To: University Business Managers
From: Roger Patterson, Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Finance
Date: August 18, 2009
The memo from OSBM required pre-approval of travel and compensation adjustments by the agency head, which is the Chancellor. We were able to get OSBM to allow us to designate the pre-approval to the department head. The purpose for this requirement is to ensure someone is applying the prudent person test before a trip or compensation adjustment goes forward. We are not going to check for these approvals centrally (above any normal authorization requirements).
Just do what you feel you need to do in your area to ensure someone is approving actions. Whether you want to require a signature or handle through verbal approvals is really up you. We purposefully left it loose so the units could decide on their own without any central bureaucracy. Best, Roger