Category Archives: Travel

Update: Travel Meal and Incidental Expense (M&IE) Reimbursements

As we shared in our recent Fall What’s Up, important changes to CSU Travel & Business Expense Policy are coming. The changes will impact all business travel starting on January 1st, 2024. 

Reimbursable meals during domestic travel are based on federal GSA rates. Said reimbursements must be associated with an overnight stay. Provided the expenses do not exceed $75, per diem does not require a receipt. The daily per diem for domestic travel ranges from $59 – $79, based on the location and cover daily meals and incidental expenses. Updates to both the SJSU Travel Guide and FABS website will be shared with the campus in January 2024.

While we work to modify FTS to support the policy changes, all travel reimbursements require the following spreadsheet to be completed and attached to all Travelers Reimbursement Claims.  

The CSU Chancellor’s Office created a Travel Claim spreadsheet that automatically loads the daily rates, less the meals provided, for ease in processing. The spreadsheet is designed to assume max per diem is due to the traveler per day, provided it is not the first or last day of travel and there is an overnight stay. First and last days of travel only receive 75% of the per diem totals. 

Changes to FTS, Training, and Open Labs will be announced in early January. Please stay tuned! If you have questions, please contact FinanceConnect at financeconnect@sjsu.edu or contact the Payment Services Travel Specialist.

Update – Travel to Banned States Repealed

Update 9/27/2023: For clarification, departments no longer need to submit the Travel to Banned States Form for any domestic travel for trips that occurred on or after September 14, 2023.

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Governor Newsom signed SB 447 on September 13, 2023 repealing AB 1887, the state travel ban.

Effective immediately, state funds may be used for travel to all states. If the travel occurred prior to September 13, 2023, departments will need to ensure that non-state funds are used for reimbursement. However, if the travel occurred September 14th or later, state funds may be used. Please share this message with any staff or faculty you feel may benefit from this information. 

If you have any questions, please contact FinanceConnect at financeconnect@sjsu.edu or Payment Services, An Le at an.le@sjsu.edu or 408-924-1572.

AB 1887 – SB447 Amendment

CA State Legislature Page for SB447

SB-447

SB447 – PDF

CSU Travel Procedures & DAAFE Update

Payment Services has made improvements to the Travel Lodging approval process.

CSU has a nightly lodging limit of $275 per night (excluding taxes and fees).  SJSU has updated its policy to allow Associate Vice Presidents and College Deans to pre-approve any lodging rate over the allowed limit. Documented pre-approval of any rates exceeding the $275 per night limit should be documented through our newly established Maximum Lodging Limits Justification DocuSign form. The form can be found in the Forms Page of our website.

FinanceConnect has updated the Delegation of Authority for the Approval of Financial Expenditures Guidelines (DAAFE) to include Travel Lodging approval requirements.

For additional information, please refer to the SJSU Travel Guide. If you have questions, please contact FinanceConnect at financeconnect@sjsu.edu or 4-1558.