal automobile for official System travel also has increased to 56.5 cents per mile effective January 1, 2013. (For travel occurring from April 17, 2012 through December 31, 2012, the reimbursement rate is 55.5 cents per mile.)

Office of Financial Operations

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisition Training. If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in Procurement Services at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an email confirmation of your registration.

This training must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training. If you're interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu.

If you're interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

If you need any assistance or have any questions regarding this request, please contact Ruth Houser, director of Accounts Payable,, at 724-357-6242 or rhouser@iup.edu.

Please remember to use the food-service-requests@iup.edu e-mail address that is indicated at the top the Food/Refreshment Request form. Submitting your requests to this e-mail rather than an individual’s e-mail, i.e., Ruth Houser or Chris Patterson, will ensure that your request is processed in a timely manner. We prefer that your requests are submitted via e-mail, but will accept requests via fax (724-357-3026) or delivery to B25 Clark Hall.

As noted on the Food Refreshment Request form, requests are to be submitted two weeks in advance of your event. Please submit your requests for catering as soon as you receive your quote from Crimson Catering. Submitting your request at the last minute may cause a delay in receiving your catering services. Additionally, Crimson Catering will not provide catering services without receiving a properly completed and approved FRR form and will cancel your services if the approved FRR form is not received prior to the start of your event.

Requests for Meal Tickets should also be submitted within two weeks of the event. Also remember, when planning an event in the Oak Room, you must contact Crimson Catering at 724-357-5709 to reserve a space for your group to ensure a room is available.

Please contact Ruth Houser or Chris Patterson if you have any questions.

Preregistration is required. Please contact Chris Patterson (cpatter@iup.edu) to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Preregistration is required. Please contact Chris Patterson (cpatter@iup.edu) to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Bringing PRD down and then re-establishing the system on separate hardware is a critical component of this test. Please note: any test data will be discarded on the recovered PRD system.

We apologize for any inconvenience, but this is a necessary test and provides us with assurance that our systems can be up and running in the event of a disaster.

Thank you.

Office of Financial Operations

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training. If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for this session. The class is limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by accessing ihelp.

Find out more and download the Per Diem Mobile app.

The link is also on IUP’s Travel website under the “Related Sites” section.

This will allow the transaction to process in time to be included in the June 27 card cycle end date.

Any purchases under these programs that process after June 27 will be expensed against your FY 12–13 budgets.

Office of Financial Operations

(Remember that Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day.)

PASSHE will be migrating to new hardware during this time. The Business Warehouse will still be available during this time.

Financial Operations

In accordance with Board of Governors’ Policy 1986-07-A, Travel Expense Regulations, the reimbursement rate for use of a personal automobile for official System travel also has increased to 55.5 cents per mile effective April 17, 2012. (For travel occurring from January 1, 2011, through April 16, 2012, the reimbursement rate is 51 cents per mile.)

Office of Financial Operations

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training.

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please note this will be the last SAP Navigation and Budget Training session until the Fall semester.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

• Tuesday, April 24, 2012, from 1:30–4:30 p.m. in the IT Support Center’s Computer Lab in Delaney Hall, Suite G41.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for this session. The class is limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Please note, this will be the last Web-based financial reports training session until the Fall semester.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by accessing ihelp.

Once you have completed and electronically submitted the form, please have the appropriate person send a follow-up e-mail to wirelessphone-request@iup.edu, approving your request. Requests for changes to an existing phone must be approved by the cost center’s financial manager, and requests for new cell service must be approved by the vice president of your division.

If you have any questions regarding this new procedure, please contact Sandy Cribbs at scribbs@iup.edu or 357-2516.

Thank you.

Office of Financial Operations

Summary Processing Cutoff Table

Requisition Cutoff Date

The last day for submitting online requisitions to Procurement Services for processing against your FY11-12 operating budgets will be Friday, June 8, 2012. This means that all FY11-12 online requisitions must be entered into SAP and released (i.e., approved) by the close of business on June 8. Please note that the delivery date for materials being purchased and the rendering date for services being requested must be no later than June 30, 2012.

