a.) Food and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought
to departmental offices for private events such as birthday, promotion,
and retirement parties. Due to state of Ohio and Greene County health
policies and university liability concerns, employees may not provide
food for any event that involves persons outside the immediate department
or division.
b.) University sanctioned organizations may sell cookies, cakes,
popcorn, and other similar food items when in accordance with Greene County
health policies.
c.)University organizations may reserve outdoor space and provide food/refreshments
for special outdoor events that are open to all students, such as May Daze,
in
accordance
with Greene County health policies.
d.) Additional exceptions may be approved by the vice president for business
and fiscal affairs.
In order to utilize an external catering vendor or food provider,
the sponsoring organization must adhere to the following provisions in
advance of making contact with the proposed vendor/caterer.
a.) A standard university catering contract must be issued by the
Office of the Student Union and Event Services (SUES), for all events that
will be attended by non-university personnel. All catered events
with an expected attendance in excess of 20 people will also be required
to use the standard university catering contract. A catering contract
will ensure
that all external catering vendors comply with university policies, provide
a positive experience to event
attendees, and represent the university in a professional manner. Full service
use of SUES is not required, but minimal interaction with SUES is necessary
due to special staging and food preparation arrangements and requirements.
A copy of this contract must accompany any request for payment.
b.) For the reasons listed in the above paragraph, SUES will assist
the responsible organization in obtaining an external catering vendor by
providing a list of vendors to the requesting department.
(1) All external catering vendors will be evaluated,
as well as the main campus food service contractor.
The results of the evaluation can be made available
to anyone
wishing to review them prior to selecting a catering
vendor.
(2) Additions to the SUES list of external catering
vendors may be made for reasons that include but are
not limited
to events requiring ethnic or specialty foods or the
lack of availability of existing approved external
catering vendors. Lack of availability also applies
to the main
campus food service contractor.
c.) A function utilizing an external catering vendor may be held at any
Wright State University campus location that is designated for food/beverage
events.
A listing of those locations is available through SUES.
d.) All external catering vendors must adhere to the following guidelines:
(1) There will be no access to Wright State University kitchens or
food preparation areas used by the main campus food service contractor. Special
staging areas for an event catered by an external vendor will be coordinated
by SUES.
(2) All table decorations, dishes, utensils, serving pieces, warming
and heating trays, and other catering accessories and equipment must be provided
by the external caterer.
(3) Clean up of the event area must be completed before the external
catering vendor leaves the premises.
(4) When alcohol is to be served, it will be provided through
the main campus food service contractor, according to existing state
of Ohio alcohol
consumption policies and licensing regulations [refer to Wright Way Policy 3201 (alcohol
consumption on university property)].
When possible, meals should be served in the Student Union in order
to avoid setup charges.
Requests for additional information about food service for university
functions should be directed to the director of Business Services.
Food Service at Non-university Functions
University funds may be used to pay for registration
fees for conferences, seminars, or other meetings that provide meals and/or
refreshments during the program. However, if a non-overnight program specifies
that a meal is "on your own," the university will not pay for the
meal or reimburse the employee. Meals with non-university employees may
be reimbursable as business meals if the primary purpose of the gathering
is a business discussion. The business purpose must be documented and accompany
the receipt for reimbursement or inclusion with procurement card.
5301.5 Caps and Gowns
- Renting, purchasing or cleaning caps and gowns is a personal expense and cannot be charged to state, foundation, or any other university funds except under the following circumstances:
- Academic regalia may be provided at no charge to speakers, honored guests
and voluntary faculty who receive no compensation for their teaching services.
- Academic regalia may be provided to students who voluntarily serve as Faculty
and Ph.D. Marshals or invited musicians during the semiannual Commencement ceremonies,
Freshman Convocation and other protocol events.
- The cost of cleaning university-owned academic regalia may be paid with university
funds to ensure the proper maintenance of the robes and hoods.
5301.6 Departmental Purchase Orders, Procurement Cards, and Purchase Requisitions
- In order to obtain the most favorable pricing and terms, and to comply
with various legal requirements, all goods and services shall be acquired
through the Purchasing department using a Purchase Requisition. However,
the Wright State University Procurement Card or Departmental
Purchase Order (DPO) may be used for any items costing $1,000 or less.
Note: Refer to Wright Way Policy 5401 (Purchasing
from External Vendors).
