CAO Office Resources
Photo: Jessie Ward O'Sullivan, UCSB

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Central Administrative Office (CAO) 

The CAO is the main contact for many areas including but not limited to office supplies, scanning, mailboxes and mail services, copy codes, event noticing, key issuance, and reimbursement processing.

* UPDATE - UCSB processes reimbursements through Concur. All UCSB
employees (anyone with an active UCSB Net ID and actively paid through UCPath) will have the ability to log in to Concur to create, modify, and submit reimbursement expenses. CAO staff and faculty admin assistants will be helping with the preparation of all reimbursements in Concur BEFORE they are submitted to central accounting (BFS). UC policies that govern reimbursement allowability, limits, approvals, receipt, and substantiation requirements are included in the UC G-28 Travel Policy. You can visit the BFS website to learn more about Concur and watch training videos in Knowledge Base

 

Central Administrative Office

Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (closed lunch hour 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)

Alexa Pazell & Megan Ashley

Contact: cao@ece.ucsb.edu

Policy Reminders & Updates

 

  • 01/01/2024 - Mileage Reimbursement Rate Changes
    • The reimbursement rate for the use of a private automobile will be 67 cents a mile.
    • Effective January 1, 2024
  • 01/01/2023 - Mileage Reimbursement Rate Changes
    • The reimbursement rate for the use of a private automobile will be 65.5 cents a mile.
    • Effective January 1, 2023
  • 07/01/2022 - Mileage Reimbursement Rate Changes
    • The reimbursement rate for the use of a private automobile will be 62.5 cents a mile.
    • Effective July 1, 2022
  • 02/22/22 - Concur Reminders and Resources
    • Set up preparer delegates
    • verify your email address in Concur
    • Knowledge Portal

Assistance Areas

Shipping
  • Please contact the CAO if you need a Domestic FedEx shipping label. If you work with a Faculty Administrative Assistant please reach out to them for a Domestic Shipping Label.
    • Include the following required information:
      • Recipient's Name:
      • Recipient's Company:
      • Recipient's Address:
      • Recipient's Phone Number:
      • Approx. Weight of package:
      • Package type (your own, FedEx envelop, FedEx box):
      • How quickly does the package need to arrive (overnight, 2-day, 3 day):
      • Project code related to shipment:
  • If you are shipping internationally: The CAO creates ALL international shipping labels. If you are shipping something internationally please email the CAO for additional instructions.
  • Airbills, envelopes, and small boxes are available from the CAO
  • Scheduled pickup for packages is not available at the CAO, use the shop
Departmental Mailboxes
  • Visiting scholars, researchers, and grad students must visit the CAO to receive a mailbox
  • Grad mailboxes are located in Harold Frank Hall, RM 5154
  • Staff and Faculty mailboxes are located in Harold Frank Hall, RM 4160
  • Mailboxes may be used for UCSB related correspondence only. They are not to be used for personal mail.
Office Supplies
  • Basic office supplies such as pens and whiteboard markers are kept in stock. Research-related supplies must be ordered through UCSB Procurement Gateway and should not be reimbursed in Concur. Please see the ECE shop on the first floor of Harold Frank Hall for assistance.
Toner Cartridges
  • Toner cartridges are not kept in stock, but can be ordered from UCSB Procurement Gateway.
Scanning & Photocopying
  • The CAO scanner may be used by faculty, staff, and students for urgent scanning. A flash drive is needed.
  • The two department copy machines also scan, and faculty and staff emails are pre-programmed into the machines. No code is needed to use the scanning function.
Business Cards
  • Business cards can be ordered through the UCSB Procurement Gateway (must use unrestricted funds)

Travel Reimbursements

Certain expenses from business-related travel may be reimbursed. Prior to your travel please refer to the department procedures detailed below along with the UC Policy BFB-G-28 on Travel Regulations to review what is reimbursable. 

FAQs for Reimbursees

Travel Policy FAQs

  • Airfare:
    • Ensure that all tickets purchased are economy/coach. Tickets that are not economy class are not reimbursable. 
       