All requisitions entered into SAP after Friday, June 8, 2012, should be for merchandise being delivered or services being performed after June 30, 2012.

Reservation Cutoff Date

The cutoff date and time for submitting online reservations to Central Stores for processing against your FY11-12 operating budgets is 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 29, 2012. This means that all FY11-12 reservations must be completed in SAP no later than 2:00 pm. on June 29.

The cutoff date and time for returning supplies to Central Stores and receive credit for the returned supplies in your FY11-12 budget is noon on Friday, June 29, 2012. Should you need to return items to Central Stores after the June 29 cutoff, please make your returns after July 1, 2012, and you will receive credit in your FY12-13 budget.

Travel Voucher Cutoff Date

All travel vouchers being charged to FY 11-12 must be received in the Travel Office by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, 2012. The travel period must have begun prior to June 30. Travel vouchers received after July 3 will be charged against FY12-13 budgets.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Patterson in Financial Operations at cpatter@iup.edu.

Thank you.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training. If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

• Monday, March 12: 1:30–3:30 p.m.
• Friday, March 16: 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Both sessions will be held in the IT Support Center’s Computer Lab in Delaney Hall, Suite G41.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for these sessions. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by accessing ihelp.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisition Training.

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requistions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurment Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contac Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for the Navigation and Budget Training. Classes are limited to 15 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

• Friday, December 9, 2011: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
• Thursday, December 15, 2011: 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Both Sessions will be held in the IT Support Center Computer Lab, Delaney Hall, Suite G41.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for these sessions. Class is limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by accessing ihelp.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training.

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

The new agreement provides equivalent rates at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental. The new agreement includes rates for Enterprise Rent-A-Car's Truck Rental Department. The Truck Rental Department carries box trucks, stake beds, and parcel vans. The trucks can be rented for business or personal use and do not require a CDL license.

Car and truck rentals are available daily, weekly, and monthly. Please reference your Contract ID: XZ40316 (Business Use) and Contract ID: XZ40317 (Personal Use) when reserving at both National and Enterprise.

If you are using your travel card and Pennsylvania sales tax is charged, please contact Heather Cassidy, senior sales executive, directly and she will credit the tax. Her contact e-mail is Heather.L.Cassidy@erac.com.

The current rates and reference guide for Enterprise is on the Travel Website.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for this session. Class is limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by accessing ihelp.

Office of Financial Operations

Please see the Expenditures of Public Funds with IUP Operational Guidelines PDF file for this documentation.

Note: This news item was originally posted June 23, 2011, but was linking to the wrong document.

Office of Financial Operations

Requisition Cutoff Date

The last day for submitting online requisitions to Purchasing for processing against your FY10–11 operating budgets is Tuesday, June 7, 2011.

This means that all FY10–11 online requisitions must be entered into SAP and released (i.e., approved) by the close of business on June 7. Please note that the delivery date for materials being purchased and the rendering date for services being requested must be no later than June 30, 2011

All requisitions entered into SAP after Tuesday, June 7, 2011, should be for merchandise being delivered or services being performed between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012.

Reservation Cutoff Date

The cutoff date and time for submitting online reservations to Central Stores for processing against your FY10–11 operating budgets is 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. This means that all FY10–11 reservations must be completed in SAP no later than 2:00 p.m. on June 30, 2011.

The cutoff date and time for returning supplies to Central Stores and receiving credit for the returned supplies in your FY10–11 budget is Noon on Thursday, June 30, 2011. Should you need to return items to Central Stores after the June 30 cutoff, please make your returns after July 1, 2011 and you will receive credit in your FY11-12 budget.

