UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Controller's Office

Graduate Tuition Remission

20090210-01846.jpgEmployees or employees’ spouses who are considering taking graduate courses under UP’s tuition remission benefit in the next calendar year should contact Eric Barger in the controller’s office (barger@up.edu) for a personal session to assist with tax planning. This will help employees avoid unpleasant paycheck surprises in the fall. Also, please note there will be a change in 2015 in how taxable remission will be allocated among pay periods for spring and summer terms. Taxable spring remission will be charged over four monthly pay periods (January-April) or six semi-monthly pay periods (February 5-April 20). Taxable summer remission will be charged over two monthly pay periods (July-August) or three semi-monthly pay periods (July 20-August 20). Fall remission will continue to be charged over four monthly pay periods (September-December) or six semi-monthly pay periods (October 5-December 20). This change will help spread the tax burden more evenly for those taking courses in multiple terms.

Please contact Barger at 7337 or barger@up.edu if you have any questions.

Expanded Sick Leave Availability

I be sickAs of January 1, the University of Portland is extending sick leave to student employees and any faculty and staff members not previously covered, according to Eric Barger, controller. Student employees and hourly staff working less than half-time will now earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked (with a maximum bank of 80 hours). There is no change to the sick leave policy for staff employees working half-time or more. Similarly, there is no change to sick leave policy for regular faculty, except that they will now be able to record sick time and view leave balances in Banner Self-Serve. Adjunct faculty will be provided with sick leave each term based on the credit hours they teach and will also be able to record and view sick leave in Banner. More information and FAQs will be available through the controller’s office website soon. Questions should be directed to Barger at 7337 or barger@up.edu.

P-Card Users, Take Note

knott copyVisa is offering a new service to merchants to provide greater security for online transactions. The Verified by Visa service is a global program that helps to verify the identity of an online shopper at checkout and in real time through the shopper’s use of his or her personal password or other identity data. This works like a PIN for an ATM card.

Some staff have already encountered this service when making online purchases (such as airline tickets). Wells Fargo has informed the University that more and more merchants will be using Verified by Visa in the near future. Any merchant using the service is required to include the Verified by Visa logo on their home page with an option to sign up before the checkout process begins. This will affect any personal Visa card purchases, as well as those made for official University business with a P-card.

The first time a P-card user attempts to make an online purchase from a merchant enrolled with Verify by Visa, he or she will be asked to activate the card during checkout. This will require a unique ID number (the last four digits of your UP ID number), the monthly credit limit, and the University’s zip code. This information is available at https://www.wellsfargo.com/com/ (where you reconcile your P-card) and by clicking on “personal profile” in the “user information” link on the left sidebar. P-card users are also welcome to contact Theresa Knott, purchase card coordinator (pictured), at 8712 or knott@up.edu for this information, Once you have activated your card with Visa and have created a password, you will be able to use that password any time you encounter the Verified by Visa at checkout.

If you would like the option to activate your card in advance or learn more about the Verified by Visa service please refer to the FAQs provided by Wells Fargo on the Controller’s website at this link. For more information contact Knott at 8712 or knott@up.edu.

Money Matters

a money-matters150For travel in the new fiscal year, the University’s mileage reimbursement rate has increased to $0.565 per mile, according to Eric Barger, controller. For those renting cars, the preferred rental agency is Enterprise. Use code “G24733” at Enterprise to get a discounted rate and save money in your University of Portland travel budget. Please decline the rental company’s insurance coverage and use your p-card as Visa provides rental car insurance for the University.

Money Matters

moneyHappy new fiscal year from the controller’s office! Mileage reimbursement rates have increased to $0.565/mile for any travel incurred after June 30, 2013, according to Eric Barger, controller. Please use this new rate for mileage reimbursement in fiscal year 2013-14. For more information contact Barger at barger@up.edu.

Money Matters

moneyHappy new fiscal year from the controller’s office! Mileage reimbursement rates have increased to $0.565/mile for any travel incurred after June 30, 2013, according to Eric Barger, controller. Please use this new rate for mileage reimbursement in fiscal year 2013-14. For more information contact Barger at barger@up.edu.