KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
TRAVEL GUIDELINES

July 1, 2011

Revised September 26, 2011

 

The following information, which represents a brief outline of Kansas State University travel procedures, is intended to assist KSU faculty and staff in successfully completing the necessary state paperwork to receive the maximum allowable travel expense reimbursement. Please refer to Policy and Procedure Manual (PPM) 6410 for additional details not covered in this document.

This document is divided into the following sections:

 

 


TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS


1.  A completed Request for Out-of-State Travel must be approved and on file at the authorizing official's office in advance of out-of-state travel. This number will be entered on the travel voucher when the voucher is prepared for reimbursement.

2.   The departments are encouraged to make reservations for commercial air travel and rental car through state contract vender.

 

3.  An APV can be used to pay for registration fees up to 45 days in advance. Earlier payment must be accompanied by a justification detailing cost savings.

4.  Travelers must provide their own travel funds. They will be reimbursed upon conclusion of the travel and after the submission of the travel payment voucher. Employees are not authorized to pay the travel expenses of other employees. However, in order to provide relief for University travelers, personal travel credit cards (VISA) are available through the University at no cost. Applications, for UMB VISA cards, are available through the Human Resource Services Office. Additionally, The KSU Foundation may provide travel loans, at a minimal cost to the traveler. Contact the KSU Foundation for additional travel loan information. State travel advances are not available except for student groups or faculty for international travel.


 


TRANSPORTATION
1.
  Transportation must be by the most economical or advantageous standard mode. Personal vehicle mileage for the most direct route will be reimbursed at a rate of $0.51 per mile. Each department will be responsible for deciding which of the three available options: use of state-owned vehicle, a privately owned vehicle, or an Enterprise rental vehicle is most appropriate and cost effective given the circumstances of the travel.

2.  State-owned vehicles are available through Facilities motor pool for official use. Call the motor pool at (785) 532-6397 to arrange for use.

3.  The departments are encouraged to reserve rental cars through Enterprise.  Personal accident insurance (PAI), personnel effects insurance (PEI), and other supplemental liability insurances are considered personal expenses and ARE NOT REIMBURSABLE.  Additional costs incurred by requesting a Collision Damage Waiver or Loss Damage Waiver at the time of signing of the rental contract are reimbursable.


TRAVEL VOUCHER PROCESSING

 

Only complete, accurate and signed travel vouchers meeting state guidelines can be processed. THE CLAIMANTS SIGNATURE MUST BE ORIGINAL. Errors or incomplete information on the travel voucher will delay reimbursement. Please discuss potential problems with your department’s travel processor.

 


SUBSISTENCE EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT

1.  Subsistence includes all meals, lodging-related costs, and taxes. Rates vary based on in-state, out-of-state, designated high cost, and special high cost areas.

2.  Employees may be reimbursed for meal expenses while in travel status.  The allowed meals are based on the time in which the employee is in travel status.  Meal allowances on the day of departure are reimbursed as follows:

Meal allowances on the day of departure are reimbursed based on the time of departure. 

Time of Departure

Meals Allowed

12:01 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

6:01 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Lunch and Dinner

12:01 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Dinner

6:01 p.m. – 12:00 midnight

No meals allowed

Meal allowances on the day in which the employee returns to the official station or domicile are reimbursed based on the time of return.

 Time of Return

Meals Allowed

12:01 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.

No meals allowed

6:01 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Breakfast

12:01 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Breakfast and Lunch

6:01 p.m. – 12:00 midnight

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Meal allowance rates are as follows:

Area

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

In-State/Border City

$10.25

$11.25

$21.50

Out-of-State

$10.25

$11.25

$21.50

Out-of-State High Cost

$10.75

$12.25

$23.00

Out-of-State Special High Cost

$14.25

$15.75

$30.00

International

$15.25*

$16.25*

$31.50*

*or actual expense incurred (with itemized receipts) not to exceed $91 per day.  Travelers may choose either the meal allowance rate or actual expense method of reimbursement for international travel.  The reimbursement method selected must be used for the entire trip.  A combination of methods is not allowed.  If the actual expense method is selected, receipts must be included with the travel claim form.

