TRAVEL
95.05
Revised 10-14
Travel Services
335-2034
PRIOR APPROVAL
Official University travel requires prior approval by an appropriate University administrator. (See 95.01 and below.)
Written Prior Approval
Written prior approval on a Travel Authority (TA) form is required in the following circumstances. The department routes or retains the TA as indicated.
- When a travel advance is requested. Route the approved TA to Travel Services.
- When conference registration is to be paid in advance by Accounts Payable. Route the approved TA to Accounts Payable.
Retaining Approved TA in Department
In each of the following six circumstances, the department must retain the approved TA in the departmental files. The department does not route the approved TA to Travel Services or Accounts Payable.
- When the traveler will be going out of state or out of the country. (SAAM 10.10.50) See also 95.15 for information about foreign travel.
- When a privately-owned, rented, or chartered aircraft will be used. See 95.30.
- When official WSU travel is partially or entirely supported by funds not administered by the WSU Controller's Office, e.g., from a third party (another educational institution, a private organization) or the traveler's personal funds. See 95.16.
- When requesting exception to policy.
- When seeking authorization for applicant, student, speaker, or other nonemployee travel. See 95.13, 95.14, 95.25. (NOTE: This does not apply to Attorney General's representatives or the Board of Regents.)
- When the administrative unit requires it. An individual unit may require written approval for all travel. NOTE: If an individual unit requires written approval above and beyond that required by this policy (95.05), the unit is responsible for ensuring that the unit policy is consistently applied.
Verbal Prior Approval
Verbal prior approval by the administrator is acceptable when a Travel Authority is not required. A Travel Authority is required whenever one of the above circumstances applies to the travel plan.
TA FORM
The following versions of the Travel Authority form are available:
- Automated PDF version. Complete and/or print the form master on page 95.05.10.
- Automated FileMaker Pro version. To obtain the FileMaker Pro version, go to the PR&F FileMaker Forms website at:
The department may not use a substitute TA if a travel advance is requested or if the department is requesting that Accounts Payable pay the conference registration.
A department may use a substitute TA form if:
- The substitute form collects all of the data required on a regular TA form and
- The TA is not required to be routed to Travel Services or Accounts Payable.
See "Completing the TA" below for data requirements.
COMPLETING THE TA
Complete the Travel Authority in accordance with the following instructions. Form sections without instructions are considered self-explanatory.
TA Number
The department may enter an identifying number for the Travel Authority. This field is optional.
Travel Plan
Complete the Travel Plan to authorize travel. This section is always completed.
Title
Enter the traveler's working title.
Purpose of Trip / Exceptions / Restrictions / Further Details
Describe why the traveler is traveling. Indicate the exact purpose of the trip. Describe the program involved.
If an applicant's or speaker's travel includes a speaker fee, describe the proposed program here.
Include the full name of organizations and agencies rather than initials.
Continue descriptions and justifications on an attachment if necessary.
Exceptions/Restrictions
The supervisory administrator evaluates the travel plan and indicates any restrictions or special arrangements, e.g. reimbursement limitations, special allowances speaker fee. If hazardous materials or dangerous goods are involved in the travel, see also SPPM 5.40.
Itinerary
Enter dates of travel. Enter starting points and destinations for each leg of the trip. The itinerary should be complete enough to locate the traveler in case of an emergency and to show the traveler's route. If the itinerary is too extensive to fit in the form field spaces, include additional itinerary details on an attachment.
Authorized Items
Check all items authorized by this Travel Authority:
Domestic Speaker
Check to authorize a speaker's or conference participant's travel expenses and/or speaker fee.
Rental Car
Check to authorize use of a rental car (other than Motor Pool). See also 95.12.
Exceptions
Check if the Travel Authority authorizes or requests authorization for exceptions to standard travel policies.
Lodging Exception
To authorize payment of more than the standard allowable lodging rate in accordance with the procedure in 95.06 indicate the exception rule.
