[ skip to content ]

Filing Reimbursements

TRAVEL AND CORONAVIRUS/ COVID-19

May, 2021

Any individual traveling on behalf of Old Dominion University on official university business must complete the Travel Registry Process prior to departure, no exceptions.

Additional information about current COVID-19 policies may be found here.

AIRLINE CANCELLATIONS

Travel canceled due to the University guidance will be available for reimbursement to the employee or student, from departmental funds. Please follow directions below to obtain waivers and refunds from airlines and hotels, to minimize the cost to your department.

If you decide to cancel your trip, first check with your travel agent or the airline to see if a waiver has been issued. There may be a travel waiver which will allow your ticket to be refunded. If a waiver is not issued for your destination prior to your departure date, you must cancel your ticket at least three hours before your scheduled departure to avoid being a "no-show" so your ticket will retain its value as a future travel credit.

Since the situation is fluid and airlines appear to be regularly reassessing their policies, travelers might consider waiting closer to their travel date before canceling if a refund will not be offered. Travelers should make a reasonable attempt to receive a refund for all other travel-related expenses. Trip-related expenses, including those that cannot be refunded, may be reimbursed with approval from their department.

HOTEL CANCELLATIONS

Most hotel reservations, including first night deposits, can be cancelled from 72 hours prior to the event up to 6 pm day of arrival. Pre-paid hotels and conference registrations are at the discretion of the vendor to provide refunds in case of event cancellation. If the University/employee cancels the trip but the event is not cancelled and the fees are non-refundable (pre-paid non-refundable hotels are against university policy), the University/ employee will be responsible for these fees. We would recommend requesting refunds to see if the hotel/ conference will make exceptions. However, if the University/ employee chooses to cancel and the event is still taking place the University/employee is held to all cancellation policies in place at the time of booking.

EVENT OR MEAL EXPENSES

If you have an event or meal planned on campus that needs to be canceled due to the University's guidance and response to the Coronavirus, these expenses will be reimbursable from departmental funds.

All claims for reimbursement of travel expenses incurred while conducting official business for the Commonwealth must be submitted via the automated Chrome River system.

 QUESTIONS/ISSUES

Questions about travel regulations should be addressed to your travel processing team member.

Issues with Chrome River processing should be addressed to the Chrome River Adminstrator at travel@odu.edu.

All domestic United States and international travel approvals and reimbursements are now made in Chrome River. The Chrome River Help Center provides detailed information about submitting and approving requests for travel and small business expense reimbursements. Travelers MUST adhere to ALL published travel policies and procedures.

Please note the following process changes:

  • Pre-Approval request (now required for international travel only) in Chrome River replaces: paper Travel Estimate and Travel Authorization (TA)
  • Expense Report in Chrome River replaces: both the Travel Expense Reimbursement Voucher and the Travel Request (TR)
  • The GSA CONUS rates (domestic travel) and the GSA OCONUS rates (international travel) are applicable to all University travel October 1, 2015 or later.

Login to Chrome River

Visit odu.edu/chromeriver to log in to the system

Chrome River User Guide

Quick-start guide for Chrome River basics

Chrome River Help Center

Detailed user guides within Chrome River

Travel Team

Find your Travel Processing Team Member

HOW DO I...

Find my travel & prepayment team Setup a Delegate in Chrome River Assign a Proxy in Chrome River
Setup Banner Self-Service Direct Deposit Enroll a non-employee in Chrome River Report issues with Chrome River
Review allowed reimbursable expenses Review non-reimbursable expenses

NON-EMPLOYEE ENROLLMENT IN CHROME RIVER

In order for non-employee travel reimbursements to be processed, individuals must be set up in Banner as a vendor with a University Identification Number (UIN) assigned and then set up in Chrome River to receive reimbursements. All non-employees must complete the Chrome River Enrollment Form for Non-Employees.

Non-Employees already set up in Banner as a vendor

  • Complete all portions of the Chrome River Enrollment Form for Non-Employees, including #2, UIN (University Identification Number).
  • Submit the completed form to the Chrome River Administrator in Accounts Payable or e-mail it to travel@odu.edu.
  • The departmental contact on the Chrome River Enrollment Form for Non-Employees will receive an e-mail when the non-employee has been set up in Chrome River.
  • Once the e-mail is received, the department contact/employee responsible for entering the non-employee Expense Report in Chrome River can create an Expense Report using the non-employee widget in Chrome River.
  • Non-employees do not have access to Chrome River.
  • The non-employee should be e-mailed/sent the report to sign the assertion indicating "I hereby certify that all expenses listed here are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and are for legitimate business purposes." The signed assertion will be attached to the Expense Report as a "receipt."