If the cost of meals in included within the cost of registration fees or other fees and charges, the meal allowance should be reduced as shown in the table above.

3.  Single day meal reimbursements may be made to an employee if they are required to travel on official State business and their workday, including travel time, is extended three hours or more beyond the employee’s regularly scheduled worked.  One breakfast, lunch or dinner may be paid per the meal allowance rates above.   Please include workday hours on voucher.

4.  Lodging is limited to the lodging establishment's lowest available rate for normal single occupancy. The original lodging receipt must be filed with your travel payment voucher. A credit card receipt does not qualify as a lodging receipt.

 

The daily lodging expense limitations are as follows:

Location

Rate

150% Rate

In-State/Border City

$81.00

$121.50

Out-of-State

$104.00

$156.00

Out-of-State High Cost

$151.00

$226.50

Out-of-State Special High Cost

$166.00

$249.00

International

Actual

Actual

Conference Lodging

Actual

Actual

 


USE OF A PRIVATELY-OWNED CONVEYANCE FOR OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL INSTEAD OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

When an agency head or designee authorizes the use of a privately-owned or operated conveyance rather than public transportation for out-of-state travel, transportation expense reimbursement is determined as follows:

1.      Travel of one employee only. The employee may be reimbursed the lesser of the following:

 

a.       The total of actual mileage traveled (round trip mileage from the employee's official station or domicile to the lodging establishment at the destination, whichever is less), turnpike tolls, and parking charges, OR; 

 

b.      Kansas State University generally deems airfare as the most economical mode of transportation when traveling to destinations outside of the state of Kansas.  If a traveler chooses to drive, rather than fly to a destination outside of the state of Kansas, a cost comparison needs to be completed when such travel is to a destination that is more than 400 miles from the travelers official station, or official domicile, whichever is less. The cost comparison must be completed at the time the out-of-state travel request form is signed.

 

The State of Kansas deems airline travel to be the most economical mode of transportation.  Therefore, if an employee chooses to drive rather than fly, a cost comparison must be completed at the time the out-of-state travel request form is signed.

2.      Travel of two or more employees. When two or more employees are traveling together, mileage reimbursement may be paid to one employee for use of the private conveyance as provided in this reference.

Upon written prior approval of the agency head, exceptions to this paragraph may be granted in unusual circumstances when deemed to be in the best interests of the state. A copy of the approval should be attached to the travel claim form when submitted for payment.


SPONSORED PROJECT TRAVEL


Sponsor restrictions may be more restrictive and must be adhered to regardless of state or university restrictions. The statement "An obligation of sponsored research project KSA 76-752 and/or 76-770 exemptions apply" must be typed on the travel claim.  Please see PPM Chapter 6410.100, Subsistence Expense, for more information.


RECEIPTS

 

ORIGINAL receipts must be submitted with the travel voucher for the following types of travel expenses:

Itemized lodging and registration receipts

Airfare

Shuttle van between Manhattan and K.C.I. (Road Runner)

Rental Car

Gasoline

Parking

Professional (office supplies, etc.)

Miscellaneous items (except tips and intercity transportation)

 


STATE TRAVEL VENDOR CONTACT


Short's Travel Management
State of Kansas Contact Information

Contact Information (8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. CST):

Reservation Request:   

785-272-7511  

Topeka, Local Standard reservation processing

Toll Free: 

800-748-7400

Standard reservation processing

Fax Requests:

785-272-6244 

Standard reservation processing

Travel Consultants:

Bob Hicks

ext 2210

 

Bill Burgoon

ext 2206

 

Emergency Contact Information 5:30 pm – 8:30am CST:

 

Emergency Services:       

877-233-2427         

After Hour Emergency Assistance (Access Code A-1N51)

 

E-Mail Address:    travelks@shortstravel.com

Note:  E-mail is not recommended in emergency situations

Fees:  A ticket processing fee of $26.50 will apply to all domestic air reservations.