- From time to time, the Purchasing department is able to obtain favorable
pricing for frequently purchased goods and services. Examples include office
supplies, computers, and temporary help. Information on such contracts
is available on the Purchasing website. Purchases of goods and services
for which such contracts have been negotiated must be made from these contracts.
- The practice of multiple DPO's or multiple Procurement Card transactions
(other than those defined as exceptions to the DPO limit in Wright Way Policy
5401.5 (a) to the same vendor, the sum total of which exceeds the $1,000
limit (pyramiding), is expressly prohibited. Violation of this policy can
result in revocation of purchasing privileges.
- Use of a DPO or Procurement Card is subject to regulations
as outlined in Wright Way Policy 5401 and
Policy 5901.
5301.7 Disallowable Expenditures
Expenditures for gifts, donations, or personal expenses
are not permitted. The prohibition of expenditures for gifts does not
preclude the purchase and distribution of promotional items. Modest expenditures
for recognition of students, friends of the university or meritorious service
by employees may be made if approved by the provost
or appropriate vice president. Examples of prohibited expenditures include purchases
for flowers etc. (unless charged to Foundation fund) for births, deaths, and
hospital stays; coffee and water purchased for employee consumption, microwave
ovens and refrigerators (except in common areas set aside for such uses), radios,
and television monitors. The provost, or appropriate vice president may grant
exceptions to this policy if they are presented evidence of clear business purpose.
A written justification stating the business purpose must be attached to the
transaction documentation and signed by the provost or appropriate vice president.
5301.8 Financing
Since a commitment to finance an acquisition entails
a commitment against a future year budget, the vice president of Business and
Fiscal Affairs of the university must approve any installment purchase or capital
lease. A request to finance such an acquisition generally should be for at
least $500,000 and include such information as purpose/use, technological obsolescence,
useful life, funding source of debt payments, annual maintenance or other ongoing
costs, and scrap value. The requestor should contact the Office of the Bursar
if such needs arise.
5301.9 Memberships
- The university may pay for individual professional memberships to organizations
that do not offer institutional or corporate memberships, if the employees
supervisor or the authorized signer for the employees department approves
the membership.
- A request for payment of a membership that does not clearly indicate
an institutional membership must meet the following guidelines:
- The membership is clearly in the best interest of the university.
- An institutional or corporate membership is not offered by the organization.
- The membership is linked to an official university title or responsibility
(i.e., specific office, duty, function) rather than to the person holding
the title or having the responsibility.
- Publications (journals, newsletters, etc.) that are a benefit of a
membership should be available, whenever possible, for use by the other
employees in the unit.
5301.10 Personal Credit Cards
- Reimbursement for expenses incurred on an employee’s personal credit
card while he/she is conducting authorized university business can be claimed
only when the expenses meet federal, state, and university guidelines.
- When an employee uses a personal credit card for travel expenses while
he/she is on authorized university business, the expenditures must follow
university regulations as defined in Wright Way Policy
5601 (Travel).
5301.11 Personal Services
- Internal Revenue Service regulations require Wright State University
to classify properly any individual providing personal services to the university
as either an employee or an independent contractor. The distinction between
an employee and an independent contractor focuses primarily on the amount
of control the university has the right to exert on the individual. If the
work arrangement permits the university to tell the individual where, when,
and how to perform a job, then the individual is classified as an employee.
If the work arrangement exerts a relatively low degree of control, then
the individual is classified as an independent contractor. All individuals
providing services to the university must be paid directly by the university.
If an employee pays another individual to provide services, the university
will not reimburse the employee for those expenditures.
- The Department of Human Resources processes payments to employees of
the university; withholds federal, state, and local taxes, retirement contributions,
and other applicable withholdings; and, reports the payments on Form W-2.
The Accounts Payable department processes payments to independent contractors,
generally withholds no taxes, and reports annual payments of $600 or more
on Form 1099-Misc. Additional information about tax compliance can be obtained
in the Office of the Bursar. Final determination of classification resides
with the bursar.
5301.12 Petty Cash Funds
- Policy. Petty cash funds may be established in certain departments
at the discretion of the university controller for small or emergency authorized
purchases or for making change for customers. A petty cash fund should be
utilized only when normal university purchasing procedures will not work.
- Definition. Petty cash funds are small cash funds established
for and controlled by various university functional areas to enable the
reimbursement of small allowable, non-routine disbursements outside the
established purchasing procedure. Petty cash funds also may be required
for making change for customers. Petty cash funds are not part of any bank
balance and are not represented as a claim on cash.