    • An itemized receipt showing all charges, base airfare, taxes and fees is required (receipt must show your full name, the last 4-digits of the method of payment, and the itemized expenses) and a credit card statement with extraneous information redacted and extra pages deleted. Expense entry into Concur also requires itemization.
       
    • Do not book with a third party travel agency. They frequently do not provide sufficient receipts which puts you at risk of not being reimbursed. Book directly with the airline or through Connexxus (Concur)
       
  • U.S. Flag Air Carriers: There are several significant items you should be mindful of when booking international university business travel:
    • Under the Fly America Act, generally, only U.S. carriers shall be used for foreign travel reimbursed from federal grants and contracts, including NIH grants. The regulations advise that a U.S. airline is used even if a foreign airline would be less expensive, provide preferred routing, or be more convenient. There are limited exceptions in certain situations, such as the existence of an Open Skies Agreement and other exceptions that can be found in the Federal Travel Regulation Guidelines (FTR). Prior to booking your airfare, please be sure to review the info provided at the above-referenced website links; and if you have additional questions about the allowability of a particular flight, please consult with the CAO.
    • When scheduling any international travel that is federally funded, ensure that your travel is scheduled on a US flag carrier, if possible or on foreign air carriers that codeshare with a US flag carrier. Please note that in order for a flight to be considered “codeshare”, the flight number must begin with the two-digit airline code that relates to the US Carrier.
       
  • Car Rental and Ground Transportation:
    • UCSB Pre-negotiated Agreements - UCSB has pre-negotiated car rental and hotel agreements with various vendors. To assure negotiated rates with the vendors, reservations should be made through the Connexxus or directly in Concur. More information about the Connexxus portal can be found on the Travel Accounting website.
       
    • You can rent up to an intermediate size car
       
    • If you do not book with Connexus/Concur when you rent a car with Enterprise/National/Hertz you will need to request the UCSB rate. Booking with Connexxus is recommended, that way you do not need to request the UCSB pre-negotiated rate.
       
    • Do not accept additional rental car insurance. It is not reimbursable as cars rented using UCSB's pre-negotiated rate already are covered by insurance.
       
    • Mileage Reimbursement Rate
      • If driving your personal vehicle, you may be reimbursed the standard per-mile rate (67 cents per mile effective January 1, 2024) based on the most direct route. The standard mileage rate includes fuel, as well as wear-and-tear on the vehicle. For any mileage claim, proof of liability insurance and license plate must be provided.
  • Lodging:
    • UCOP G-28 Travel Policy limits lodging nightly rates to a maximum of $275/night when traveling in lower 48 states for less than 30 days. If the traveler is unable to secure lodging at $275 per night or less, exceptional approval is required. Complete the lodging limit justification form and attach it to your travel documents.
       
    • Lodging receipts must be itemized (room, tax, service, and any other charges listed separately). Expense entry into Concur also requires itemization.
    •  
    • Group Travel: The $275 limit is for the room not the individual. It would not make a difference if you were sharing the room with someone. It would still be a $275 limit per room.  it does not get doubled if you were to share.  Each person of the group is responsible for purchasing their own airfare, meals, bus and train tickets, and registration. If a hotel room is shared, one person sharing the room is responsible for purchasing the room and accounting can only reimburse an individual for an expense they incurred directly from a vendor, not another individual.
      • Upon return, please include on your worksheets who shared a room, who paid, who will be claiming reimbursement, and the same for any shared rental car, taxis, etc. Worksheets and documentation for each person involved in group travel do not have to be turned in all together, please turn in your own travel documentation as soon as possible.
         
      • Receipts:
        • Submit itemized receipts for all airfare, car rentals, domestic U.S. lodging, and conference registration regardless of dollar amount, or any other single expense of $75 or more. 
        • A valid receipt is a document that contains the following five IRS-required elements:
          • Name of the vendor (person or company you paid) 
          • Transaction date (when you paid)
          • A detailed description of goods or services purchased (what you bought) 
          • Amount paid Form of payment (how you paid – cash, check, or last four digits of a credit card)
        • If your receipt does not meet the criteria listed above, a credit card statement that clearly shows your name, transaction date, and total expense can be submitted to help support the insufficient receipt. 

