Office of Business Services
tutorials

How to spend from your budget

You may spend from your club or organization's budget in either of the following five ways:

1) You may make purchases out-of-pocket, save the receipts, and submit the receipts along with a completed disbursement request to the Director of Business Services (DBS) in WSC 210, for reimbursement. Do NOT use this method for purchases of goods where a purchase order could have been used and NEVER pay someone for a service out of pocket!!!!
Examples:
Purchasing office supplies from Target for $20 is good.
Purchasing a kayak for $400 out of pocket is not good.
Paying someone to sing at an event out of pocket VERY BAD!!!

2) You may submit an invoice, issued by a company or individual, along with a completed disbursement request to the DBS to have the company or individual paid directly by check for their goods or services.
Example: Hiring a company to produce T-shirts for your group.

3) You may request from a vendor to pay via a purchase order, the form is located in the ASUPS office which is then submitted to the vendor and payment is then made from the university directly to the vendor.
Example: Submit a purchase order for a kayak from REI for $400.

4) You may ask to use the ASUPS Visa (Programmers and Media ONLY) or Costco Card by filling out the appropriate form with Anna Marie, save the receipts, and submit the receipts with your Organization code written on them to the ASUPS office in WSC 210.
Example: Purchasing food from Costco for an event.

5) You may purchase items from the UPS bookstore, copy center, publicity office, dining and conference services and other on-campus entities by giving them the proper index and account codes for the items you are buying. For these purchases you do not need to turn in a disbursement request or receipts as the charge will be directly deducted from your accounts.

Please note: All purchases from your budget should be consistent with those approved by the Budget Committee at the end of last year's spring term.

The Director of Business Services has the right to refuse payment or reimbursement for any purchases made outside of your group's approved budgetary guidelines.  Please contact the DBS with any questions you may have about the validity of a purchase.

How to fill out a disbursement request

You may download a blank disbursement request here.

Please view the following example disbursement request for guidelines on how to properly fill out the form.

Example disbursement request

Commonly used account codes

After you have filled out the disbursement request attach the original receipt or invoice to the back of the disbursement form using a paper clip.  Use your home scanner or the copy machine in the ASUPS office to produce an electronic copy of both the disbursement request and receipt and e-mail them to the DBS as an attachment.

Without an original receipt, there is no guarantee that the purchase will be reimbursed.  In the event that a receipt cannot be produced due to the nature of the purchase (for example, payment to a non-professional for services rendered), you will need to type up a memo, addressed to the DBS, explaining the nature of the purchase, the payee, and the amount.  Sign, date, and attach this memo to the disbursement request as you would a receipt, and submit it to the DBS.  Disbursement is subject to the approval of the DBS.

Turn in the paper disbursement form in to the inbox labeled 'Place Disbursement Requests Here' on the counter in WSC 210.

Please expect at least 7-10 business days for the delivery of the check.

How to view your budget online

As the leader of your organization you will be able to view your account online through Cascade.  (If you do not have this access, please contact the DBS.)  When you log in to Cascade you will see an item titled Budget Administration.  Your Financial Summary should look something like this:
 

 

 

Revenues minus Expenses

Variance

Orgn

Account Type

Budget

Actual

Encumbered

Fav(Unfav)

80xx

Revenues & Gains

100.00

0.00

0.00

-100.00

80xx

Operating & Capital Expense

475.00

22.86

0.00

452.14

 

Period Total:

-375.00

22.86

0.00

352.14

Any revenues that you predicted to raise and expenses you expected to incur will be listed under Budget.   Any revenues that you have actually raised this year and money that you have actually spent will appear under Actual (not everyone will have a line for Revenues & Gains).  The Operating & Capital Expense is the amount from which you will be spending throughout the year.  The Period Total is your bottom line, revenues minus expenses; this number must be greater than or equal to zero at the end of the 2004-2005 fiscal year. 

In the example above, the group planned to raise $100 and spend $475.  They have raised no money thus far and have spent $22.86.  There is $352.14 available to spend from this budget.


If you click on either
Revenues & Gains or Operating & Capital Expense a line-item breakdown of your revenues/expenses will be listed: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

Orgn

Account

Description

Budget

Actual

Encumb

Fav(Unfav)

80xx

70051

Instructional & Resource Materials

200.00

0.00

0.00

200.00

80xx

70102

Photocopying-Expense

175.00

22.86

0.00

152.14

80xx

70112

Equipment Contracts

50.00

0.00

0.00

50.00

80xx

70214

Meals-Seminar & Prof. Mtgs.

50.00

0.00

0.00

50.00

 

 

TOTALS:

475.00

22.86

0.00

452.14

In the example above, the group has spent $22.86 on Photocopying-Expense and none elsewhere. 

If you click on the $22.86 under Actual, the most detailed information available on the item will be displayed.  The more information that you include on the 'Description' section of your disbursement request, the more information will be available online for you to reference.