Travel Voucher Cutoff Date

All travel vouchers being charged to FY10–11 must be received in the Travel Office by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. The travel period must have begun prior to June 30th. Travel vouchers received after July 5th will be charged against FY11-12 budgets.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Patterson in Financial Operations (cpatter@iup.edu).

PASSHE will be testing the disaster recovery system.  Please contact Rick White at 724-357-5565 or rpwhite@iup.edu if you have any questions.

To enter a Fiscal Year 2011–2012 requisition, use SAP Transaction ME51N (the same one you are currently using to enter 2010–2011 requisitions), and place a delivery date between 07/01/11 and 06/30/12 in the Delivery Date field. Fiscal Year 2011–2012 requisitions will process without budget until July 1, 2011, when Budget Availability Checking for the new year is activated.

The Budget Office has sent departmental budget allocation worksheets to you for your completion. Return them to the Budget Office by May 20, 2011. Budget allocations for FY 2011–2012 should be posted by July 1, 2011. This schedule will enable your department to continue daily operations in preparing for the new fiscal year.

Please keep in mind that while you are able to enter requisitions for FY 2011–2012, Procurement Services will still be processing FY 2010–2011 requisitions until June 30. Therefore, FY 2010–2011 requisitions will take priority over those received for the new fiscal year. If you are planning to enter additional FY 2010–2011 requisitions, it is strongly recommended that those requisitions be submitted as quickly as possible. Procurement Services must have sufficient processing time before June 30 to best meet your FY 2010–2011 procurement needs.

Please contact the staff of the Budget Office or Financial Operations for assistance if you have any problems or questions.

Please join us!

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for this session. Class is limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu.

If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

• Please review Section K of the Expenditures of Public Funds Guidelines before submitting your food/refreshment requests to ensure your event is in compliance.
• Financial manager approval is required on all food/refreshment requests. When submitting requests in electronic form, please either sign the request with an electronic signature or e-mail the request from the financial manager’s e-mail account.
• Please indicate in the “Service Requested” section of the food/refreshment request form whether the request is for meal tickets or a catered event, and provide the number of attendees in the appropriate field (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or Refreshments).
• For all catered events, please include a quote from Crimson Catering.
• Please submit all requests to food-service-requests@iup.edu, or fax to 724-357-3026. Submitting to an individual address may delay processing of your request.
• Use the Food/Refreshment Request for Non-IUP Funded Events form to request meal tickets being purchased with Non-IUP funds. Such requests should still be sent to food-service-requests@iup.edu.
• There is no form for requesting non-IUP-funded catered events. For such events, you should directly contact Crimson Catering.

All forms and detailed procedures are available at Accounts Payable.

Completing, saving, and submitting your request in electronic form as an e-mail attachment is the preferred method, and will result in the timeliest response to your request.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ruth Houser (rhouser@iup.edu) or Chris Patterson (cpatter@iup.edu).

Office of Financial Operations

This change in production is necessary to reduce costs and increase efficiency in response to the budgetary difficulties being experienced across the university.

If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact the Accounts Payable office.

As in past years, the Financial Operations staff will not be conducting formal training sessions from May 16, 2011, through August 15, 2011. These sessions include SAP Finance System Training, Business Intelligence Training, Purchasing Card Training, and Travel Card Training.

Should you have any problems or questions during this time period concerning these services, please contact any of the Financial Operations staff, and we will assist you as rapidly as possible with your specific situation.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support during this extremely stressful time for Financial Operations staff.

Please do not wait until the last minute to enter your requisitions and reservations being funded by your FY10-11 budgets into SAP. Purchasing staff needs sufficient time to make the appropriate arrangements prior to the close of the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2011.