        • If you lose your receipt, please fill out the Declaration of Missing Evidence form and include a credit card statement.

      • Business Purpose Documentation:
        • Documentation will be required by all travelers for travel status justification. This includes conferences agendas, photo badges, meeting invitations, follow up emails, etc. The following is a list of examples of sufficient documentation that will be required to submit with your travel reimbursement in order to substantiate the business purpose of the trip:
          • Conference or professional event - conference agenda,  presentation evidence, an image of your conference badge (with your name), or a certificate of attendance.
          • Meetings, reviews, or invitations to visit that do not have an official agenda or event announcement - please provide an email of invitation or plans of the visit. Complex travel itineraries should include a complete description of events and meetings.
          • Lodging explanation (location, incurred cost and persons) required for any travel-related reimbursements even when lodging is not requested to be reimbursed. 
  • Do not book with a third party travel agency as they often do not provide sufficient receipts. Please book directly with the hotel.
     
  • For foreign travel please see the U.S. Department of State's maximum lodging rate in the city and country you plan to visit.
     
  • Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE):
    • When traveling within the continental U.S., the daily limit is $79.00. This limit is not a per diem! Only actual expenses can be claimed and reimbursed. Meal receipts are not required for domestic travel; however, if meal amounts look like they are rounded or the maximum meal amount is being claimed as a per diem for each day of travel, the Accounting department may request meal receipts as additional documentation.
    • The daily per diem limit when traveling internationally varies by location. Please see the U.S. Department of State's per diem rates.

       
  • Travel Insurance: When traveling on business, faculty, staff, and students are covered under the UC Business Travel Accident Insurance Program. Travel outside California requires a completed insurance form before the trip to guarantee coverage. The form is not required when making reservations through Connexxus since enrollment in the insurance program is automatic.
     
  • Travel Packages Purchased from Internet Vendors: Travel "packages" offered by Internet vendors typically do not include itemized expenses. Therefore, no business-related travel should be booked through such vendors unless the traveler has confirmed that each aspect of the package will be separately itemized (e.g., itemized hotel charges, airfare, car rental, etc.) to assure appropriate documentation for reimbursement.
     
  • California State Funds Prohibited for Travel to 23 States:
    • AB 1887 prohibits the use of state funds to pay for travel to a state on the Attorney General’s list, unless an exception applies. It does not affect travel that is paid for or reimbursed using non-state funds.
    • States currently identified as Subject to the Travel Prohibition can be found on the UCOP website

 

Prior to Travel - Procedures for Reimbursees
  • Please read over the FAQs for Reimbursees section above, if you have not already done so, for an overview of travel policy and to avoid making out of pocket purchases that can't be reimbursed. If you are unsure if certain expenses will be reimbursable review the G-28 travel policy and send any questions to cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu. It is best to confirm prior to travel to avoid incurring expenses that cannot be reimbursed or other complications.

  • If you are traveling internationally check the daily per diem limit in the location where you are traveling. Your reimbursement will be capped at the U.S. Department of State's per diem rate for meals and lodging.

  • Faculty: Travel on 19900 funds still requires the chair’s signature prior to travel. Please fill out a travel approval form with travel details and email it to your corresponding travel preparer.

  • If your trip was cancelled, please try to get as much money back as possible, provide as much documentation and explanation of the cancellation, what you were able to receive back, and any cancellation fees that may have incurred.

  • Please note that once you have incurred expenses and have returned from your travel you must submit your reimbursement as soon as possible. Reimbursement documentation needs to be submitted prior to the 45 day deadline. If documentation is submitted after the 45 day deadline it is left to the discretion of the Accounting office as to whether the expense will be reported as taxable income on the reimbursee's IRS form W-2.



