This issue of the Financial Management Newsletter includes information about the following:

* UW Information Security Program
* Field Advance Improvements!!
* The "new" Business Diversity Program
* AP Customer Service Improvement Updates
* Final F&A Space Survey Training Sessions

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UW Information Security Program

Recently, a new Information Security Program webpage has been launched by Financial Management to comply with federal requirements under the Federal Graham Leach Bliley Act. This requirements of the Act primarily impact organizations offering financial loans to, in the case of the UW, students of the University. However, the guidelines are useful for any departments that handle/process information of a personal/financial nature about users and customers of your services.

Information about the Act and helpful tools and contact information can be found at:

https://www.washington.edu/admin/finacct/office/glb/glbprog.html

Please contact Erick Winger at 206-221-5940 (erickw@u.washington.edu) directly if you have any questions.

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Field Advance Improvements!!

As a result of feedback received as part of the Global Support Project, we have implemented several improvements to the Field Advance process. Improvements include:

* A new and improved website;
* New budget planning and automated reconciliation spreadsheets;
* A new request for field advance form;
* Information about traveling outside the US with large amounts of cash and alternative methods for getting cash in remote areas;
* Guidance on foreign currency exchange rates

Please visit our webpage at:

http://www.washington.edu/admin/finserv/bankops/fieldadv.html

Questions and feedback can be directed to Mark Centouri at 206-543-8822 (mjc2@u.washington.edu).

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A "New" Business Diversity Program

A revamped and reorganized Business Diversity Program is trying to make complex processes at the UW more accessible and understandable to underrepresented businesses in Washington, and also raise the awareness for units purchasing goods and services.

The program was recently relocated within the Office of Strategy Management, a unit of Finance and Facilities. The program staff consists of Shaun Spearmon, who formerly worked with the Business and Economic Development Center in the Foster School of Business, and Lynn Beck, who worked in Purchasing.

The Business Diversity Program's objective is to proactively engage with and support the University of Washington's commitment to creating a diverse, competitive, and transparent business environment.

More information about the Business Diversity Program is available at, http://www.washington.edu/admin/bdp/index.html.

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AP Customer Service Improvement Updates

A 2006 Financial Management Customer Service Survey identified several Accounts Payable (AP) improvement opportunities. With the collaboration of process partners, campus representatives, focus groups and 3 sub teams, AP made significant improvements to the their website including:

* A new portal with improved navigation;
* Measures to reduce "lost invoices";
* Improved communication of invoices that fall into a discrepancy status.

These improvements were followed with a customer survey in January 2008. The results of this survey reflected an increase in satisfaction in addition to new improvement opportunities we can begin to address. Thanks to all who provided us with such helpful feedback!

More information is available on our website at http://www.washington.edu/admin/finserv/payables/apcsit.followup.pdf

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Final F&A Space Survey Training Sessions

Management Accounting and Analysis (MAA) will host two final campus training sessions for the upcoming Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Space Survey. If you plan to code your space or review the work of others who are coding space for the survey, we encourage you to attend.