Travel Funded by Third Party
Check if a third party is supporting the costs of this travel. Enter the name of the third party entity. See 95.16.
Research-Related Travel
Determine whether the traveler receives any Public Health Service (PHS)-regulated funding (i.e., funding from a PHS entity or non-PHS source that has adopted the PHS regulations). If so, the traveler is to submit an online SFI Travel Disclosure through MyResearch. (SFI stands for "significant financial interests.")
For instructions and a list of complying non-PHS entities, see the ORA COI website at:
See also Executive Policy EP27.
Dean/Director/Chair/Approving Official
A dean, director, chair, or University official who is authorized to approve travel signs the Travel Plan Authorization. See 95.01. The signature indicates approval of the travel plan and any noted exceptions to WSU travel policy.
The designated dean, director, chair, or approving official must personally sign the Travel Authority. A subordinate's signature or a facsimile, e.g., rubber-stamped signature, is not acceptable.
When a designated acting official signs the Travel Authority, the acting title must be shown.
Two Departments
When more than one department is supporting the travel, an administrator from each department must sign the TA.
Employee Travel
For employees the approving administrator must be the traveler's supervisor and an official who is authorized to approve travel. See 95.01.
Student Travel
For students the approving administrator must be an official who oversees the department or office responsible for the travel activity and an official who is authorized to approve travel. See 95.01.
Applicant or Speaker Travel
For applicants or speakers the approving administrator must be the chair or unit administrator who oversees the department or office responsible for the travel activity and an official who is authorized to approve travel. See 95.01.
Conference Registration
Check this section to request that Accounts Payable submit prepayment of conference registration.
NOTE: The department may choose to prepay the conference registration by using a departmental purchasing card. See 70.08.
Registration Fee
Submit completed registration materials to Accounts Payable with an approved Travel Authority at least ten days before the registration is due. Accounts Payable mails the registration fee directly to the organization.
If time limits prevent this procedure and there is no departmental purchasing card available, the traveler may pay the registration fee and be reimbursed with a claim on the Travel Expense Voucher (TEV). Attach a receipt for the expenditure to the TEV.
When Travel Not Required
If the employee does not have to travel to attend the conference, the approving administrator may authorize payment of conference, convention, or meeting registration fees, including certain meal costs (see 95.06).
Meals Included In Registration Fee
If meals are part of the regular registration fee and are not optional, general University funds may be used to pay conference registration costs.
Optional Meals
Meals are considered optional if the conference registration fee is adjusted for meals purchased.
When conference meals are optional, general University operating funds may support meal costs up to the maximum allowable amounts shown in 95.19. If meal costs exceed these maximums, the excess costs may be supported by one or both of the following:
- The personal funds of the traveler. The traveler attaches a personal check made out to the conference.
- A discretionary (program 17A) account designated in Account Information. (See 30.75 and 70.33 for more about discretionary accounts.)
NOTE: Departments may not use purchasing cards to pay for optional conference meals.
WSU-Sponsored Conferences
If the conference is sponsored by a WSU department, use an IRI to pay registration fees. See 70.05 for IRI instructions.
Travel Advance
A travel advance allows a traveler to receive cash to use to defray reimbursable lodging and meal expenses while performing official duties.
- A department may not request a travel advance if the period of travel is less than 15 days.
- A traveler may not receive a travel advance more than 15 days before the start of travel.
A travel advance may not be considered to be a loan to an employee. Any unauthorized disbursement of a travel advance is considered a misappropriation of state monies. (SAAM 10.80.60.b.)
Charge Cards
WSU travelers may obtain University travel charge cards to use in lieu of travel advances. See 95.03.
Appointed Employees
Appointed WSU employees with at least two months of remaining employment are eligible for travel advances.
Others
Students, student groups, faculty/staff traveling with student groups, and employees with less than two months left on appointment may apply for travel advances on an exception basis.