Travel Advance

  • If a traveler needs financial assistance with travel expenses prior to travel, a Travel Approval/Advance form can be submitted to the CAO under the following circumstances:
    • Traveler has incurred expenses that must be paid before a trip is completed and/ or traveler is not able to cover these costs up front
    • Travelers must submit original receipts to receive advance
    • The Travel Advance Request should be submitted at least 1 month before the start date of the trip
       
  • If you are eligible for an advance fill out the Travel Approval/Advance form and save the receipts from the expenses you have incurred. 
     
  • If you are not an active employee: email your Travel approval/Advance form and Travel Worksheet along with your receipts to cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu. You will need to be added to Concur as a guest traveler.
     
  • If you are an active employee that is paid through UCPath: go to Concur and start a new Request (not a report). You can watch the following video in the knowledge base for instructions on how to create a request. 
    • Once you have entered all of the information and added your receipts please email cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu with your Travel Approval/Advance form and let them know you have an advance request in Concur that is ready for review.


How will you receive your reimbursement?

  • If you are an employee that ALREADY receives your university paycheck via direct deposit, this should be the default method of payment. The reimbursement should be paid to the same account you receive your paychecks.
     
  • If you are an employee and you DO NOT have direct deposit, but you would prefer to receive your reimbursement directly to your bank account, you will need to visit UCPath to set it up. If you do not want direct deposit a check can be mailed either to the department for pick up or to your permanent address.
     
  • If you are not an employee a check can be mailed to the ECE Department or to your home address. If a check is mailed to the department we will notify you when it is received and you can come to pick it up. 
Post Travel - Procedures for Reimbursees

Prepare and collect your paperwork:

  • Submit documentation in ONE email to cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu as soon as possible after your travel. If documentation is submitted after the 45 day deadline it is left to the discretion of the accounting office as to whether the expense will be reported as taxable income on the reimbursee's IRS form W-2.
  • Fill out a travel worksheet (domestic | foreign) and gather all of your receipts/ backup documentation. See the "FAQs for Reimbursees" section above for information regarding sufficient receipts and back up receipt documentation
    • If you have not logged into Concur before:
      • Set up your Preparer Delegate(s) in Concur. Use the link to see a video on how to set up your preparer delegates. Note that when you search for your preparer delegate you will need to use their name not their email or title. This only has to be done in Concur one time.
      • Your Preparer Delegate is the ECE staff member who will assist you with your reimbursements.
      • Every reimbursement must be reviewed by a preparer delegate. The ECE Department will be returning any reimbursement submissions that do not include the involvement of one of our Preparer Delegates.
      • You will also need to verify your email in Concur in order to receive email updates about your reimbursement. Go to your profile and select profile settings. Under "Personal information" you can scroll down to the email addresses section. Next to your email select verify and complete the verification instructions in Concur.
        • Create an Expense Report in Concur (not a Request) 
          • Start at the Concur home page
          • Select the "+ New" tab
          • Select "Start a Report"
          • For travel reimbursements the policy should remain as "Travel and Entertainment Expense"
          • This includes reimbursements for conference registration fees where no travel occurred
          • The report type should match your type of travel. Choose from Travel Foreign, Travel in State, or Travel out of state
          • The dept should be ELEG if you are going to be using an ECE account. Type in "EL" in the search bar.
          • The FAU will be the project code/account number that your PI provides you with. Type in an asterisk " * " in the search bar, then the project code.
          • The Cost type section can be left blank
          • Sub account should be sub 5 for travel
          • Create the report
          • This will take you to a new page where you can start adding expenses and receipts.
          • If you have questions regarding how to use Concur please visit the Knowledge Base Portal. There are many instructional videos to choose from. If you have visited the knowledge base and have additional emails please email cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu with your questions.
             
