As discussed at the CLT meeting last Tuesday, attached is the new College of Science per diem exception memo for hosting official guests of OSU. As you can see, the amounts of the limits are the same as in the past: $50 per person for dinner, $20 per person for lunch, and $15 per person for breakfast, plus up to a 15% tip. However, there are a few important reminders and changes to note:
- Please remember that alcohol expenses ARE included for purposes of applying these limits, even though they are billed separately to the OSU Foundation
- This exception applies ONLY to hosting “official guests” of OSU, which means that it does NOT apply to meals with just other OSU employees or students
- The number of OSU employees who may accompany a guest for a reimbursable meal is now limited tothree, unless an exception is approved by the Dean or Executive Associate Dean
- Meals above the exception memo amounts must obtain PRIOR approval of the Dean or Executive Associate Dean in order to be fully reimbursable
Please pass this information along to anyone in your units who may be hosting official guests. As the letter states, employees are expected to use good judgement and act as good stewards of OSU and OSU Foundation funds. Expenses must be reasonable for the event and must provide a clear benefit to OSU and its mission. Hosting employees should ask the budget authority, Dean, and/or ASBC about unclear cases prior to spending, or risk having to pay all or a portion of the expenses with their personal funds.
All cases NOT falling under this memo (i.e.: all meal costs NOT related to hosting an official guest of OSU) are still limited to the federal per diem amounts for the area in which the meal is held. Please see the travel page on OSU Business Affairs website (https://fa.oregonstate.edu/travel-1) if you are not aware of the limits for your area.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Nick Dollar, CPA | Finance & Accounting Manager
Arts & Sciences Business Center | Oregon State University
2042 Cordley Hall | Corvallis, OR 97331 | Phone: 541.737.1220
E-mail: Nick.Dollar@oregonstate.edu
ASBC website: fa.oregonstate.edu/asbc
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