Team Honored for Improving Administrative Process

Team Honored for Improving Administrative Process

BY DANA BENSON
Rice News Staff

A group of Rice employees received high praise for its work to create more effective and efficient travel and encumbrance systems.

The Rice Web Applications Design Team, which includes employees from across campus, was recognized by President Malcolm Gillis and others at a Jan. 27 reception.

The team has been working to develop an online system for travel purchase and reimbursement as well an online encumbrance system. The new systems are expected to launch in June, according to Randy Castiglioni, director of administrative services.

"You are to be congratulated for providing an excellent example of very good teamwork," Gillis told the group. "These systems are going to serve as a platform for continuous improvements in administrative processes, which allow us to have continuous improvement of our academic processes."

The travel system will allow employees to pay for travel expenses with a Rice Purchasing Card and document the trip on the Web. The nearly paperless system will minimize use of employee funds for travel and speed reimbursement if an employee does incur out-of-pocket expenses.

The encumbrance system will provide an easy to use tool for managing research and department funds. The system offers the ability to encumber salaries, fringe benefits and overhead, which is crucial for the effective management of grants. It also includes an online purchase order and the ability to earmark funds for a planned future use.

Members of the travel and encumbrance teams are: travel team: Becky Heye, Cynthia Curry, Danny Powell, Heather Barr, Jana Callan, Jerry Lewis, Kathryn Husband, Teresa Blumentritt, Eugen Radulescu, Mary Widner, Suzanne King and Tom Iezzi; encumbrance team: Becky Heye, Danny Powell, Darnell Price, Gwen Aldridge, Heather Barr, Jerry Lewis, Kathryn Husband, Darlene Banning, Mary Widner, Patsy Gray, Rana Darmara, Suzanne King and Tom Iezzi.