Summary Processing Cutoff Table:

4:00 p.m., June 7, 2011: Last day to enter and release (approve) requisitions for FY10-11

2:00 p.m., June 30, 2011: Last day to enter reservations for FY10-11

Noon, June 30, 2011: Last day to return supply issues to Central Stores for FY10-11 credit

4:00 p.m., July 5, 2011: Last day to submit travel vouchers to the Travel Office for payment from FY10-11 budgets

Requisition Cutoff Date

The last day for submitting online requisitions to Procurement Services for processing against your FY10-11 operating budgets will be Tuesday, June 7, 2011. This means that all FY10-11 online requisitions must be entered into SAP and released (i.e., approved) by the close of business on June 7. Please note that the delivery date for materials being purchased and the rendering date for services being requested must be no later than June 30, 2011.

All requisitions entered into SAP after Tuesday, June 7, 2011, should be for merchandise being delivered or services being performed between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012.

Reservation Cutoff Date

The cutoff date and time for submitting online reservations to Central Stores for processing against your FY10-11 operating budgets is 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. This means that all FY10-11 reservations must be completed in SAP no later than 2:00 p.m. on June 30, 2011.

The cutoff date and time for returning supplies to Central Stores and receive credit for the returned supplies in your FY10-11 budget is noon on Thursday, June 30, 2011. Should you need to return items to Central Stores after the June 30 cutoff, please make your returns after July 1, 2011, and you will receive credit in your FY11-12 budget.

Travel Voucher Cutoff Date

All travel vouchers being charged to FY 10-11 must be received in the Travel Office by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. The travel period must have begun prior to June 30. Travel vouchers received after July 5 will be charged against FY11-12 budgets.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Patterson in Financial Operations at cpatter@iup.edu.

Thank you.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for one of these sessions. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

This training includes SAP navigation and monitoring budgets.

This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or a refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for the March 23 Navigation and Budget training session. Classes are limited to fifteenand will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

IUP employees recently received notice of guidance released by PASSHE regarding the expenditure of public funds (PASSHE Expenditures of Public Funds, Guidelines, Standards, and Limits). This document can be viewed under “Policies” through the Financial Operations website link below, and can also be viewed here (PDF). Section K of these guidelines specifically addresses the use of public funds for food and refreshments.

Under the new procedures, you have two new forms to assist you in meeting the documentation requirements of the guidelines. One form is “Food/Refreshment Request for IUP funded events” and the other is “Food/Refreshment Request for non-IUP funded events.” These new forms and detailed instructions on how you should use each of these forms to secure the appropriate catering/meal ticket services are available on the Financial Operations website under “Forms.” Please refer to these forms and instructions when arranging your next event.

If you have any questions or concerns about this new process, please direct your inquires to Ruth Houser, director of Accounts Payable, at 724-357-6242, or e-mail rhouser@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for one of these sessions. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

As before, exceptions to this rule are purchases of gifts, licensed software, live animals, nuclear materials, alcohol, tobacco products, controlled substances, weapons and ammunition, construction and renovation, or advertising; these items must still be purchased through Procurement Services using SAP Purchase Requisitions. All purchases of services must still be made through Procurement Services using SAP Purchase Requisitions. Please see the Purchasing Card Policy available on the Purchasing Card website for complete details of card use restrictions.

If you do not have a Purchasing Card, you may obtain one by completing a Purchasing Card Enrollment Form and submitting the completed form to Lora Lee Bertig, Clark Hall, Room B-31. The Purchasing Card website will provide you with a link to the enrollment form plus links to other purchasing card information. Purchasing Cards are issued to individuals, not to departments.

Once your completed application is submitted to Lora Lee, it will take two to three weeks for us to obtain your card from the Purchasing Card Carrier. Your card will be issued to you upon your completion of a Purchasing Card Training Session (about one and a half hours). These sessions will be offered at various times over the next few weeks. A schedule of available times/locations and registration instructions will be distributed in the near future.

If you need additional information or have any questions, please contact Lora Lee Bertig (Lora.Bertig@iup.edu) at 724-357-7701, Chris Patterson (Christine.Patterson@iup.edu) at 724-357-5567, or Ruth Houser (Ruth.Houser@iup.edu) at 724-357-6242.