Non-Employees not currently set up as a vendor in Banner

  • Complete all portions of the Chrome River Enrollment Form for Non-Employees, except #2, UIN (University Identification Number).
  • Complete a W-9 Form and submit it and the Chrome River Enrollment Form for Non-Employees to Linda Wallace in Accounts Payable. Forms may be faxed to 757-683-5729 (ATTN: Linda Wallace) or mailed to Accounts Payable, ATTN: Linda Wallace; Old Dominion University Rollins Hall; Norfolk, VA 23529. For more information, visit our W-9 Page.
  • Once the non-employee is set up in Banner and assigned a UIN and address sequence, the Chrome River Enrollment Form for Non-Employees will be forwarded to the Chrome River Administrator.
  • The departmental contact on the Chrome River Enrollment Form for Non-Employees will receive an e-mail when the non-employee has been set up in Chrome River.
  • Once the e-mail is received, the department contact/employee responsible for entering the non-employee Expense Report in Chrome River can create an Expense Report using the non-employee widget in Chrome River.
  • Non-employees do not have access to Chrome River.
  • The non-employee should be e-mailed/sent the report to sign the assertion indicating "I hereby certify that all expenses listed here are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and are for legitimate business purposes." The signed assertion will be attached to the Expense Report as a "receipt."

IMPORTANT NOTE: If a non-employee traveler has a foreign address, contact Linda Wallace at lwallace@odu.edu for additional information about vendor set up in Banner.

 TRAVELER SUBMISSIONS

60 Days After

Expense Report Submitted

The Expense Report should be submitted by the employee to the supervisor for approval within sixty (60) calendar days after completion of the trip where overnight travel is involved.

Bi-Monthly

Continuous Travel

Employees on continuous travel should request reimbursement at least bi-monthly.

14 Days After

With Travel Advance

Travelers must submit an Expense Report within fourteen (14) calendar days of completion of a trip for which a travel advance was obtained.

 SUPERVISOR APPROVALS

5 Work Days

Employee Expense Reports Approved

The traveler's supervisor and Budget Unit Director (BUD) must approve all Expense Reports in Chrome River within 5 working days after they are submitted in Chrome River. The employee's Expense Report will then automatically be routed to the appropriate travel team processor in Accounts Payable for processing.

5 work days

nON-EMPLOYEE EXPENSE REPORTS APPROVED

Expense Reports for travel expenses incurred by non-employees must be submitted in Chrome River by a University employee. The supervisor of the University employee and the BUD must approve the Expense Report within 5 working days after it is submitted in Chrome River.

The BUD approving the payment must be on the authorized signature list for the budget charged.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TRAVEL PROCESSING

If an Expense Report is accurate and complete, Accounts Payable Travel Processors will process the reimbursement. Processing time is five (5) working days from receipt of a complete and accurate Expense Report. As long as the Expense Report is submitted correctly, a reimbursement processed by the travel processor by Tuesday should be deposited by Friday. If processed after Tuesday, the funds will be deposited on Wednesday of the next week.

INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS

Incomplete and/or inaccurate Expense Reports submitted to Travel Processing will be returned for correction in Chrome River. A system-generated e-mail will be sent to the traveler indicating the corrections needed or listing the additional items needed before the reimbursement can be processed - such as: itemized receipts, a receipt showing method of payment/zero-balance (if paid via credit card, last 4 digits of card must be on receipt), Business Related Meal Form, boarding passes, etc. Processing time is five (5) working days from receipt of the corrected Expense Report.

Contact

  • Office of Finance
  • 2003 Rollins Hall
  • Norfolk, VA 23529
    • 757-683-3030 (office)
    757-683-4100 (fax)
Chrome River Travel System
Travel Registry

 DID YOU KNOW?

Chrome River automatically converts foreign currency amounts to U.S. dollars as they are entered.

Notice

Chrome River must be used for all travel and small business expense reimbursements. All non-employees must be enrolled in Chrome River to receive reimbursements. (See Enrollment for Non-Employees).

Travel Forms

Site Navigation

Experience Guaranteed

Enhance your college career by gaining relevant experience with the skills and knowledge needed for your future career. Discover our experiential learning opportunities.

Academic Days

Picture yourself in the classroom, speak with professors in your major, and meet current students.

Upcoming Events

From sports games to concerts and lectures, join the ODU community at a variety of campus events.