Authorized Payment Methods
- Overview
- Corporate Charge Card
- Direct Billing of Airline Reservations
- Travel Advance
- Per Diem
- Petty Cash
- Direct Billing of Hotel Charges
- Resources
- Contact Information
Overview
It is the policy of 宅男福利导航 University (NU) to reimburse NU faculty and staff and to pay outside vendors for necessary, appropriate, and approved travel-related costs and activities and entertainment and courtesy expenses. The University's reimbursement policy is based on documentation of reasonable and actual expenses, supported by original itemized receipts.
Corporate Charge Card
The employee's Corporate Charge Card should be used to pay for food, lodging, car rental and other reimbursable travel expenses.
Direct Billing of Airline Reservations
Direct billing is authorized and encouraged for airline reservations through University-designated travel agencies. Airline tickets purchased through a University-designated Travel Agency are charged directly to the specified department or sponsored project in the University's financial system. The airfare should, nonetheless, be recorded on the employee's NUFinancials Expense Report, and marked with a Payment Type of ‘Travel Center’. Since the payment to the Travel Agency has already been made, the airfare on the Expense Report will be excluded from reimbursement calculations.
A traveler advances personal funds for the purchase of airline tickets at his/her own risk. Reimbursements to individuals will not be made prior to completion of travel.
Travel Advance
Travel advances are issued to a university employee for out-of-pocket expenses that will be incurred during travel on University business. If an employee is ineligible for the Corporate Card program, or meets certain other conditions, s/he may request a travel cash advance via the NUFinancials Travel Authorization/Cash Advance process accessed through the . The approved advance is paid via the employee's normal payroll method, either direct deposit to the employee's primary payroll bank account or by check.
Per Diem
The alternative of an allowance for daily expenses, a per diem, is permissible for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE). For sponsored program travel, the per diem arrangements often require prior agency approval, and Accounting for Research and Sponsored Programs (ASRSP) must be contacted in advance. For M&IE, the reimbursement method selected must be used for the entire trip and should be established ahead of the trip. For lodging, all actual expenses must be supported by receipts. Per diem allowances shall not exceed the maximum stated by the government's published standards.
Petty Cash
Petty Cash funds may be used for entertainment and courtesy-related food purchases under $100 with proper documentation provided, including the business purpose of the event.
Direct Billing of Hotel Charges for Hosting of Conferences or Academic Functions
With use of an approved Hotel Reservation Agreement Form, hotel charges associated with hosting conferences and academic functions may be direct-billed. Payment of the hotel charges can be made with a Direct Payment Request form.
Resources
- Travel Entertainment & Courtesy Policy & Procedures
- Direct billing of airfare through a University-designated travel agency
- University-designated travel agencies
- Cash advance (see Travel Advances section)
- Petty cash for expenses under $50 (see Entertainment & Courtesy Food Purchases section, for example)
- Requirement of original detailed receipts for reimbursement of expenses (see Travel Expense, Receipts in General section)
- Reimbursement of travel or entertainment & courtesy expenses
- Direct billing to hotels for conferences or academic functions
- Hotel Reservation Agreement Form
- Payment of direct-billed hotel charges
- Direct Payment Request form
- Payments to non-resident visitors
Contact Information
| Questions 宅男福利导航 | Contact |
|---|---|
|
Direct billing of airfares through designated travel agencies? Direct billing to hotels for conferences or academic functions? |
宅男福利导航 Travel Services at travel@northwestern.edu, or 847-491-7569 |
|
Cash advance via direct deposit or check? Use of per diem for non-sponsored program travel? |
Gary Ernsteen, Manager of Accounts Payable, at g-ernsteen@northwestern.edu or 847-491-2781 |
|
Use of per diem for sponsored program travel? |
Contact Ma. Rosanna Sian Rolle, Expenditure Audit Coordinator, at m-sian@northwestern.edu or 312-503-0835 |
|
Petty cash? |