Procedure 5.03.03

Part 1. Purpose

To ensure standard guidelines and processes are followed in funding authorized travel at the State of Minnesota’s expense when such travel is necessary to conduct official business.

To promptly reimburse employees for expenses incurred.

Part 2. Definitions

Traveler: any employee or student authorized to travel on behalf of Minneapolis College.

International travel:  all destinations outside the Continental U.S.

Special expenses: Extraordinary expenses incurred due to work-related responsibilities or official functions not generally supported with public funds of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or assigned duties of System employees which are not reimbursable through the regular expense regulations. Provisions for special expenses are also found in applicable collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans.

Gift: Money, real or personal property, a service, loan, forbearance or forgiveness of indebtedness or a promise of future employment that is given and received without the giver receiving consideration of equal or greater value in return.

Official: A public official (including Minneapolis College employees), an employee of the legislature or a local official of a metropolitan governmental unit.

Part 3. Scope and Responsibility

This procedure applies to all employees of the Minneapolis College Campus and any other individuals authorized to travel and be reimbursed for allowable expenses in conducting authorized Minneapolis College business. Such Travelers are responsible for complying with this procedure and for the accurate completion of all required forms including the Employee Expense Report. Students shall be compensated in accordance with local student travel rates or, in the absence of local student travel rates, with the Commissioner's Plan.

Part 4. Travel Processes

Subpart A. Presidential Expense Account

An expense account with an annual expenditure limit may be established for the campus president.

(Expenses of directors/campus administrators are to be included with the expenses of the president.)

The expense account shall be used for expenses related to the performance of duties and responsibilities for which no other reimbursement is provided. Minneapolis College procedures on allowable expenditures from the account shall apply.

Subpart B. Accounting

Each expenditure made from this account shall be accounted for and it subject to review by the Accounts Payable Department and to periodic post-audit.

Subpart C. Authority

Board Policy, 7.1, Authority delegates to the Chancellor the authority to develop a System procedure on travel management. College Policy 5.01, Finance & Administrative Authority delegates to the Vice President of Finance & Operations authority to develop procedures and guidelines to implement College procedures.

Subpart D. Prior Approval

All in-state travel, including travel funded through Faculty Development, requires verbal prior approval. All out-of-state travel requires prior written approval by an employee who has delegated authority for approving out-of-state travel requests. This approval must be granted prior to any travel and the actual incurrence of any expenses. Written authorizations are retained locally for audit purposes.

Authorized travel is when it can be reasonably determined that:

• The travel is primarily for the benefit of Minneapolis College and/or Minnesota State and relates to effective conducting business including the promotion of interstate cooperation
• The cost of the travel and absence from work will be offset by benefits accruing to Minnesota State including the professional advancement of an employee
• The travel relates to activities which do not have, as their purpose, the advancement of a political party, a political candidate or a religious denomination.

Subpart E. Exceptions to Pre-Travel Authorization Requirements

Travel without prior authorization is allowed in the following circumstances:

• Emergencies,
• Originating outside the United States

Subpart F. Spouse/Companion Travel

Travel expenses will not be reimbursed if they are incurred by a spouse or other individual accompanying an employee. This includes students who are authorized to travel for college business unless:

• The spouse/companion is a State of Minnesota employee and there is a demonstrated business purpose requiring their attendance.
• Such expenses are provided for in a collective bargaining agreement or compensation plan

A spouse or other individual may accompany a State of Minnesota employee or any other individuals authorized to travel including students on a business trip at their own expense.

Subpart G. Maximum Use of Financial Resources

Travel costs should take into consideration any financial decisions made including:

• Employee or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, leaving a day early to take advantage of a lower airfare.
• Employee or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, staying over a weekend at his/her own expense to obtain lower airfare. Additional expenses may be paid related to the reduced airfare providing they do not exceed the amount saved on the lower airfare.
• Other unusual situations which increase or decrease the trip costs.
• Travel is being paid for by an outside organization and is in compliance with ethics requirements in accordance with Minn. Stat. Section 43A.38, Code of Ethics for Employees in the Executive Branch and Minn. Stat. Section 10A.071, Certain Gifts by Lobbyists and Principals Prohibited. If an employee or any other individual authorized to travel, including students, is reimbursed by Minneapolis College for this travel and is also reimbursed for the same travel expense by an outside organization, the employee or any other individual authorized to travel including students must endorse the reimbursement check over to Minneapolis College. An employee or any other individual authorized to travel, including students, may be reimbursed by an outside organization for travel or meals expenses, not to exceed actual expenses incurred, which are not reimbursed by the State of Minnesota, and which have been approved in advance by the appointing authority as part of the work assignment.
• Employees or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, elect to drive a personal vehicle rather than fly. Reimbursement for use of a personal vehicle in lieu of airfare is at the lower reimbursement rate and shall not exceed the lowest round trip coach airfare.

Subpart H. Travel Arrangements

Travel arrangements may be made through any travel agency. Use of the State of Minnesota's preferred vendors or targeted group and economically disadvantaged vendors is encouraged.

Fares
Inquiries on fares and reservations should be made early enough to take advantage of advance purchase discounts to ensure the lowest fare possible is procured.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage purchased by employees is not a reimbursable expense.

Upgrades
Airfare upgrades at the expense of Minnesota State are not permitted. Upgrades are allowed at the employee's personal expense.
Free service upgrades for all domestic air travel are permissible with the lowest available rates. Employees or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, shall not use their position to seek or accept an unwarranted privilege of substantial value which is not regularly available to similarly situated individuals.

Use of Personal Aircraft
Travel in personal aircraft may be authorized by the Board Chair for Board Trustees, by the Chancellor for Office of the Chancellor staff, and by the President of Minneapolis College when it is deemed in the best interest of Minneapolis College. Mileage reimbursement in such cases shall be at the rate identified in the applicable collective bargaining agreement or compensation plan. Proof of adequate liability insurance is required, and the pilot and aircraft must be in compliance with all Federal Aviation Administration requirements.

Lost Baggage
Personal items lost while traveling on authorized business are not a reimbursable expense.

Excess Baggage
Employees or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, will be reimbursed for excess baggage charges only when the equipment, books, reports, etc.  causing additional charges are required.

Lodging
The lowest government rate available should be secured at a reasonably priced, licensed lodging facility. Staying at the private residence of a relative or friend is not a reimbursable expense.
Room charges and taxes may be directly billed to Minneapolis College. Other miscellaneous charges such as meals, dry cleaning, telephone calls, etc. must be paid to the lodging facility by the employee or any other individual authorized to travel, including students, at the time of check-out. Business related expenses will be reimbursed through the Employee Expense Report process.

State-Owned Vehicles
State-owned vehicles are to be used for official State of Minnesota business only.
Drivers shall have a valid U.S. driver's license and shall observe all ordinances and laws pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles.
Only authorized persons are permitted to ride in state-owned vehicles.

Personal Vehicle Usage
​Authorized persons may use their personal vehicle for business purposes when in compliance with State laws and policy (such as those established by the Minnesota Management and Budget Office) as well as Minnesota State Board policies and procedures (including Board Policy 5.19 Travel Management, System Procedure 5.19.3 Travel Management, and Operating Instructions 5.19.3.1 Driver’s License Record Check), and Minneapolis College policies and procedures.

Mileage reimbursements for the use of personal vehicles will be at the allowable levels and in conformance with expense reimbursement requirements defined in a respective bargaining agreement or compensation plan of the employee or any other individual authorized to travel and State laws and policy (such as those established by the Minnesota Management and Budget Office) as well as Minnesota State Board policies and procedures including Board Policy 5.19 Travel Management and System Procedure 5.19.3 Travel Management, and Minneapolis College policies and procedures.

Rental Vehicle
Rental of a vehicle by an authorized traveler is permitted only when the type of trip or location of meetings is such that use of local transportation (taxis, airport limousines, shuttles, buses) is not practical or is expected to be more expensive.

Rental vehicles shall be reserved and rented at the lowest applicable discounted rate available.