- Prohibited Uses. The following list of prohibited uses is not
meant to be all-inclusive.
- Unauthorized business expenses
- Loans
- Travel advances to employees
- Personal or third party check cashing
- Stipends (unless specifically authorized by the Office of the Controller)
- Meals related to overnight travel
- Transactions over $100 (splitting one transaction over $100 into two
or more parts is specifically prohibited)
- Establishing a Petty Cash Fund
- A petty cash fund may be established by a request from the department
head or by the dean of a college. A Banner Fund Request form can be picked
up at the Office of the Controller or found on-line at
http://www.wright.edu/admin/finanserv/account.htm. The request should
specify the general purpose of the fund, the amount of the fund, the source
of funding, the physical location of the fund, how the fund will be secured
during business and non-business hours, and the name and title of the
fund custodian. Documentation stating why other purchasing procedures
are not appropriate should be attached to the request.
- The actual cash distribution will be available one to two business
days after approval, to allow for fund creation and funds transfer.
Cash
may be picked up at the Office of the Bursar with the submission of a
Petty Cash Voucher, indicating the petty cash fund number and the
fund
of cash previously approved, along with a copy of the Fund Request
form verifying approval by the Controller's office. The Office of the
Bursar then will charge the appropriate petty cash fund and issue
the cash.
- The size of the petty cash fund should be contingent on the nature of
departmental needs, not to exceed $100, unless specifically approved by
the university controller.
- Each petty cash fund should have a designated fund custodian. The custodian
is accountable for the petty cash until another person is officially designated
as the new custodian or until the fund is closed.
- The Office of the Controller will send a copy of the Banner Fund Request
form to the director of Internal Controls and Audit Services upon approval
and establishment of a departmental petty cash fund.
- Maintaining a Petty Cash Fund
- A designated, responsible person other than the custodian must authorize
all purchases.
- Petty cash may be used to reimburse authorized expenditures up to $100
per transaction. No money should be disbursed from the petty cash fund
to reimburse a person unless an original receipt is presented. Receipts
should include the amount of reimbursement, a description of the business
purpose, goods or services purchased, and the date.
The only exceptions are in cases of expenses incurred where no receipt
is issued (e.g., parking meters, garage sales) and in the instance of
a lost receipt. In those cases, a written note on how the funds were
expended is required. The person who made the expenditure and the department
manager or designee tasked with approval must sign and date the note.
- The petty cash fund should be reconciled monthly to the Banner Self
Service Reports by the fund custodian with signature and date of approval.
The reconciliation documentation then should be reviewed by the department
head or dean or designee with signature and date of review. At all times,
the cash on hand, the receipts on hand, and the replenishments in transit
should equal the authorized amount of the petty cash fund. When balancing
the fund, the following steps should be taken:
a.) Count the cash on hand.
b.) Total the receipts on hand.
c.) Add replenishments in transit.
d.) The total petty cash (cash on hand, receipts on hand, and replenishments
in transit) should equal the total original balance of the fund.
e.) The difference is either a shortage or overage and should be made
up or returned when the fund is replenished, after following the proper
guidelines.
f.) Reconciliation example
| 1. Cash on Hand |
$ 25 |
| 2. Receipts on Hand |
$ 10 |
| 3. Replenishments in Transit |
$ 65 |
| 4. Total Petty Cash |
$100 |
| Less Original Fund Amount |
($100) |
| 5. Shortage/Overage |
$ 0 |
-
The custodian should balance the fund prior to replenishment. Replenishment
should occur when the fund level is depleted to the extent requiring
replenishment or at least once a month. If replenishment is not required
at least monthly, then the fund should be reduced to reflect the level
of activity. To replenish a petty cash fund, the custodian should prepare
a Petty Cash Voucher indicating the correct fund number and account
for each expenditure, including any overage or shortage. The custodian
should attach receipts, memo documentation for any overage or shortage
or lost receipts, and the original copy of the Petty Cash Voucher and
submit all documents to the Office of the Bursar with the appropriate
supervisory signatures (refer to section 5301.13 for guidelines).
-
Petty cash funds are subject to unannounced physical counts or audit
by the Office of Internal Controls and Audit Services. If it is determined
that a petty cash fund is being misused or improperly reconciled, the
fund may be closed.
