Author Archives: ABSO

Travel Updates & Reminders

Please reference the following reminders & updates that have been made to the SJSU Travel Checklist.

Travel to Prohibited States:

If you will be traveling to a prohibited state and entering a request in FTS, a Travel to Banned States Exception Request Form is required. Note that this form has been updated and is required for travel that will be using non-state funds. Please make sure this form is routed to Sami Monsur (sami.monsur@sjsu.edu), who is the Provost’s designee. 

Justification Memos:

Justification memos are required when the lodging rate exceeds $275/night (excluding taxes). These memos were previously allowed to be signed by the Dean or the campus VP/Designee. Please be aware the CSU policy states only the campus VP/Designee can approve these memos therefore the SJSU Travel Checklist has been updated to reflect this requirement. Please route these justifications to Sami Monsur who is the Provost’s designee. 

Travel Expense Claim Forms

If routing a Travel Expense Form to the Provost Office (Provost’s Designee Sami Monsur, sami.monsur@sjsu.edu), please make sure it is routed to Joanna Gaona (joanna.gaona@sjsu.edu) for initial before the One-Up Approval signature.

 

Links to Travel resources: AAD Travel Guide, SJSU Travel Guide, SJSU Travel Checklist.

Please contact abso@sjsu.edu if you have any questions or require further information.

New! Process for Implementing Organizational Change

Academic Affairs now has an official Process for Implementing Organizational Change. Please refer to this page when a proposal is being made to divide or eliminate an academic unit, merge it with another academic unit, or transfer it to another college.

Please contact abso@sjsu.edu if you have any questions or require further information.

ABSO Training Site

ABSO is pleased to announce that the ABSO Training Site is now live! This site is meant to be a tool that will provide training and professional development opportunities on a variety of topics for employees in Academic Affairs. For example, here you will find the presentation and training materials from our first workshop series. 

This site can also be found directly via the ABSO Hub. Also, the Hub’s front page has been updated to make navigation easier! Tiles have been added, replacing the old selection menu which was on the top right of the page.

Please contact abso@sjsu.edu if you have any questions or require further information.

AAD Travel Guide Update

The Academic Affairs Division’s Travel Guide has been updated and now includes a section regarding the Docusign Travel Authorization Form. This updated guide is now available on the Provost’s website & the AA Resource Hub. The AAD Travel Guide is meant to be a tool focused on our division that should be used alongside the SJSU Travel Guide & Travel Checklist. Please contact abso@sjsu.edu if you have any questions or require further information.

Internal RSCA Grant Award Process Improvements

Research & Innovation has made some process improvements intended to alleviate the workload both at the college and department levels effective with the 2023-24 grants that were recently awarded.

  1. All faculty internal grants (Seed, Level-Up, Mid-Career) will be awarded for two years.  No spending extension will be granted except for a compelling reason (e.g. illness, pandemic).
  2. Internal grant funds will be allocated in two categories only to eliminate (1) the minutia of tracking expenses by account and (2) the need for reallocation requests.  The two categories are Summer Fellowships and Operating Expenses (OE).  Per past practice, Summer Fellowships funding will remain with the Office of Research, and we will work with University Personnel to have summer payments issued.  OE will act as a catchall to include Student Assistant, Equipment, Travel, Supplies, etc.  We trust faculty to use their grant money in a manner that allows them to meet the original goal of their proposal and we will review their progress when they submit a report at the end of their grant period.
  3. Grants expiring in 2023 will automatically be extended for one additional year only if an extension is submitted.
  4. Small awards (e.g. $500 in professional development funds) are being phased out though you may see a few more being issued due to commitments already made.

Please refer to this Q&A for more information.