Additionally, please remember that you can purchase a wide variety of products through the PASSHE Office Max System without a Purchasing Card or an SAP Purchase Requisition. The link on how to obtain a log-in ID to the Office Max System is available on the Financial Operations website.

• Tuesday, November 30, 2010
• Friday, December 3, 2010
• Tuesday, December 14, 2010

All sessions will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the IT Support Center, Delaney Hall, Room G41.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for one of these sessions. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

• Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010
• Time: 1:30–3:30 p.m.
• Location: IT Support Center Computer Lab, Delaney Hall, Room G41

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training.

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen, and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

See the checklists here:

• Reimbursement Request Checklist
• Travel Expense Voucher Checklist

For travel-related assistance, contact Carol Ramer at 724-357-7999. For all other questions, contact Ruth Houser at 724-357-6242.

Please note that this guidance is not applicable to funds held by the Foundation for IUP, the Student Cooperative Association, or the IUP Research Institute.

This document, PASSHE Expenditures of Public Funds, Guidelines, Standards, and Limits, may be found on the Accounts Payable website under the “Policies” section. The Office of Financial Operations will be responsible for helping you comply with these new guidelines.  A “Frequently Asked Questions” document will soon be available for your reference, and the Financial Operations area will be offering training/discussion sessions on this subject in the future.

All inquiries may be directed to Ruth Houser, director of Accounts Payable, at 724-357-6242 or by e-mail to rhouser@iup.edu.

• Date: Friday, September 24, 2010
• Time: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
• Location: IT Support Center Computer Lab, Delaney Hall, Room G41

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu.

If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson ate cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, preference will be given to new employees who have not yet attended training.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Please use this link for current per diem rates. IUP's Travel website will be updated when the GSA has completed its update.

The Web-based report system will not be available from midnight on Thursday, July 15, until the morning of Monday, July 19, 2010.

Financial Operations

Please do not wait until the last minute to enter your requisitions and reservations being funded by your FY09-10 budgets into SAP. Procurement staff needs sufficient time to make the appropriate arrangements prior to the close of the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2010.

Summary Processing Cutoff Table:

• 4:00 p.m., June 8, 2010: Last day to enter and release (approve) requisitions for FY09-10
• 2:00 p.m., June 29, 2010: Last day to enter reservations for FY09-10
• Noon, June 25, 2010: Last day to return supply issues to Central Stores for FY09-10 credit
• 4:00 p.m., July 2, 2010: Last day to submit travel vouchers to the Travel Office for payment from FY09-10 budgets

Requisition Cutoff Date

The last day for submitting on-line requisitions to Procurement Services for processing against your FY09-10 operating budgets will be Tuesday, June 8, 2010. This means that all FY09-10 on-line requisitions must be entered into SAP and released (i.e., approved) by the close of business on June 8. Please note that the delivery date for materials being purchased and the rendering date for services being requested must be no later than June 30, 2010.

All requisitions entered into SAP after Tuesday, June 8, 2010, should be for merchandise being delivered or services being performed between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011.

Reservation Cutoff Date

The cutoff date and time for submitting on-line reservations to Central Stores for processing against your FY09-10 operating budgets is 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2010. This means that all FY09-10 reservations must be completed in SAP no later than 2:00 p.m. on June 29, 2010.

The cutoff date and time for returning supplies to Central Stores and receive credit for the returned supplies in your FY09-10 budget is noon on Friday June 25, 2010. Should you need to return items to Central Stores after the June 25 cutoff, please make your returns after July 1, 2010, and you will receive credit in your FY10-11 budget.

Travel Voucher Cutoff Date

All travel vouchers being charged to FY 09-10 must be received in the Travel Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 2, 2010. The travel period must have begun prior to June 30. Travel vouchers received after July 2 will be charged against FY10-11 budgets.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Patterson in Financial Operations at cpatter@iup.edu.