The use of compact or mid-size/intermediate rental vehicle categories is recommended except in cases where:

• The number of passengers is three or more
• Excess baggage for official business requires a large vehicle, e.g., booth displays, slide presentations, sales items
• A larger size vehicle is provided at no extra charge above compact or mid-size rate

When rental vehicles are used for travel within the United States, authorized travelers are expected to decline rental vehicle insurance because the State of Minnesota has provisions for insuring rental vehicles against damage through the Risk Management Division. Travelers will not be reimbursed for the cost of rental vehicle insurance for domestic travel. For international travel, employees and any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, should accept all insurance coverage when renting vehicles in a foreign country. Insurance coverage purchased in foreign countries is reimbursable.

Under no circumstances should a 15-passenger van be rented.

Airline Frequent Flyer Program
Minnesota Statute 15.435, Airline Travel Credit, requires any credits or other benefits issued by an airline to an authorized traveler who uses public funds to pay for airline travel to accrue to the benefit of the public body providing the funding. Employees or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, who frequently fly and have airline frequent flyer programs for their personal travel shall obtain a separate airline frequent flyer program number to record and report receipt of credits or other benefits when using state funds.

Subpart I. Travel Advances

The use of State credit cards for authorized business expenses is strongly encouraged. An employee and any other individual authorized to travel, including students, may be issued a travel advance subject to minimum amounts determined by his/her bargaining agreement or compensation plan. The amount of the advance should not include any expense that will be directly billed. Advances are requested using the Employee Expense Report a minimum of 14 days before departure. An employee or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, may not have more than one outstanding travel advance at a time. The first advance must be settled before another advance may be issued. The advance must be submitted with a completed Employee Expense Report, appropriate receipts and documentation within five (5) days of returning from the trip and is the responsibility of the employee that the advance was for.

Advances not settled within 28 days of return date will be deducted in their entirety from the employee's paycheck.

Subpart J. Reimbursement of Travel Expense

Reimbursement Form
Employees or other authorized individuals, including students, will be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses while traveling on authorized business within applicable policies and collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans. Request for reimbursement of travel expenses shall be submitted on an Employee Expense Report form. Employees will only be reimbursed for their own travel expenses. Travel expenses of other individuals are not covered.

Receipts
Original itemized receipts are required for all expenses except meals, taxi services, baggage handling and parking meters or as required per collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans. Canceled checks and copies of credit card statements do not substitute for original receipts. An employee may be allowed to file an affidavit in lieu of a receipt if the original receipt is lost or a receipt is not obtained.

Direct Billing/Credit Cards
Air travel costs may be paid using a direct or central billing account, state charge/corporate credit card or personal charge/credit card.

Miscellaneous Expenses
The following miscellaneous expenses may be reimbursed:

• Personal telephone calls if allowed by collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans. Documented personal telephone calls are reimbursable.
• Laundry and dry-cleaning costs for employees or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, who travel in excess of one week without returning home shall be allowed reimbursement for the actual cost, not to exceed applicable collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans for laundry and dry cleaning for each week after the first week.

Non-Reimbursable Expenses
Following are examples of miscellaneous expenses that employees will NOT normally be reimbursed for:

• Under no circumstances will employees or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, be reimbursed for alcoholic beverages
• Annual fees or interest for personal credit cards
• Late payment fees or interest on a State-issued corporate credit card
• Expenses of traveling companions or family members
• Expenses related to vacation or personal days while on a trip
• Loss or theft of personal cash or property
• Entertainment or amusement costs, movies, "no-show" charges, optional travel or baggage insurance and parking or traffic tickets
• Incorrect or incomplete expense reports
• Employees who normally do not drive to work drive their personal vehicle because it is required to conduct official business are NOT entitled to parking reimbursement.
• For employees whose permanent work location is the campus, parking costs for events that take place within one mile of campus shall not be reimbursed unless pre-approved for business reasons.

Subpart K. International Travel

Authorization/Approval
The President, or his/her designee, at Minneapolis College shall approve/disapprove, in writing, international travel for college employees.

Expense Reimbursement
Because the cost of living varies from country to country and the rate of money exchange fluctuates, the following expenses will be reimbursed at the actual cost unless provisions for reimbursement of international travel are referenced in collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans:

• Commercial transportation
• Hotel/motel accommodations
• Meals
• Work-related long-distance calls
• Dry cleaning and laundry services after one week in continued travel status. Miscellaneous expenses incurred with travel such as baggage handling and parking fees
• Receipts for expenses should be attached to the Employees Expense Report. If an employee or any other individual authorized to travel, including students, does not have a receipt or an affidavit of expenditures, the out-of-state reimbursement limits in collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans shall be used.