        • After you have added all of the expenses for your reimbursement along with any back up documentation, you will need to email cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu or your usual administrative preparer.
          • The subject of your email should be formatted as follows: Travel-Last name, First name - Destination city, and state - conference/event name - travel dates
            • Ex. "Travel-La Pierre, Olivia - Los Angeles, CA - IEEE Conf. - 3/16/22-3/18/22
          • Attach one travel worksheet (Domestic/Foreign) per trip
          • In your email to the CAO please indicate that you have created an expense report and it is ready for review.
          • The CAO or your administrative preparer will review and make any necessary edits to your expense report. If additional documentation is required, you will be emailed. 
  • Review the Travel Checklist (domestic | foreign) to assure you have all the required documentation for the Department to quickly and efficiently process your travel reimbursement request. When in doubt, it is best to submit all receipts.
     
  • Declaration of Missing Evidence: filled out and signed by traveler when original required receipt(s) have been lost or misplaced. Not accepted for hotel, airfare, rental car, or registration receipts.
     
  • Lodging limit justification form: Filled out when lodging nightly rates exceed the maximum of $275/night when traveling in lower 48 states for less than 30 days.
     
  • Non-resident Aliens (NRS): the following is required for processing a reimbursement to an individual that is a Non-resident Alien (also known as a permanent resident or "green card holder") and non UC employee:
  • NOTE: The following visa types are not eligible to receive any travel payments for expenses incurred in the United States: F-2, H-4, O-3, and P-4.

Concur:

Concur is the system we will be using to process reimbursements for travel expenses, business meeting/entertainment expenses, membership fees, and miscellaneous supplies expenses. To process your reimbursement please sign into Concur using your UCSB email. This will then take you to SSO sign in where you will use your NetID and password (Note: You must be an active employee that is paid through UC Path to log in). If you are not an active UCSB employee or you are not paid through UC Path please email all of your documentation to cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu so you can be set up as a guest traveler in Concur for your reimbursement to be processed.

FAQs & Procedures for Administrative Preparers
 

Procedures

Reimbursements for active employees who are paid through UCPath:

  • Please instruct any of your faculty or group members who are active employees (paid through UCPath) to set you up as their preparer delegate in Concur. Here is an instructional video regarding how Preparer Delegates can be set up. They will only need to set you up as their preparer delegate one time in Concur.
     
  • After they have set you up as a delegate they will create a new Expense Report, upload their documentation, and email you their completed travel worksheet and meal log (if applicable) to let you know their concur report is ready for review.
     
  • Review the documentation that the traveler entered in Concur.
    • Add any additional documentation to the traveler's report such as their meal log, additional approval forms, credit card statements, lodging limit justification forms, or missing receipt forms.
       
  • If you have questions regarding what documentation is needed or if certain expenses are allowable please refer to G-28 travel policy. If you still have additional questions reach out to the CAO.
     
  • Once you have fully reviewed the report and everything looks correct you can submit the report. You should then notify the traveler that the report is ready for them to approve. 
     
  • When the traveler approves the packet this will send it off for approval from the account approver and DEA.
     
  • If the account approver or DEA see that corrections are needed they can send the report back for changes. You will receive an email regarding the status change. Depending on the corrections needed you may need to request additional documentation from the traveler. Once the changes are made let the traveler know and resubmit. They will need to approve it again for it to move forward to the account approver and DEA again.
     
  • When the report is approved by all parties you will receive an email notification regarding the status change.

Reimbursements for UC Guests or non-employees:

 

Additional forms and information can be found on the UCSB Business & Financial Services travel page

 

Travel - Quick Forms & Resources

For Reimbursees/Travelers:

Prior to Travel

Post Travel

For Administrative Preparers

Entertainment & Business Reimbursements

The University permits expenditures for meals and light refreshments provided to academic or staff employees, students, donors, guests, visitors, volunteers, and other individuals for the purpose of conducting substantial and bona fide University business. Please refer to the UC Policy BUS-79 on Expenditures for Business Meetings, Entertainment and Other Occasions to review what is reimbursable. Reimbursement forms must be submitted within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed 45 days after the expenses were paid.