Both sessions will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the IT Support Center, Delaney Hall, Room G41. Please note that these will be the last Web-Based Financial Report training sessions until September.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register for one of these sessions. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in Procurement Services at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Due to fiscal year end processing, this will be the last SAP Navigation Budget Training session until August.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

Please do not wait until the last minute to enter your requisitions and reservations being funded by your FY 09–10 budgets into SAP. Purchasing staff members need sufficient time to make the appropriate arrangements prior to the close of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2010.

Requisition Cutoff Date

The last day for submitting on-line requisitions to Purchasing for processing against your FY 09–10 operating budgets will be Tuesday, June 8, 2010. This means that all FY 09–10 on-line requisitions must be entered into SAP and released (i.e. approved) by the close of business on June 8. Please note that the delivery date for materials being purchased and the rendering date for services being requested must be no later than June 30, 2010. 

All requisitions entered into SAP after Tuesday, June 8, 2010, should be for merchandise being delivered or services being performed between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011.

Reservation Cutoff Date

The cutoff date and time for submitting on-line reservations to Central Stores for processing against your FY 09–10 operating budgets is 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2010. This means that all FY 09–10 reservations must be completed in SAP no later than 2:00 p.m. June 29, 2010.

The cutoff date and time for returning supplies to Central Stores and receiving credit for the returned supplies in your FY 09–10 budget is noon Friday June 25, 2010. Should you need to return items to Central Stores after the June 25 cutoff, please make your returns after July 1, 2010, and you will receive credit in your FY 10–11 budget.

Travel Voucher Cutoff Date

All travel vouchers being charged to FY 09–10 must be received in the Travel office by 4:00 p.m. Friday, July 2, 2010. The travel period must have begun prior to June 30. Travel vouchers received after July 2 will be charged against FY 10–11 budgets.

Summary Processing Cutoff Table

• 4:00 p.m. June 8, 2010: Last day to enter and release (approve) requisitions for FY 09–10
• 2:00 p.m. June 29, 2010: Last day to enter reservations for FY 09–10
• Noon June 25, 2010: Last day to return supply issues to Central Stores for FY 09–10 credit
• 4:00 p.m. July 2, 2010: Last day to submit travel vouchers to the Travel office for payment from FY 09–10 budgets

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Patterson in Financial Operations (cpatter@iup.edu).

Thank you.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in Procurement Services at carnahan@iup.edu.

If you are interested in SAP Reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson @ cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Web-based reports offer the ability to access budget information through the SAP Business Warehouse system. The reports offer a variety of presentations, as well as the ability for a user to save personal formats and selections for future use.

Here are a few of the features available through the Web-Based Reports:

• Budget to Actual comparisons for the current and prior fiscal years
• Trend information for actual expenses for all years in SAP
• Expenses for student employees by name
• Drilldown to actual, commitment, and budget document lines
• Summary of all funds centers belonging to a responsible person
• Summary of all funds center belonging to a department

Web-Based Financial Report Training is offered during the month of March at the following times:

• Tuesday, March 9, 2010: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
  Delaney Hall, Room G41 (IT Support Center)
• Tuesday, March 9, 2010: 1:30–3:00 p.m.
  Delaney Hall, Room G41 (IT Support Center)
• Thursday, March 11, 2010: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
  Robertshaw Computer Lab
• Thursday, March 11, 2010: 3:00–4:30 p.m.
  Robertshaw Computer Lab
• Tuesday, March 16, 2010: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
  Delaney Hall, Room G41 (IT Support Center)
• Tuesday, March 23, 2010: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
  Delaney Hall, Room G41 (IT Support Center)

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

You do not need an active Business Warehouse ID to attend the training; however, you may activate your ID by sending an e-mail to the IT Support Center at it-support-center@iup.edu.

These provisions are:

1. The single purchase limit of $1,500 may be increased on an individual basis with written authorization of the vice president for Administration and Finance.
2. Exceptions to the purchase restrictions as listed under item 4.D.3 may be granted in writing by the vice president for Administration and Finance.

