University Finance, Travel, and Expense

• A Non-Profiled Payee Travel and Business Expense Worksheet webform is available to assist guests, students, and employees who have not been granted access to Concur (aka non-profiled payees) with the organization of reimbursable travel and business expenses. The completed webform can then be used by an authorized departmental Concur user to process a CU-Non-Profiled Payee Expense Report in Concur as outlined below:

• Fill out or ask the non-profiled payee to fill out the Non-Profiled Payee Travel and Business Expense Worksheet. The worksheet can be sent electronically as an attachment or provided as a printed PDF to an authorized departmental Concur user for processing along with supporting documentation, including receipts.

• Prior to processing the expense report in Concur, users should check ARC to validate that the payee has an active vendor profile and take note of the vendor ID and vendor classification (Employee, Outside Party, Student Employee, or Student Non-Employee). Departments will not be able to reimburse non-profiled payees without an active ARC vendor profile and must continue to leverage the ARC vendor maintenance process for Outside Party Vendors. Note, vendor profiles for Employees and Students are being set up systematically via integration with PAC and SIS and the associated vendor IDs have a prefix of ‘CNR’.   
• Departmental authorized Concur users will select CU Non-Profiled Payee as the Type of Report in Concur, selecting the Vendor Type (Employee, Outside Party, Student Employee, or Student Non-Employee) as well as the Vendor Name / ID.
• After completing the Concur expense report header and line details, Concur users will submit the expense report into the workflow. Expense Reports for Non-Profiled Payees will route to an Initial Reviewer (not Supervisor) if the expenses are being charged to a Sponsored Project (when PC Business Unit is SPONS). If expenses are not being charged to a Sponsored Project, workflow will skip the Initial Reviewer and route directly to the Financial Approver. 

Original receipts must be provided for all air, lodging, and rental car expenses. For all other expense types, receipts must be provided if the expense is equal to or in excess of $50. A receipt may take many forms (i.e. cash register receipt, copy of an order form, web receipt or confirmation).

A receipt must identify:

• The date of purchase
• The vendor name(s)
• An itemized list and unit price of the purchase items
• The total amount

For missing receipts over $50, payee justification is required and a Missing Receipt Affidavit must be completed. Please refer to Document 6 (link) under the “Columbia University Finance Training Documents” for assistance and more information.

Alternatively, the Law School has also created an easy to navigate guide to begin using Concur with dedicated sections for each operation. Please visit here.

Public Health Update: Returning to Campus After Winter Break

January 03, 2023

Dear fellow members of the Columbia community, 

We write to update you on some COVID-19 related safety issues that apply to all Columbia affiliates. Please read the message below carefully.

1. Affiliates returning to campus: For all affiliates, students, staff, faculty and researchers coming to campus after the winter break and those with recent exposure to a COVID-19 case, COVID-19 testing is strongly recommended within 48 hours prior to return to campus.

2. COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccination: All affiliates are strongly recommended to get the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine booster dose as soon as possible, once eligible, as well as the annual influenza vaccination. Both vaccines are widely available at community pharmacies and through medical providers (including Columbia Health and CUIMC Student Health on Haven for eligible students). It is important to note that the COVID-19 bivalent booster is recommended for all, including individuals who have been vaccinated and received prior booster doses. Evidence indicates additional protection against symptomatic COVID-19 among those who received the bivalent booster compared to those who received two or more doses of the monovalent vaccine.

3. Masking: Masking is strongly recommended in indoor public settings at Columbia, while masking is required in all clinical and clinical research settings.

4. Travelers from People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau to the U.S.: All travelers to the U.S. from PRC and Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, beginning January 5, 2023, will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding their flight.

Per the recent CDC announcement, all air passengers 2 years and older originating from PRC and Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau must get a COVID-19 test (such as PCR test or an observed antigen self-test administered and monitored by a telehealth service or a licensed provider no more than 2 days before their departure and show proof of a negative test result to the airline prior to boarding their flight. This requirement applies to all passengers, irrespective of nationality and vaccination status, as well as those traveling directly from China or via third country transit. Such passengers may be selected for testing and viral genomic studies at ports of entry.

For such travelers who tested positive more than 10 days (but less than 90 days) before the flight, documentation of recovery from COVID-19 is required in lieu of negative test result.

5. Travel to PRC and Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau: The CDC has issued a Level 2 Travel Alert recommending that individuals in the U.S. reconsider such travel due to the reported rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and limited health care resources. It is recommended that all affiliates postpone non-essential travel to these locations.

Thank you for your commitment to the safety of our community.

As always, the University will continue to monitor the situation closely.   