Current In Accounting
A traveler must be current in accounting for previous advances in order to receive another advance.
Mailing Address of Traveler
The traveler's mailing address should be a home address. This address should correspond to the home address entered in the University's computer Name and Address File (see 90.70). Verify addresses by referring to PAPR, an online administrative application. See 85.37 for more information about administrative applications.
Check Disposition Instructions
Travelers are encouraged to direct the check to a home address.
Reserve the "pick up" or hold privilege for emergencies. Preparing checks for pick up results in several extra steps for the Controller's Office.
Authorized Expenses
Estimate meal and lodging expenses. See 95.19 for meal and lodging rates.
Limits
The minimum dollar limit for a travel advance is $129.00.
The maximum dollar limit for a travel advance is 90 days authorized allowance at the maximum allowable rates for the travel locations.
If travel status extends beyond 90 days, an additional advance may be requested after the previous advance is cleared by submitting a TEV. NOTE: A TEV must be submitted at least every 30 days during extended travel supported by a travel advance.
Employee Agreement
Read the Employee Travel Advance Agreement statement carefully.
A Travel Expense Voucher (TEV) which justifies the expenditure of the advance is to be submitted to the Controller's Office on or before the tenth day of the month after the authorized travel period. (SAAM 10.80.60.d) See also 95.20.
When a travel advance is unaccounted for by the above deadline, Travel Services initiates payroll deduction or collection procedures.
Any unexpended portion of a travel advance is to be returned to WSU Travel Services with a properly completed TEV at the conclusion of the authorized travel period. (SAAM 10.80.60.d) The traveler is to make payment to the University by personal check, cashier's check, or money order payable to WSU. Travel Services does not accept cash payments.
Travelers Signature
The signature must be the traveler's own signature. Substitute signatures or signature stamps are not acceptable.
Guarantee for Advance of Funds to Nonemployee Student
University policy limits cash or travel advances to faculty and staff employees only. The responsible dean or director may request an exception to the Travel Advance policy in order to advance funds to a nonemployee student.
The dean or director must inform the recipient of University policies and procedures regarding travel advances.
In order to ensure payment to the University in the event the recipient defaults in accounting for and/or returning the funds, the dean or director signs the Guarantee for Advance of Funds to Nonemployee Student certification. The dean or director enters the budget and project of the 17A account that is to support any outstanding balance of funds.
Account Information
Indicate the account coding for supporting WSU account(s).
If the travel expense is to be paid by the traveler, enter details under Further Details and leave the Account Information section blank.
If the travel expense is to be paid by a third party, enter the entity's name under Travel Funded by Third Party and leave the Account Information section blank. (See also 95.16.)
Net Amount
Enter amount in the following circumstances:
- When limiting the traveler to a specified amount for the trip.
- When the trip will be financed by one or more WSU-administered budgets. Include all coding and designate the amount estimated from each budget.
- To authorize an applicant or speaker fee paid in exchange for a service, e.g., lecture or seminar. See 95.14.
DISTRIBUTION
The TA is routed differently for different travel situations.
General Travel
If the TA includes a request for a travel advance and/or conference registration, the department must route the TA to Travel Services and/or Accounts Payable as indicated below.
If the request does not include a travel advance or conference registration, the originating unit retains the original of the TA or substitute TA (see above) and any back up documentation. This constitutes the official University record of approval for the travel.
The department provides a copy to the traveler.
The department provides an additional copy to the college if required by the responsible dean/director.
Travel Advance
Submit the original TA and a copy to Travel Services at least ten days before anticipated departure.
Rented Aircraft
Submit the original TA or substitute TA to Purchasing at least tendays before anticipated departure. See also 95.30.
Conference Registration
Submit the original and a copy of the TA and the registration form to Accounts Payable at least ten days before the fee is due.
Foreign Travel
See 95.15.
See the PDF form:
95.05.10: Travel Authority
Complete and/or print as needed.