Activity

Date

Type

Document

Description

Amount

PO#

PO
Stat

Invoice#

Notes

 

 

08/28/2004

ASUP

J0014993

ASUPS Copy Charges, 8/23

6.42

 

 

 

 

08/28/2004

ASUP

J0014654

ASUPS Copy Charges, 8/26

16.44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL TRANSACTIONS:

22.86

 

 

 

 

 

How to request funding from the finance committee

The Finance Account is a special ASUPS account with a sum of money set aside for special or unexpected requests.  Any student or group of students may request money from the ASUPS Finance Account through the ASUPS Finance Committee.  The Finance Committee meets every Monday night at 9:00 to discuss requests.

To make a request, please download and complete the Finance Request Form below.  Requests must be received by the ASUPS VP in WSC 210 by Monday at 5:00 PM to be heard that evening Make sure to submit your request at least 14 days before your seminar or event.

Finance Request Form

Finance Request Procedure:

  1. Submit a completed Finance Proposal form to the ASUPS VP.

  2. A representative from your organization must be present to discuss the proposal at the next Finance Committee.  Please appear at WSC 210 at 9:00 PM on the Monday following your submission.

  3. Proposals are heard by the Committee in the order in which they were received.

  4. Following the meeting with the Finance Committee, you will be notified via e-mail with the committee’s recommendation to Senate.

  5. A representative from your group must then attend a Formal Senate meeting on Thursday in the Murray Boardroom at 7:00 PM.  The Senate makes the final decision on the allocation of funds.

  6. If you are allocated funding from the Senate, you will receive the funding in one of two ways: If you already have an ASUPS budget, the DBS will automatically transfer the amount from the Finance Account into your account.  If you don't have an ASUPS budget, you will need to follow one of the processes explained in the 'How to spend from your budget' tutorial above.  Please also view the 'How to fill out a disbursement request' tutorial.  If you have any questions about accessing the allocated funds, please schedule an appointment with the DBS.

  7. Appeals may be directed to the Senate.

What you can expect:

  1. The Finance Committee members will ask questions about the conference or event.  Questions may concern possible alternatives, cost reduction options, contributions to the campus community, other sources of funding, etc.

  2. The committee will make its recommendation based on the perceived costs and benefits of the conference/event to the campus, organization, and the students involved.

  3. At the beginning of each year, the Finance Committee creates a set of guidelines that helps guide its allocation policies.  You can view the most recent guidelines below.
    Financial Committee spending guidelines

  4. The Finance Committee evaluates requests on a case-by-case basis and reserves the right to propose full, partial or no funding.

How to purchase capital goods

ASUPS ASUPS Clubs/Orgs. are invited to request funds for capital goods during the Budget Proceedings each April.  Capital goods are assets with a useful life greater than 1 year.  Examples include sporting equipment and media equipment.

You may purchase capital by filling out a disbursement request form like you would for any other purchase but instead of using an expense account code you would use either of the following "capital account" codes:

71120

For capital items worth under $500

71110

For capital items worth more than $500

If you do not have any money allocated for capital and would like to purchase capital for your club you may come to Finance committee or allocate part of your expense funds toward buying capital.

If you would like to use this money to purchase computer equipment, please come speak to the DBS in person as it becomes a more complicated process

 
How to rent a van

If you would like to rent an ASUPS van, please download and complete a Van Rental Agreement Form here.  Submit the completed form to Anna Marie Ausnes in WSC 210 during regular business hours. 

You may checkout the online van rental calendar to view van availability for specific dates.  Plan on requesting a van at least two weeks in advance.

Van rental costs $20/day, plus the cost of gas.  Please read the rental agreement thoroughly, as it explains rental details such as additional charges for returning the van with less than a full tank of gas.

How to purchase food from your budget

In order to purchase food with your budget you must fill out a disbursement form and in addition to all the information required for a normal disbursement you must also provide:

§          The purpose of the event where the food was served

§          When the event occurred

§          How many people attended

THE PURCHASE OF ALCOHOL WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED!

How to make a purchase order

Some companies will request a purchase order for their goods or services.  A purchase order is a guarantee that your group will pay the amount in question.  To make a purchase order, you will need to have the company provide you with a detailed invoice on company letterhead.  You should then schedule an appointment to speak with the DBS for authorization.  Upon the approval of the DBS, Anna Marie will assist you in drafting the purchase order.  

How to deposit money into your account

To deposit money into your account you will need to fill out a deposit slip

***We HIGHLY recommend that you fill out this form on the computer as it will calculate all the extended values for you***

Complete this form and submit it with the amount to be deposited to Student Financial Services in the basement of Jones Hall (Jones 019). They will deposit the money into your account and it will show up on Cascade within roughly 48 hours.

 It will help if you know the revenue code for your deposit.  Common codes include:
    0080XX.58040- Miscellaneous revenue
    0080XX.58090- Club Dues


How to request stipends for your employees (Media Heads Only)

If you are a Media Head, you will need to submit a monthly stipend request and disbursement to the DBS in order to pay your student staff. 

When filling out the disbursement request, follow the example below: 

Stipend disbursement request  

On your media's letterhead, please attach a typed list of the individuals receiving payment to the back of the disbursement request.  Be sure to include the month, students' names, student ID #'s, campus mailbox numbers, and the amounts. 

Do not include the Media Head's stipend in this amount; the DBS will pay the Media Head automatically.

Stipend requests must be submitted to the DBS by the 15th of the month.  Stipends are then processed and paid on the 1st of the following month