This document describes the authorized payment options for faculty, staff, students, and postdocs who travel or entertain on behalf of the University.
April, 2015
revisedApril, 2015
May, 2023
Responsible OfficeProcurement Services
Procurement Services
This policy applies to faculty, staff, students or postdocs traveling, entertaining or incurring miscellaneous expenses on behalf of the University and seeking reimbursement for related expenses from the University regardless of the funding source.
Faculty, staff, students or postdocs requesting reimbursement for travel and entertainment expenses incurred on behalf of the University should exercise good judgment with respect to the related purchases and spend the University’s funds prudently. Each traveler requesting reimbursement is responsible for ensuring that the costs are for “Accountable Plan Activities” that have been properly authorized and are supported with required receipts and/or other applicable documentation in compliance with all applicable policies. The submission of the reimbursement request by the traveler using the Concur-TEM system affirms that these responsibilities have been met. Reimbursement requests should be submitted through the Concur-TEM system within ten (10) days of the end date of the business-related activity or “Miscellaneous Procurement” dates.
Approvers perform a critical control function for the University. Collectively, approvers ensure that reimbursement requests are properly authorized, documented, appropriately funded, compliant with policy and are for valid and necessary “Accountable Plan Activities.” Designated approvers also assist the employee, student or postdoc as necessary with understanding their traveler responsibilities for compliance and the requestor affirmations.
The Concur-TEM system includes three approver roles for T&E Reimbursement and “Miscellaneous Reimbursement.” Reimbursement requests must be reviewed and approved by a minimum of two approvers, and at least one approver must not be subordinate to the requestor. Schools and Centers may add additional requirements or approvers as needed. The Concur-TEM system reviewer/approver roles and corresponding responsibilities are defined as follows:
Default Reviewer
Cost Object (Funding Source) Approver
Supplemental Approver
Several methods of payment are available to assist travelers who are required to travel or entertain on behalf of the University. These methods are described below.
Preferred Travel Agency and the Business Travel Account
World Travel, Inc. is the University’s primary preferred travel agency. The University has established a contractual relationship with the agency to serve the needs of the University’s business travelers and entertainers. World Travel, Inc. is integrated with the Concur-TEM system, and the agency makes travel arrangements with the best rates available in the market.
Penn Travel Card
Except for expenses as noted above, travelers are generally expected to use the University-sponsored travel and entertainment credit card (Penn Travel Card) for incurred expenses while traveling and entertaining on behalf of the University. Expenses are generally expected to be submitted for reimbursement within ten (10) days of the end date of the business activity.