Travel Guidelines
Main Travel Portal
For contracted Travel Agencies
Reimbursement Basics- What you should know.
Travel Planning
Traveling on University funds can be complicated.
Please contact Keren before you make your arrangements.
She can certainly help you find the most cost competitive and
convenient routes and ensure compliance with University
and Federal policies as applicable.
Please also remember that if you are planning foreign travel,
compliance can be tricky, you may need prior approvals. Before
you purchase anything for a foreign trip check with Keren or Susan.
Travel Costs
1) Before you make any arrangements, confirm what
account will be covering the expenses. Get a written
confirmation/approval from the manager of the account
if you are not the PI. Graduate students must complete
a separate form. (This forms mostly clarifies for
accounts payable when the travel is research related
and not taxable).
2) If foreign travel, make sure that you have the
appropriate approvals. All accounts with 120-6XXX
require prior approval.
3) Keren Fedida will be happy to book compliant and cost
efficient air travel for you. Although you may
do so yourself on your own credit card just make
sure you are being compliant.
4) Registration and lodging costs, we ask that for
the most part the traveler pay for these and then
ask for reimbursement. We have run into a lot of
trouble with these because on-line registration is
personal to the participant and is often incompatible
with credit card info. If there is substantial
hardship, we will TRY to pay the registration in advance.
Lodging is almost always impossible, because check-out
normally requires the credit card in person.
Because of several breaches in credit card security,
use of the credit card is limited to a few staff
and faculty.
5) Travel is typically the most audited expense.
So errors in travel reimbursement leave the traveler,
the PI, and the University exposed. Vouchers are
first reviewed by Keren for completement. Then
they go through central review and in some cases
there is an immediate review. If your reimbursement
has some complicated twists to it, shared costs,
unusually stays or side trips. Please attach an
explanation to the form. A novel isn't necessary be
exact and concise so that others can understand what
transpired.
For the most part, direct your travel questions to Keren.
If it is foreign travel, Susan may contact you and ask for
a prior approval statement.
Learned Society
Learned Society Travel benefits will provide reimbursement of transportation and hotel expenses for regular (i.e. non-visiting) full-time faculty members, as well as emeritus/a faculty, for conferences or learned society meetings (held within or outside the United States) who are delivering a paper at a meeting, chairing a session, participating as an invited discussant in a session, or otherwise involved as an officer. (Learned Society Rules)
Foreign Travel
Before you make any arrangements for foreign travel
including buying tickets, please make sure that you are
compliant.
If the supporting account is 120-4XXX or 120-6XXX
(4 or 6 being the 4th digit) you almost always need
prior approval. To get prior approval, the PI of the
grant must send Susan Dawson an e-mail using the following
format:
This is to request prior approval of foreign travel
for XXXXXXX, on grant #120-XXXX, my XXXXXX grant to
travel to XXXXXX, from XXXX to XXXXX. This travel
is relevant to the grant's research for the following
reason(s): (1-3 sentences) ....
The estimated cost of travel is $XXXXX, rebudgeting
is/is not required.
The traveler understands that fly america act applies
and will make arrangements accordingly.
If you aren't sure but know you are traveling abroad,
just ask Susan or Keren, what is required.
Domestic Per Diem
For the 50 U.S. states, use the GSA posted
per diem rates found at this page:
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100120
The last column M&I E is the correct rate.
Standard Mileage Rate
The current standard mileage rate is $0.565/mile.
Reimbursements
In order to avoid cash advances being reported as income, please file your travel reimbursement within 10 days of returning from your trip.
Please keep all original receipts for out of pocket expense reimbursements. We cannot reimburse for taxes paid. Please take a tax-exempt form with you when you purchase items for University use. See your faculty assistant and fill out and sign the appropriate voucher for reimbursement.
Cash Advances
See your faculty assistant for cash advances. Conference registration, airline tickets, and hotel reservations may be made in advance of your travel and paid for by University. You must submit a travel voucher with receipts reconciling cash advances within 90 days of returning in order to avoid being taxed as income.
Car Rentals
The University has negotiated competitive rental rates and primary insurance for liability and physical damage with three rental companies: Enterprise, Avis, and Hertz. These rates and insurance only apply to business rentals within the 48 contiguous United States. At the time of rental, use the corporate numbers below to get the University rate and primary insurance:
- Enterprise: XZ17E12
- Avis: A496000
- Hertz: 057394
When renting a car from a rental agency other than the three listed above, purchase only the minimum coverage of insurance required by the rental agency.
Renting a Car in Alaska, Hawaii, or Outside the United States
Since the University negotiated rates and primary insurance do not apply outside the contiguous United States, purchase the minimum level of insurance required by the rental agency when traveling in Alaska, Hawaii or outside the United States.
Combining Business & Personal Use
When renting a car for a combination of business and personal use your personal automobile coverage, or any additional insurance you purchase, will cover your personal use of the rental car.
Damage & Accidents
- All accidents, regardless of the severity or damage, must be reported immediately torisk management, your department manager, and to the rental agency.
- If applicable, departments are responsible for the first $1,000 of damage to a rental vehicle.
Local Rental Car Agency Information
Local rental car agencies in the Princeton area:
Enterprise
3201 US Route 1
Brunswick Pike
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
609-620-1399
Avis
Stefanelli
41 Airpark Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-924-7402
Hertz
Hyatt Princeton
102 Carnegie Center
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-452-9548
Student Car Rentals
Students renting vehicles locally using University funds must comply with the following requirements and are only permitted to rent vehicles through Enterprise.
Enterprise has agreed to rent vehicles and to include primary insurance coverage to University approved student drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 who are renting a vehicle for official University business. Only approved student drivers are authorized to rent vehicles with University funds.
Reservations for approved student drivers must be made in advance using the University's corporate number. Students should decline additional insurance coverage when traveling on official University business.
Enterprise has agreed to rent mini-vans to approved student drivers who are at least 18 years of age and on official University business. Student drivers must have successfully completed the online test and must be van certified through the University’s department of public safety. Students must also present authorization from a University administrator at the time of the rental.
Personal Auto Use
When you use your own vehicle for University business, your personal insurance is always primary and will provide coverage for damages incurred if there is an accident involving your vehicle. When using your personal auto for University business, you are required to comply with all state regulations — including maintaining the minimal amount of insurance coverage.
The University provides reimbursement for personal auto use at the current IRS mileage rate. A portion of the mileage allowance is considered to cover the costs for gas, oil, repairs, depreciation, and insurance, so you cannot also request reimbursement for gas when you use your own car for University business.
Damage & Accidents
If your vehicle is damaged while being used for University business, the University will reimburse you for your deductible up to a maximum of $1,000 for physical damage to your vehicle only. The University’s automobile liability policy may cover third party liability damages in excess of the coverage available under your personal auto policy.
If your car is damaged by a University vehicle and the driver of the University vehicle is determined to be at fault, the University will pay for all necessary repairs.