View the updated policy.

This training includes SAP navigation and monitoring budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the requisitioning training! If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu. If you are interested in SAP reservation training or refresher, please contact Michele Fatora in Central Stores at michelet@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

Aztec Travel Agency is the only travel agency that will accept a Transportation Order from IUP.

If you have any questions regarding your transportation needs, please contact Carol Ramer at cramer@iup.edu or 724-357-7999.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in Procurement Services at carnahan@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

This training includes SAP Navigation and Monitoring Budgets. This training session must be taken prior to the Requisitioning Training!

If you are interested in learning how to post and/or release requisitions, please contact Jamie Carnahan in the Procurement Services Department at carnahan@iup.edu.

Please contact Chris Patterson at cpatter@iup.edu to register. Classes are limited to fifteen and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration.

In accordance with Board of Governors Policy 1986-07-A, Travel Expense Regulations, the reimbursement rate for use of a personal automobile for official System travel also has decreased to 50 cents per mile effective January 1, 2010. (For travel occurring from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009, the reimbursement rate is 55 cents per mile.)

Office of Financial Operations

The per diem rate of $39 will be used for travel occurring prior to October 1, 2009. Included in this per diem rate are subsistence and incidental expenses such as fees and tips for persons who provide services.

Per diem rates for high-cost areas have also changed. For complete information on rates of reimbursement for university travel, please see the IUP Travel website.

Miscellaneous Meal Reimbursement Reminders

When actual meals are claimed on a travel expense voucher, all receipts must be itemized clearly indicating the items purchased. Credit card receipts showing only the total are not acceptable. Requests for reimbursement of actual meal costs must be accompanied by a statement of business purpose; a listing of attendees and their relationship to the business purpose; and itemized receipts indicating number of meals purchased, menu items purchased, and any alcohol purchases deducted. Reimbursement for alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited. Payment or reimbursement cannot be made without an itemized receipt.

Subsistence rates are to be used by employees only. Travel expense vouchers submitted for students, guest speakers, etc., must include itemized meal receipts.

• Last day and time to return supply issues to Central Stores for Fiscal Year 2008/2009 credit: Noon, June 26,2009
• Last day and time to enter Central Stores Reservations for Fiscal Year 2008/2009: 2:00 p.m. on June 26, 2009

Following are important times and dates for completing your Fiscal Year (FY) 08-09 Requisitions, Reservations, and Travel Vouchers before we close the fiscal year. Please do not wait until the last minute to enter your Requisitions and Reservations being funded by your FY08-09 budgets into SAP. Purchasing Staff need sufficient time to make the appropriate arrangements prior to the close of the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2009.

Requisition Cutoff Date

The last day for submitting On-line Requisitions to Purchasing for processing against your FY08-09 operating budgets will be Tuesday, June 9, 2009. This means that all FY08-09 On-line Requisitions must be entered into SAP and released (i.e., approved) by the close of business on June 9. Please note that the delivery date for materials being purchased and the rendering date for services being requested must be no later than June 30, 2009.  

All Requisitions entered into SAP after Tuesday, June 9, 2009, should be for merchandise being delivered or services being performed between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010.

Reservation Cutoff Date

The cutoff date and time for submitting On-line Reservations to Central Stores for processing against your FY08-09 operating budgets is 2:00 pm. on Friday, June 26, 2009. This means that all FY08-09 Reservations must be completed in SAP no later than 2:00 pm. on June 26.

The cutoff date and time for returning supplies to Central Stores and receive credit for the returned supplies in your FY08-09 budget is Noon on Friday June 26, 2009. Should you need to return items to Central Stores after the June 26 cutoff, please make your returns after July 1, 2009, and you will receive credit in your FY09-10 budget.

Travel Voucher Cutoff Date

All travel vouchers being charged to FY08-09 must be received in the Travel Office by 4:00 pm on Thursday, July 2, 2009. The travel period must have begun prior to June 30. Travel vouchers received after July 2 will be charged against FY09-10 budgets.

