University Accounting Office Procedures Manual

Section 4.3, Documentation Requirement for Expenditures

The following statement outlines documentation requirements for expenditure of any University funds.

B. Documentation Requirements/General Guidelines

Expenditure documentation should provide sufficient background information to respond to the following questions:

1. Why (purpose)? - Explain the purpose, detail the reason, or describe how the expenditure relates to the departmental program for which the funds were granted or appropriated.

2. When ? - Provide the date if an expenditure of funds is for a specific event, long-distance telephone call, etc.

3. Who ? - When an expenditure is for an item where there is the "appearance of a personal benefit (e.g., travel, entertainment, refreshments, etc.), you must provide documentation indicating those persons involved/attending the event for which the expenditure applies.

4. Where ? - List the location of the event.

The guidelines listed above are not intended for procurement of equipment, material or services requiring the use of a university purchase requisition. Please refer to the University Purchases and Stores Manual for those requirements.

Individuals designated as Account Custodians have the responsibility to ensure that proper documentation procedures are followed for the accounts which they control, and to ensure that only authorized expenditures are made from their accounts. Lack of appropriate documentation will be considered cause for nonpayment or nonreimbursement of expenditures.

C. Additional Documentation Requirements

1. Travel reimbursements - Consult the Administrative Procedures Manual section J, Travel Policies and Procedures.

2. Alcoholic Beverages - State Budget regulations forbid payment or reimbursement for alcoholic beverages or "set-ups" from State appropriated funds at any time under any circumstances. Contract or Grant funds follow the same rule unless a letter from the grantor approving expenditures for that purpose is on file with the Office of Contracts and Grants. Expenditures for alcoholic beverages from other trust funds (e.g., gift accounts) should be strictly limited and must have the signature of the appropriate Director, Dean or Vice Chancellor.

3. Food or Refreshments - State Budget regulations forbid the payment of food supplies or refreshments from State appropriated funds for departmental receptions, office functions (e.g., a retirement or commencement party), student orientation functions, "coffee breaks" at employee workshops or seminars, and like events. Contract or Grant funds follow the same rules unless there is a letter of approval on file in the Office of Contracts and Grants or explicit wording in the contract or grant document approving expenditures for this purpose. Payment requests for food or refreshments from non-contract and grant trust fund (e.g., gift accounts) must include the appropriate documentation and the approval (signature) of the appropriate Director, Dean or Vice Chancellor.

4. Personal (employee) Reimbursements - Reimbursements, (such as entertainment of University guests, meals while in nontravel status, or supplies), to an employee must be approved by an individual at a higher level of authority or a designee of the Director, Dean or Vice Chancellor.

5. Long Distance Telephone Calls - Documentation of long distance telephone calls should be available in the department for periodic audit or review.

6. Membership Dues - Payments to higher education and related state and national associations for institutional or individual memberships should be carefully reviewed to determine that substantial benefits accrue to the University. Individual memberships paid from State Funds shall be kept to an absolute minimum; however, a request may be approved for payment from State Funds by the Director, Dean or Vice Chancellor when:
   • the benefit to be derived and eligibility for membership is due to the individuals's position in the University, and

   • the individual's association membership terminates at the same time the employee terminates employment with the University.

   Payment for membership dues in civic or political organizations, "clubs" or like organizations are not permitted from any University fund source.