Video 2: Being Aware of Time Lags

for Expenses to Show in FAST

In this video, you’ll become aware of why some expenses in FAST are not always current, due to time lags in the expenses' processing and entry. This awareness will help you to understand the timing of the project details you are seeing in FAST Research.

Video Instructions

  • Click the play icon to watch the video.

  • Watch in full screen by clicking the full screen icon on the bottom right corner of the video.

  • Use the chapters in the video to help you quickly find what you are looking for.

  • Use the content below, which summarizes the information in the video, for quick reference.

View time stamps and chapters covered in the video.

0:00 Video Start

00:07 What You’ll Learn

00:19 Why Time Lags Exist in FAST

00:48 Time Lag 1: Chrome River Expense Reports

1:10 Time Lag 2: Salary Expenses

1:38 Time Lag 3: Invoice Submission & Non-MRU Employee Reimbursement

1:49 How Time Lags Affect What You See in FAST

2:21 When to Keep A Separate Record from FAST

2:57 Video End: Now You’re Aware of Time Lags in FAST

Time Lags for Expenses in FAST

Only project expenses entered into FAST will show up in FAST research.


Time lags to be aware of in FAST:


  1. Expenses from submitted Chrome River expense reports: due to when processed & entered by Accounts Payable.

  2. Salary expenses (i.e. Research Assistant payments): delayed for two weeks in FAST, due to when posted & paid in Banner.

  3. Invoice submissions.

  4. Any non-MRU employee reimbursement.

Expenses from submitted Chrome River expense reports

Salary expenses

Invoice submissions

Non-MRU employee reimbursements

How will time lags in expenses being entered into FAST affect what you see in FAST?


  • The current date on report in FAST includes all expenses that have been entered into FAST as of the current date.

  • If you have any project expenses that are related to the three types listed above, you may not see those expenses due to time lags, even though they were incurred as of the current date.

Recommendation: If you have the above listed types of expenses in your project and require real-time expense tracking, it’s recommended you keep a separate spreadsheet.