-
Responsibilities of the Custodian
- The appropriate department head or dean or designee should appoint and
supervise the petty cash custodian. The supervisor should periodically
inspect and count the cash in the petty cash fund (in the continual presence
of the custodian) to ensure proper accountability.
- The custodian must keep all petty cash funds in a locked strong box
within a locked desk or cabinet when the fund is not in use. Access to
cash funds must be restricted to the custodian only.
- A temporary custodian may be designated by the supervisor to assume
custodial responsibilities in the absence of the custodian. The temporary
custodian will abide by the same standards and policies required of the
custodian.
- The custodian must obtain supervisory approval before transferring responsibility
to a new custodian. Reconciliation of the fund at the time of a transfer
is required.
- The custodian must track all shortages and/or overages of the fund.
A signed, dated memo should be written detailing a reason(s) for any variance.
The department head or designee should carefully review, initial, and
date the memo and record the variance in a log. The memo, along with other
receipts, should be submitted for reimbursement when the fund needs replenishment.
Management also should periodically review the log and recurring exceptions.
Significant shortages should be discussed with the university controller
and the director of Internal Controls and Audit Services.
- The custodian should report to the Office of the Controller the designation
of a new custodian or any change in fund status.
- The custodian should ensure that petty cash funds are not co-mingled
with other funds.
-
Closing or Reducing the Petty Cash Fund
With the availability of the university procurement card and the allowable
expenditure limits of the Departmental Purchase Order, a department's
need for a petty cash account may disappear. If a department discovers
that the need for a petty cash fund has decreased or has been eliminated,
the department head should notify the Office of the Controller and submit
a Cash Remittance Voucher along with the cash to the Office of the Bursar.
The Office of the Bursar will prepare a cash receipt with an adjustment
to the appropriate petty cash Banner Fund(s) to reduce or close the fund.
5301.13 Petty Cash Reimbursements
- The Office of the Bursar maintains a petty cash fund from which reimbursement
can be made to university employees for miscellaneous purchases or for expenses
incurred on the universitys behalf.
- Petty cash reimbursements are limited to $100 or less. Items in excess
of $100 must be processed using the purchasing procedures outlined in Wright
Way Policy 5401 (Purchasing from External Vendors).
The practice of processing several Petty Cash Vouchers to the same employee
for reimbursement of expenses incurred for a single purpose, the total of
which exceeds the $100 limit (pyramiding), is prohibited.
- Since the university is a tax-exempt entity, petty cash reimbursements
will not be made for Ohio sales tax charged on the purchase of goods [refer
to Wright Way Policy 5102 (Certificate of
Exemption)]. Tax paid on meals and lodging while traveling on official university
business is reimbursable, provided the total cost is within the allowable
amount [travel reimbursement is detailed in Wright Way Policy
5601 (Travel)].
- A request for a petty cash reimbursement must be made on a Petty Cash
Voucher and requires the signature of the initiator (the traveler or person
who made the purchase and who is seeking reimbursement) and the appropriate
supervisor or business manager of the person seeking reimbursement. An original
receipt and/or invoice for each expenditure must be attached to the voucher.
Small receipts should be taped to an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper
to avoid loss.
- When the basis for reimbursement is not self-evident, a justification
or explanation must be provided on the Petty Cash Voucher. The lack of an
explanation may in itself be sufficient basis for rejection of the transaction.
- Expenses reimbursed through petty cash must meet every test applied to
purchases and payments that follow the more formal processes contained in
Wright Way Policy 5401. Accordingly, reimbursement
for gifts, donations, or personal expenses is not permitted.
- The Petty Cash Voucher may not be used to pay any individual for personal
services.
- Reimbursement for local travel mileage, including total miles, destination,
and purpose of the travel, should be detailed in the description section
of the Petty Cash Voucher or on the Monthly Local Travel Expense
Log.
- Petty cash transactions will be processed at any open cashier window
at the Office of the Bursar, E236 Student Union, between 8:30 am and 6:00
pm, Monday through Thursday, or between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm on Friday.
- Petty cash will be disbursed at the time a request is submitted in person.
In addition, a petty cash request will be prepared for disbursement upon
receipt through campus mail for pickup at the convenience of the requesting
department. At the time of cash disbursement, the signature of the person
picking up cash is required on the Petty Cash Voucher, verifying receipt
of cash from the Office of the Bursar. All Petty Cash Vouchers will be returned
unpaid to originating departments when petty cash disbursement requests
remain in the Bursar's office for more than 90 days.