Thank you, 

Wafaa M. El-Sadr, MD, MPH, MPA
Executive Vice President, Columbia Global
University Professor
Chair, Public Health Working Group, President’s COVID-19 Task Force

Melanie Bernitz, MD, MPH
Senior Vice President, Columbia Health
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine (in the Center for Family and Community Medicine)

Gerald M. Rosberg
Senior Executive Vice President

Effective for all Columbia-related travel beginning September 6, 2022 or later, there are no longer COVID-19–related travel restrictions. However, the following guidance remains:

• All affiliates must continue to abide by the Columbia Community Health Compact, all relevant university health protocols, and the University International Travel Planning Policy. All school-level requirements and protocols must also be followed.
   
• For all travel, domestic and international, masking is strongly encouraged in any indoor setting with a large number of attendees.
   
• Caution is urged for travel to countries that are designated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notice Level 3 or 4 or “Level Unknown.”

Prior to Travel

For all international travel, including personal:

1. Review U.S. Department of State website for COVID-19-related risks and restrictions. 
2. Review U.S. Department of State website for country-level travel advisories.
3. Review CDC guidance for international travel during COVID-19.
4. Review CDC COVID-19 travel recommendations for your international destination.
5. For Columbia-related travel, complete International Travel Planning Policy requirements, which apply to all affiliates.

For all domestic travel, including personal:

1. Review CDC guidance for domestic travel during COVID-19.
2. Become familiar with the public health conditions in your destination state.
3. Review COVID-19 information and travel guidance provided by your destination’s state or territorial and local health department.

During Travel

1. Masking is strongly encouraged in any indoor setting with large number of attendees.
2. Adhere to all Columbia Community Health Compact elements during travel.
3. Exercise caution and judgment, as the national and global public health context and local conditions may quickly change.
4. Become acquainted with local public health conditions and all rules and regulations of your destination state or country.
5. Follow New York State and City guidance upon return.
6. Follow all Columbia return to campus requirements.
7. Continue to check this site leading up to any travel. The University reserves the right to implement requirements as conditions change.

Upon Return from Travel

It is recommended that all domestic and international travelers get a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after return.

Airfare

• Columbia expects the traveler to purchase an economy class airfare. Since there are different economy class tickets available (Basic, Main, Plus), the University will reimburse any ticket that is within the economy class.
• A flight may be upgraded to business or first class if there is a documented condition as to why an upgrade is necessary, or if the flight is in excess of 5hrs. If an upgrade is necessary, please obtain a quote for a round- trip economy flight as well at the time of booking and submit with your purchased ticket. The difference in the airfare total will be documented.
• Please ensure that the proof of payment is clearly visible and that the itinerary for the airfare is included.
• If using a federal grant, you must comply with the Fly America Act. 
• Arrive the day before your event begins, and depart the day after it ends. Extending travel beyond the minimum days for personal reasons requires additional documentation, or travel will not be reimbursed.

Lodging

• Up to $350 per night for domestic stays
• Up to $400 per night for international stays
• Please provide a final folio showing that payment was made and detailing all expenses incurred.

 Ground Transportation

• Transportation must specify the origin and destination (i.e. taxi from airport to hotel).
• Car rentals should be booked through Hertz when possible. When using Hertz, do not purchase liability or any other insure from the agency. Loss/ Damage waiver and liability insurance is included under the Columbia contract.
• Provide a copy of the rental agreement with proof of payment. 
• Gas purchases will only be reimbursed when renting a vehicle.

Meals

• Provide an itemized receipt showing all items purchased.
• Ensure proof of payment is visible on receipt (payment in Cash, Visa XXXX charged or similar).
• Provide the names of all participants at the meal (when number of attendees is 10 or less). If greater than 10, please include the total number of attendees.

Business meetings involving only University personnel and students should not exceed the following thresholds (per person) excluding tips and tax:

• Up to $25 for breakfast
• Up to $35 for lunch
• Up to $75 for dinner
• Up to $50 for lunch and $100 for dinner for external speakers
• Up to $150 for recruitment and fundraising

To learn how to book domestic flights, hotels, and car rentals in Concur Travel, watch the following video:

Video: Using Concur Travel to Purchase Domestic Air, Hotel, and Rental Car

Users should review the following chart for a complete description of transaction fees booked on Concur Travel or with a WTI Travel Counselor over the phone: Transaction Fee Chart

Travelers are advised to contact a Columbia University designated Travel Counselor at World Travel, Inc. (WTI) at 1-855-961-0313 to book their international trip and ensure all requirements are met to travel internationally.

Users can assign delegates to act on their behalf and book their travel. To act as delegate and book travel on behalf of others, the delegate must select the user on their Profile under "Acting as other user." 

Users should follow this job aid for guidance on how to assign and manage their delegates:

Job Aid: Assign and Manage Delegates

By default, Students and Guests (Outside Parties) do not have access to Concur. To assist Students and Guests with travel, a designated Staff member can book on their behalf. Only designated Travel Arrangers can book travel for Students and Guests (Outside Parties).