Travel Advisories
Employees or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, must NOT travel to countries for which a travel advisory has been issued by the State Department of the United States of America. Contact the State Department to obtain a list of current advisories at http://travel.state.gov//content/travel/en.html.

International Travel Requirements and Precautions
The Center for Disease Control has travel vaccine requirements, food and water precautions and other pertinent information at the following Internet address: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

Emergency Travel Assistance
In case of an emergency, contact the travel agency issuing the travel documents and itinerary.

Foreign Currency Services and Reimbursement Conversion
Foreign currency can be obtained from any of the following locations:

• Banks
• Airport foreign exchange counter
• Major hotels in foreign countries
• Currency exchange outlets

Expenses incurred and paid directly by the employee, or any other individuals authorized to travel, including students, are converted into U.S. dollars at the actual exchange rate, supported by receipts such as a foreign currency exchange receipt or a charge/credit card billing statement. When more than one exchange of the same type of foreign currency is made during the reporting period, a weighted average exchange rate (total U.S. dollars divided by total amount of foreign currency) must be used. All expenses must be recorded in U.S. dollars, with the currency conversion rate clearly noted on the expense report and on all support receipts. If the amount claimed on the expense report is more or less than the amount of the attached receipts, a written statement explaining the differences must accompany the expense.

Subpart L. Responsibility and Accountability

The employee or any other individual authorized to travel, including students, is responsible for complying with state statutes, laws, regulations, policies, Minneapolis College’s travel policy and procedures, the employee's respective bargaining agreement or compensation plan, state laws, federal laws, and IRS guidelines and for accurately completing all required forms for reimbursement of authorized official business travel expenses. The employee's supervisor is responsible for reviewing and approving all travel requests and expenses. Audits of travel reimbursements shall be conducted according to the audit plan approved by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees. System Procedure 5.20.1, Special Expenses and Chancellor/Presidential Expense Allowances

Authority
Board Policy 7.1, Authority, delegates to the chancellor authority to develop procedures and guidelines to implement this policy.

Part 5. Special Expense

Subpart A. Authorization/Approval of Special Expenses

The Minneapolis College President delegates the authority to approve/disapprove special expense requests for Minneapolis College’s employees to the Vice Presidents and Deans through the delegation of authority process.

The Chancellor delegates the authority to approve/disapprove special expense requests for employees of the state colleges and universities to the presidents. A president may delegate his/her authority to approve/disapprove special expense requests to a college/university employee(s) through the delegation of authority process.

Except in emergency situations, approval is required before any special expense is incurred and before commitments involving special expenses are made.

Employees must obtain approval of special expenses before incurring such expenses or the payment may be denied. Requests received after the event or too late to provide a proper review must include an explanation of why the request was not provided in a timely manner. Payments to reimburse or advance special expenses may be made only if the approved request to incur special expenses is attached to the Employee Expense Report.

Subpart B. Expenses Covered

The following expenses are covered where the benefits of the employee's attendance or participation will accrue primarily to the State of Minnesota:

1. Full cost of a meal when it is part of the structured agenda of a conference, workshop, seminar or meeting which the Chancellor or President has authorized the employee to attend whether or not the employee is in travel status.
2. Meals and related expenses or non-alcoholic refreshments and food served when conducting business with citizens, members of boards, commissions, task forces or workgroups, foreign, federal, state, or local governmental officials and/or employees.
3. Registration and tuition fees for conferences, seminars, workshops, or education courses. Education courses provided through a tuition waiver are not special expenses. Prior approval is required only if the cost exceeds $1,000 per participant.
4. Non-alcoholic refreshments and food for System, Board, College, or University sponsored meetings, receptions for speakers, performers and commencements, conferences, workshops, and other similar meetings or activities that have predominantly non-State employees.
5. Non-alcoholic refreshments, food and other conference costs for System, Board, College, or University sponsored events where registration fees are charged and the majority of the participants are non-State employees.
6. Non-alcoholic refreshments and food for meetings that consist primarily of State employees when the non-alcoholic refreshments and/food are an integral part of the event and are necessary to sustain the flow of the meeting and to retain captive audience and meet one of the following criteria:
   • A meeting with participants from many geographic locations and the majority of the participants are in travel status
   • A department-wide or division-wide annual/quarter/semester staff meeting for all employees
   • A department or division senior management planning or organizational meeting
   • A department, division, college, university, system or office of the chancellor wide meeting regarding a topic(s) with department, division, college, university, system or office of the chancellor wide impact
   • A structured training session available to employees, generally, and conducted by persons outside the Minnesota State College and University System provided it has been approved by the college, university or office of the chancellor. With the exception of Board of Trustees meetings, campus visits, and other official functions including, but not limited to, committee meetings. The above meetings shall be scheduled to minimize the inclusion of meals.
7. Non-alcoholic refreshments and food may be provided during official meetings or other functions of the Board of Trustees.
8. Lodging if an employee is not in travel status:
   • When weather conditions or other unforeseen occurrences warrant lodging
   • When college, business or contract negotiations prevent the employee from returning home
   • When the President authorizes overnight participation in an approved event. Authorization should be based on the benefit of such participation to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
9. Expense reimbursement for lodging, travel and meals for one attendant to accompany an employee with a disability requiring daily assistance in performing various personal tasks or who has special mobility needs.
10. Expenses as follows for employees assigned to work at the State Fair:
    • Fees and admission to the fairgrounds
    • One meal during each shift of fewer than ten hours or two meals during each shift of ten hours or more, subject to the meal allowances for in-state travel collective bargaining agreements or compensation plans
    • Taxi fare for employees with a disability who are unable to drive or use other means of public transportation between their normal work station and the fairgrounds
11. Expenses for individual employees attending System, Board, College or University recognition events:
    • Awards for individual or group achievements, limited to non-cash/non-negotiable items of nominal value as provided for under IRS guidelines. Items of nominal value are those that have no market or retail value such as promotional or advertising items.
    • Up to 100% of food and non-alcoholic refreshment reimbursement for employees being recognized at annual employee recognition events. Reimbursement for travel in accordance with System Procedure 5.19.3. Reimbursement for alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Subpart C. Expenses Not Covered

• Refreshments or meals for routine staff meetings.
• Private club memberships.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Entertainment.
• Employee parties (including holiday parties).

Part 6. Prohibition of Gifts

A lobbyist or principal may not give a gift or request another to give a gift to an official. An official may not accept a gift from a lobbyist or principal.

Subpart A. Exceptions to Prohibition of Gifts

The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is:

• A contribution as defined in Minnesota State Statute section 10A.01, subdivision 11;
• Services to assist an official in the performance of official duties including, but not limited to, providing advice, consultation, information or communication in connection with legislation and services to constituents
• Services of insignificant monetary value
• A plaque or similar memento recognizing individual services in a field of specialty or to a charitable cause
• A trinket or memento of insignificant value
• Informational material of unexceptional value
• Food or a beverage given at a reception, meal or meeting away from the recipient's place of work by an organization before whom the recipient appears to make a speech or answer questions as part of a program

The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is given:

• Because of the recipient's membership in a group, a majority of whose members are not officials, and an equivalent gift is given to the other members of the group
• By a lobbyist or principal who is a member of the family of the recipient unless the gift is given on behalf of someone who is not a member of that family.

Owner(s) Title: Vice President of Finance and Operations

Date of Adoption: 12/27/2005

Date of Implementation (if different from adoption date): Changes approved on 7/22/2021 will be implemented with the approval of the full revisions of the College’s finance policies section in May 2025.

Date Last Amended: 5/1/2025 (Limited)

History and Subject of Revisions: 5/1/2025 (Limited Review), 7/22/2021 (Comprehensive Review. Part of review of all finance policies which renumbered this procedure from 5.06.03 to 5.03.03. Restructuring throughout procedure. Revisions to content to improve clarity including adding some definitions.), 1/2/2019 (non-substantive changes), 12/27/2005 (Adopted)

Regulatory Authority (e.g. Minnesota State policy, federal or state law): MinnState Board Policy 5.19 Travel Management; MinnState System Procedure 5.19.3 Travel Management