FAQs for Reimbursees
  • Submit paperwork as soon as possible after the expenses are paid for. Reimbursement paperwork needs to be submitted prior to the 45 day deadline. If documentation is submitted after the 45 day deadline it is left to the discretion of the Accounting office as to whether the expense will be reported as taxable income on the reimbursee's IRS form W-2.
     
  • Prior Approval
  • To fill out the required reimbursement forms you will need the following information:
    • Location where expenses were incurred: where the entertainment took place
    • Number of participants (including the reimbursee/host)
    • Participants names, titles, and affiliations 
    • The purpose of the entertainment (must have a clear academic or business related purpose)
    • Account to be charged
    • The manner in which the reimbursee wants their reimbursement (check, direct deposit, or campus mail)
    • PI Approval - DocuSign signature on completed Entertainment reimbursement worksheet OR email approval. Email approval must include approval for the total expense being reimbursed, the date of the event, and funding information.
       
  • You will need all itemized receipts. The receipts must identify both food and beverage charges.
     
  • No alcoholic beverage may be charged to state or federal funding sources
     
  • The maximum amount per person that can be reimbursed for allowable entertainment occasions varies depending on the type of meal served. When an entertainment expense exceeds the per-person maximum, exceptional approval is needed.
    • Breakfast:  $31
      Lunch:  $54
      Dinner:  $94
      Light Refreshments:  $22


How will you receive your reimbursement?

  • If you are a UCSB employee that currently receives a UCSB paycheck via direct deposit, this should be the default method of payment. The reimbursement should be paid to the same account you receive your paychecks.
     
  • If you are an employee and you DO NOT have direct deposit, but you would prefer to receive your reimbursement directly to your bank account, you will need to visit UCPath to set up direct deposit. If you do not want direct deposit, a check can be mailed either to the department for pick up or to your permanent address.
     
  • If you are not an employee, a check can be mailed to the ECE Department or to your home address. If a check is mailed to the department we will notify you when it is received and you can come to pick it up. 
Procedures for Reimbursees
  • Fill out an entertainment reimbursement worksheet.
     
  • Submit the complete entertainment reimbursement worksheet, an attendees list (if more than 5 attendees), and itemized receipts from your event.
    • If you don’t have an itemized receipt fill out the Declaration of Missing Evidence Form and include it with any receipt documentation you may have received and a credit card statement.
       
  • Submit your reimbursement request as soon as possible after expenses were incurred. 
    • Documents must be submitted electronically. Scan your worksheet, receipts, and attendees list.
    • If you create a report in Concur, you still must work through a department preparer to review and update your report before it is sent to Business and Financial Services (BFS). 
    • Email your reimbursement request and backup documentation in ONE email to: cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu using a subject line that references your specific report. If you normally work with a faculty admin assistant for your reimbursements, please email them your documents. In the subject of your email please use the following format:
      • ENT, Last name, First name, Date expenses incurred, Entity you Paid (e.g. Woodstock's Pizza)
FAQs & Procedures for Administrative Preparers
  • Prior Approval
  • The payee/reimbursee will submit an Entertainment Reimbursement Worksheet, and scanned original receipts.
    • Remind them to save the original receipts and turn them in to you once they are on campus.
       
  • Create the ENT-5 form and obtain the necessary approvals via your own UCSB DocuSign account. 
     
  • Save the ENT-5 form as a PDF and combine the worksheet and scanned receipts to create one combined PDF file. Incomplete files will be rejected.   
  • All ENT reports are later approved by the Department Chair and will need to reviewed/initialed by the Chair's analyst first. Go to DocuSign and send the packet as a new envelope. Refer to the DocuSign instructions resource or contact the CAO with any questions you may have.
     
  • After the packet has been sent through DocuSign and all signatures have been collected, you will receive a confirmation email indicating the form is complete.
     
  • Go to DocuSign and download the completed file for your records.
     
  • The signed documentation will then need to be entered in Concur by the person requesting reimbursement, or their designated ECE preparer. 
Catering
  • Campus Catering retains exclusive responsibility for providing all catering, food distribution and sales on the UC Santa Barbara campus and the local area. For the complete campus policy, please read over the UCSB Food Services Policy.
     