- If the person who picked up the cash disbursement from the Office of the
Bursar is someone other than the initiator, the initiator, upon receipt
of the cash, must sign the Petty Cash Voucher (yellow copy) to verify receipt
of cash and reimbursement of his/her expenses. The initiating department
must maintain the yellow copy signed by the initiator.
5301.14 Philanthropy
- No institutional contribution, either financial or for equipment or supplies,
from university or Foundation funds, should be made to charitable or other
non-profit organizations. The university should not purchase tables or individual
tickets for events sponsored by charitable or non-profit organizations.
Rather, a representative of the university should attend such functions
at his/her own expense when he/she considers it important to do so.
Exceptions to this policy may be made for events held for the purpose of
honoring or promoting the university or its faculty, staff, or students.
In addition, the president, provost, or a vice president may approve limited
exceptions for the support of organizations deemed important to specific
university interests.
- The university may place advertising in publications sponsored by philanthropic/non-profit
organizations when such advertising is consistent with institutional purposes
and provided for in annual advertising budget plans.
- The university should not provide free services (e.g., television production,
media support) to charitable or other non-profit organizations. The president,
provost, or a vice president, based upon a written request/justification,
may authorize exceptions to this policy.
5301.15 Recruiting Expenses
- The payment of recruiting expenditures may occur in one of the following
ways:
- Reimbursement to university employees
- Reimbursement to the recruit
- Direct payments to vendors
- Recruiting expenses should be reasonable, prudent, and commensurate with
the position being recruited. Receipts are required for reimbursement of
all recruiting expenses. For meals, Internal Revenue Service rules require
documentation of the time, date, place, business purpose, and attendees
at a meal (refer to section 5301.4 for details). Inclusion of spouses in
any recruitment meal is appropriate if the spouse of the candidate is present.
Otherwise, inclusion of spouses wil require a written justification and
approval of the appropriate Vice President or Provost. Alcohol may be reimbursed
in accordance with the alcohol policy stated in section 5301.2.
- When a recruit accepts an offer of employment with the university, the
guidelines on relocation expense reimbursements apply (refer to section
5301.16).
5301.16 Relocation Expenses
- The payment of relocation expenses may occur in one of the following
ways:
- Reimbursement to the relocated employee
- Direct payments to vendors
- Relocation expenditures should be reasonable, prudent, and commensurate
with the position being filled. Receipts must be submitted with a reimbursement
request. The Department of Human Resources processes all reimbursements
made to employees. The Purchasing and Accounts Payable departments process
all payments made directly to vendors. An offer of employment should indicate
the maximum permissible amount for relocation expenses and a copy of the
offer documenting the maximum permissible amount for relocation expenses
should accompany all requests for reimbursement.
- The Purchasing department can provide additional information about contracts
the university has with major national moving companies.
5301.17 Restricted Accounts
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs must approve all expenditures
of $1,000 and over paid from grant funds and the
Wright State University Foundation must approve all expenditures charged
to foundation funds. All expenditure documents under $1,000 on grant funds
must contain the signature of the person initiating the document and the
signature of at least one other person before being
forwarded to the appropriate department for processing. This requirement
will ensure that no one person will have complete control over any transaction.
The person initiating the purchase should indicate the project purpose
on the expenditure document, regardless of the amount. In addition, all
expenditures to fund numbers 880xxx and 882xxx first must have the approval
of the
Office of Planning, Engineering and Construction.
5301.18 Uniforms, Laboratory Coats, and Related Items
- The university, with appropriate authorization, may provide uniforms,
laboratory coats, or any other job related clothing to personnel who must
identify themselves as part of a service department, such as the Police
Department, Physical Plant, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Computing
and Telecommunications Services (CaTS).
- The university provides appropriate protective clothing in environments
where pathogens, contamination, or generally hazardous materials can be
encountered.
- State (unrestricted) funds can be used to pay for cleaning and laundry
services when items are owned by the university and are used in situations
in which uniforms are required by the university.
5301.19 University Telephones
An employee must reimburse his/her department for personal long distance
calls if a personal calling card is not used. All personal calls made on
a university
provided cellular telephone must comply with Wright Way Policy 5801. Refer
to Wright Way Policy 5601 (Travel) for reimbursement of phone calls while
on travel status.