Administrative workflows at the University of Washington are often complex and vary widely across departments and systems. Purple helps staff understand and navigate these processes by drawing from official UW webpages to provide step-by-step guidance tailored to your specific situation. Purple clarifies key steps, decision points, and common pitfalls—helping you complete administrative tasks with greater confidence and efficiency. 

Note: Select the Pure Purple agent to access these functions. 

Purple uses large language models, a probability‑driven and non‑deterministic technology. This means results can vary and should not be assumed to be complete or error‑free. Purple is designed to assist with thinking through policy applicability and interpretation, not to provide definitive answers or substitute for expert review. Final decisions should always be informed by official regulations, institutional policy, and consultation with appropriate specialists.

Try it yourself 

Step 1: Describe the task you need help with 

Start by asking Purple about the administrative process you're navigating. For example: 

"Can you help me navigate a travel reimbursement?" 

Purple will ask clarifying questions to tailor guidance to your situation, such as: 

• Are you a student, faculty, or staff member? 
• What type of travel is it (business, conference, research-related)? 
• Do you have specific questions about required documentation or submitting your claim? 

Step 2: Provide context for personalized guidance 

Share relevant details so Purple can give you process steps specific to your scenario. For example: 

"I'm a staff member handling travel arrangements for a faculty member. It's for a conference covered by their startup funding. I need help navigating the full process and common errors to avoid." 

Purple will provide a step-by-step overview including: 

• Travel authorization and planning requirements 
• What expense documentation to collect 
• How to submit a reimbursement request through Workday 
• Common errors to avoid (missing receipts, incorrect funding codes, policy violations) 
• Approval and processing steps 

Step 3: Ask follow-up questions for clarification 

Continue asking questions to understand specific policy details or resolve past issues. For example: 

"I've had reimbursement requests returned due to per diem rates. Can you explain UW per diem rates and how to calculate correct charges for a 3-day stay in Indianapolis?" 

Purple will explain: 

• Where to find current UW per diem rates 
• How to calculate allowable charges for your specific trip 
• How to avoid common calculation errors 

Step 4: Refine your questions based on Purple's guidance 

Continue the conversation to clarify any remaining questions or explore related administrative processes.