  • If Campus catering cannot provide services for your event you may contact an outside caterer. Caterers must be on this list to receive reimbursement for their services - List of Caterers Approved to Work at UC Santa Barbara Events 
     
  • The required permit for catering can be found on here: Catering Permit.
    Additional information regarding catering policy can be found here.

 

Entertainment - Quick Forms & Resources

For Reimbursees

For Administrative Preparers

 

Supplies Reimbursements

Supplies must be ordered through Gateway. If you need assistance ordering throughout Gateway please refer to BFS Procurement Services for more information or contact the CAO. If you purchase supplies or obtain services from a vendor that is not on Gateway, you will need to submit an explanation for the business purpose. 

FAQs for Reimbursees
  • To complete the required reimbursement worksheet you will need the following information:
    • Explanation why these items were not purchased on a University purchase order via the Gateway system
    • Account-fund to be used (Provided by your PI)
    • Dates purchases were made
    • Descriptions of Purchases and cost
      • Note: If you have made multiple purchases and have more than one receipt, please list the total cost of each receipt on its own line of the worksheet.
         
  • Provide all itemized receipts.
    • Receipts must show your name, the total amount charged, and the last four digits of the card/account used for payment. All details must align.
      • If your receipt does not show the required information submit a credit card statement along with your packet
         
  • If your request for reimbursement for goods and/ or services is in excess of $2,500, it requires additional justification and approval in order to be processed.
     
  • For Federally‐funded purchases ≥$10,000 and non‐Federally‐funded purchases ≥$100,000 a completed Form A: Source Selection and Price Reasonableness will also be required. 
     


How will you receive your reimbursement?

  • If you are an employee that ALREADY receives your UCSB paycheck via direct deposit, this should be the default method of payment. The reimbursement should be paid to the same account you receive your paychecks.
     
  • If you are an employee and you DO NOT have direct deposit, but you would prefer to receive your reimbursement directly to your bank account, you will need to visit UCPath to set it up. If you do not want direct deposit a check can be mailed either to the department for pick up or to your permanent address.
     
  • If you are not an employee a check can be mailed to the ECE Department or to your home address. If a check is mailed to the department we will notify you when it is received and you can come to pick it up. 
Procedures for Reimbursees
  • Fill out a supplies reimbursement worksheet.
     
  • Take a picture/scan receipts.
    • The entire receipt must be clearly visible.
    • A receipt is any document that contains the following five IRS-required elements:
      • Name of the vendor (who you paid). This cannot be an individual and must be a company.
      • Transaction date (when you paid)
      • A detailed description of goods or services purchased (what you bought)
      • Amount paid
      • Form of payment (how you paid – cash, check, or last four digits of a credit card)
      • A zero balance on any receipt or invoice
    • If your receipt does not meet the criteria listed above, a credit card statement that clearly shows your name, transaction date, and total expense must be submitted.

    • If you lose your receipt, please fill out the Declaration of Missing Evidence form and include a credit card statement.

  • If supplies were purchased online and you only have a purchase confirmation or an invoice please include a packing slip, shipping confirmation or redacted credit card statement showing the last 4 of your account/card, your name, and the transaction details.
     
  • After you have prepared all your documents and compiled them into one PDF, please email it to: cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu. If you normally work with a faculty admin assistant for your reimbursements, please email them your documents
    • In the subject line of your email please format it as follows:
      • Reimbursement type, Last name, First name, Date of Expenses (e.g. Supplies for XX, Smith, John, 03/10)
FAQs & Procedures for Administrative Preparers
  • The payee will submit their completed Supplies Reimbursement Worksheet, their scanned original receipts, and a packing slip, shipping confirmation, or redacted credit card statement showing the last 4 digits of their account/card, their name, and the transaction details .
     