Summary Processing Cutoff Table:

• 4:00 p.m., June 09, 2009 — Last day to enter and release (approve) Requisitions for FY08-09
• 2:00 p.m., June 26, 2009 — Last day to enter Reservations for FY08-09
• Noon, June 26, 2009 — Last day to return supply issues to Central Stores for FY08-09 credit
• 4:00 p.m., July 02, 2009 — Last day to submit Travel Vouchers to the Travel Office for payment from FY08-09 budgets

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Chris Patterson in Financial Operations (cpatterson@iup.edu).

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania employees have been instructed to discontinue using Hotel Orders to pay for hotel stays occurring on or after March 15, 2009. Additionally, the Commonwealth has announced to lodging providers that they should not accept Hotel Orders as payment for services after that date. As the university uses Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Hotel Order forms, it is expected that after that date most hotels will be unwilling to accept Hotel Orders from PASSHE employees as well. Therefore, we must also discontinue using this process to pay for lodging. If you have been issued a Hotel Order for use before March 15, please proceed with using the Hotel Order as planned.

To pay for future lodging services please use one of the following options:

1. Request a University Travel Card and charge your stay as you would with any other credit card. Charges will be paid directly by the university, and you will be required to submit appropriate documentation as prescribed in the Travel Card Procedures.
2. Pay for the stay with a personal credit card, cash, or personal check and request reimbursement on a University Travel Voucher. Be sure to include a copy of the paid hotel bill with your Travel Voucher as audit documentation.
3. Obtain a quote for the stay from the hotel and request a check be issued in advance. Payment can be made directly to the hotel or you may pick up the check in Accounts Payable to take with you. Due to M&T Bank and SAP processing requirements the Accounts Payable Department must have five working days notice to produce a check under this option.

Should you have any questions concerning this change in procedure, please contact the Travel Office at 724-357-7999.

Monday, March 2: 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 4: 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, March 10: 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Thursday, March 12: 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Location: IT Support Center Computer Lab, Suites on Grant Lower, Suite G41

These sessions are for budget holders and others who have SAP finance-related questions, particularly dealing with the new BCS module. No preregistration is required. Employees can come anytime during the allotted time period to ask questions about a specific cost center, transaction, or other finance-related items. Questions will be answered by Financial Operations staff, and will be answered on a first-come first-serve basis. If your question can’t be answered during the session, we will take the information and get back to you as quickly as possible.

If you do not have a Purchasing Card, you may obtain one by completing a Purchasing Card Enrollment form and submitting the completed form to Lora Lee Bertig, B31 Clark Hall.

We will not be having formal hands-on training for all SAP users affected by this conversion. However, we will be holding a series of SAP Open Forums during the weeks of 11/24 and 12/1 where you may come for assistance. Forums are located in the ITS Delaney Hall Computer Lab (Room G41) and will be held at the following times:

11/25 9:00–10 a.m.

11/25 2:30–3:30 p.m.

11/26 11:00 a.m.–Noon

11/26 3:00–4:00 p.m.

12/2 11:00 a.m.–Noon

12/4 3:00–4:00 p.m.

As always, you may call the staff of Financial Operations for assistance over the telephone on this or other SAP issues and we will either help you or refer you to someone who can. However, it is strongly recommended that you bring your questions to one of the Open Forums, as that is where we will best able to address your questions.

The conversion will begin at the close of business on Thursday, November 20, 2008. At that time all Finance and Materials Management update transactions will be turned off (i.e., you will not be able to enter anything into SAP). SAP will be available for inquiry until noon on Friday, November 21. HR users will have access to HR update transactions until noon on Friday, November 21. After noon on Friday, November 21, the SAP production system will not be available. SAP production will become fully available on Monday, November 24, at 8:00 a.m. More information about how you will be affected by this conversion will be distributed in the near future.