  • Go to UCSB’s Disbursements Application (Note: If the reimbursee is not a UCSB Employee use the Payment Request - Miscellaneous Form 5, see quick forms for example).
     
  • Create voucher and save as a PDF.
     
  • Combine all files including the voucher, worksheet, and supporting documentation into one PDF.
     
  • Send the PDF reimbursement packet to the Department Approver for pre-review with “Pre-Review: DV######  in the subject line.
     
  • The Department Approver will review the voucher, worksheet and supporting documentation. Once you receive an email confirming the packet is ready for signatures, you are ready to submit the packet through DocuSign.
     
  • Go to UCSB DocuSign and send the approved packet as a new envelope. Refer to the DocuSign instructions resource or contact the CAO with any questions you may have.
     
  • After the packet has been sent through DocuSign and all signatures have been collected, you will receive a confirmation email indicating the form is complete.
     
  • Save the signed PDF and send it to the Department Approver in the same email thread as the pre-review of the same supplies voucher. You will need to change the subject line to “FINAL: DV###### for the Travel Approver to know the packet is complete and ready to send to Accounting.
     
  • Save the complete PDF file for your records and keep track of reimbursements that you will need reimbursees to turn in original documentation for.

Additional forms and information can be found on the UCSB Business and Financial Services website under Accounts Payable

 

Supplies - Quick Forms & Resources

For Reimbursees

For Administrative Preparers

Membership Reimbursements

University membership in organizations that promote the advancement of education and research, enhance the professional standing of its administrative personnel, and facilitate favorable community relations may be reimbursable. See Membership Policy - Business & Finance Bulletin G43.

FAQs for Reimbursees
  • To fill out the required membership reimbursement worksheet you will need:
    • The name of the organization the membership was purchased from
    • The effective dates of the membership (Note: only annual memberships are allowable)
    • A receipt showing your name, the total amount charged, and the last four digits of the card/account used for payment, and a zero balance
      • If the receipt does not show all of these things please submit a redacted credit-card statement as back-up (statement must show your name, the last 4 digits of the account, and the expense amount)
Procedures for Reimbursees
  • Fill out a Membership Reimbursement Request Worksheet.
     
  • Save receipt as a PDF.
    • Receipt must show the amount charged, your name, and the last four digits of the card used for purchase, the membership effective dates, and a zero balance.
      • Submit a credit card statement along with your packet if your receipt does not show all required information
         
  • Combine worksheet and receipt in one single PDF and email it to: cao-reimbursements@ece.ucsb.edu. If you normally work with a faculty admin assistant for your reimbursements, please email them your documents.
    • In the subject line of your email please format it as follows:
      • Reimbursement type, Last name, First name, Date of Expenses
      • ex. Membership, Smith, John, 03/10
FAQs & Procedures for Administrative Preparers
  • The payee will send you their filled out membership worksheet and receipts.
     
  • Fill out a Membership Form For use Within Concur and combine the worksheet and receipts to create one combined PDF file.  
     
  • Send the packet to the department approver for pre-review. If all looks good you will receive an email indicating your packet has been approved and you may proceed to DocuSign. The email will indicate which approvals and signatures you need to obtain.
     
  • All memberships must be approved by the Chair and will need to be reviewed/initialed by the Chair's analyst in DocuSign first. Send the approved packet as a new envelope. Refer to the DocuSign instructions resource or contact the CAO with any questions you may have.
     
  • After the packet has been sent through DocuSign and all signatures have been collected, you will receive a confirmation email indicating the form is complete.
    •  NOTE: The Membership Form does not require the payee’s signature because they are required to sign the membership payment request worksheet. In order to keep workflow the same as the rest of our reimbursement processes we will still have the payee sign using Docusign even if they have sent the worksheet with their scanned signature.
       
  • Save the completed file for your records and send it to the Department Approver with “FINAL Memb. F-5: Name of Payee/Host, date expenses were incurred” in the subject line. They will then post the reimbursement and send it to accounting.

 

Membership Quick Forms & Resources

For Reimbursees

For Administrative Preparers