• Accounting
  • Policies
    
    • Contract Approval
      
  • Purchasing Card Program
  • Forms
  • Reimbursements
  • GL Reports
  • Corporate Credit Cards
  • Purchases
  • Contractors/Visitors
  • Meet the Staff
• Facilities Management
• Financial Affairs
• Human Resources
• Loans and Student Accounts
• Payroll

Policies and Procedures
Contact List
Forms
Smart Data Online (JPMC)-login information and resources

Policies and Procedures

The purpose of the purchasing card program is to establish a more efficient, cost-effective method of purchasing and paying for small dollar transactions as well as high volume, repetitive purchases. The purchasing card can be used with any supplier that accepts MasterCard as a form of payment.

If used to its potential, the purchasing card program will result in a significant reduction in the volume of small dollar check requests and petty cash reimbursements.

General Information

The purchasing card (p-card) is a Willamette University MasterCard issued by JP Morgan Chase. The p-card program is meant to delegate small dollar purchasing to University employees. The card may be used for business purposes only and those purchases must comply with Willamette University policies and procedures.

All University employees are eligible for the purchasing card. A completed P-Card Application form and P-Card User Agreement form must be submitted to the P-Card Coordinator before a card can be issued.

Program Definitions

Cardholder

A cardholder is designated by the Vice President or Dean of their area to procure supplies and materials. Some cardholders may be authorized to use their p-card for University travel. The cardholder is responsible for following the guidelines in regards to purchases, travel, expense documentation, monthly reconciliation, and security of the card.

Budget Manager

The Budget Manager is responsible for approving monthly purchasing card statements of cardholders and to ensure that they follow Willamette University policies and procedures. The Budget Manager will also assist in assigning cardholder spending limits and monitoring adherence to purchasing card policies and procedures. The Budget Manager is responsible for retrieving purchasing cards in the event of termination or change in employment status of a cardholder under their supervision.

Purchasing Card Coordinator

The P-Card Coordinator is designated to answer questions, address issues and oversee the administration of the program. All purchasing card requests must go through the P-Card Coordinator.

Cardholder Responsibilities

Cardholders must use their purchasing card responsibly and for University business expenses only. Misuse of the card for transactions not falling within the guidelines of Willamette University policy will result in the suspension of the card. Pre-authorization of a purchase must be completed if required within your department. If making a purchase using grant funds, the cardholder is responsible for ensuring that all granting agency requirements are fulfilled.

Monthly Statements

At the end of each billing cycle, every cardholder will receive a monthly statement which lists purchases made to that account. Upon receipt of this statement, the cardholder should reconcile the statement with their purchasing card receipts. Each expense should be allocated to the proper general ledger account number(s) and a brief description of the business expense entered online through Smart Data Online (https://dol.jpmorganchase.com/). After a charge has been reviewed and allocated, the "Cardholder Reviewed" box should be checked for that transaction. Once all of the charges for the monthly statement have been reviewed, an "Expense Report" should be printed, signed by the cardholder, and submitted to the Budget Manager with the original receipts and other supporting documentation attached.

The statement reconciliation MUST be completed within ten days of the billing cycle cutoff. Failure to reconcile your statement or include proper documentation for charges will result in the suspension of the card.

Receipts

Always obtain an itemized receipt when using the purchasing card. It is the cardholder's responsibility to ensure that there is a receipt for each purchase. The itemized receipt must be presented for all expenses - the credit charge slip is not considered adequate documentation. If a purchase is made by mail or telephone, the cardholder should ask the vendor to include the receipt when shipping the product. If a purchase is made online, the emailed order confirmation which includes a list of the purchased items should be submitted as documentation.

If a receipt has been lost, the cardholder should obtain a duplicate copy of the receipt from the vendor. If the attempt to obtain a duplicate receipt is unsuccessful, then the cardholder should complete a P-Card Missing Receipts Form, which can be found in the Campus Use Only Forms section of the Internal Web. This form is not a substitution for proper documentation and should only be used on an exception basis. Frequent failure to submit proper documentation/receipts could result in the suspension of the card.

Restricted Purchases

The following purchases cannot be made with the Purchasing Card. The items listed below are restrictions at the University level; your department may have more specific guidelines for restricted purchases.

• All services including independent contractors
• Personal Items
• Gift Certificates/Gifts
• Capital Items - any single item with a per unit cost over $5,000
• Goods that require the purchaser to sign a contract that requires administrative approval (see Contract Policy)
• Computers
• Paper
• Furniture
• Items with the University Logo
• Gasoline for personal vehicle (fleet or rental vehicles are okay)
• Weapons, ammunition, or explosives
• Donations
• Cash Advances, travelers checks, money orders, wire transfers

Returns, Credits, and Disputed Charges

If there is a problem with a purchased item, service or charge, the cardholder should make every attempt to first resolve the issue directly with the vendor. Any returns must be credited to the credit card; cash refunds for returns are prohibited. The cardholder should review future monthly statements to ensure that the account is properly credited for returns, credits and disputed charges.

If a cardholder cannot resolve a disputed item directly with the vendor, they should contact JP Morgan Chase and then complete the P-Card Dispute Charge Form which can be found in the Campus Use Only Forms section of the Internal Web. The completed form should be submitted to the P-Card Coordinator with the monthly statement.

Security of the Card

The cardholder is responsible for the security of the card. The card and card number should be kept in a secure location at all times. The only authorized user of the card is the cardholder whose name appears on the front of the card.

Below are some guidelines to help guard against fraud:

• Sign the back of your card immediately.
• Keep the card in a secure location and guard the credit card number carefully.
• Keep an eye on the card during the transaction, and retrieve it as soon as possible.
• Always know where your card is. If you cannot find the card, assume the worst and have your account cancelled and request a new card.
• Be aware of what you are signing. Your signature can copy through to other slips deliberately placed underneath.
• Review your monthly statement to ensure that all charges are legitimate.
• Visit reputable, familiar merchants whenever possible.
• Report possible fraud immediately to JP Morgan Chase and P-Card Coordinator.
• Report a lost or stolen credit card to JP Morgan Chase and P-Card Coordinator.

Lost or Stolen Cards

In the event that the p-card is lost or stolen, the cardholder should immediately contact JP Morgan Chase at 1-800-316-6056. After contacting the issuing bank, the cardholder should then notify the P-Card Coordinator.

Budget Manager Responsibilities

Budget Managers serve an important role in the purchasing card program. They ensure that cardholder charges follow Willamette University policies and procedures and that those charges are properly documented.

Budget Managers will:

• Reconcile cardholder charges with matching original receipts.
• Assign appropriate general ledger account number(s) if not already done so by the cardholder through Smart Data Online.
• Make sure that all charges include a brief description of the business purpose for the expense. If it is a hosting expense, the cardholder should have included a list of attendees.
• Note any missing receipts and follow-up in a timely manner by assisting the cardholder with retrieving missing receipts.
• Assist with disputes and follow-up until the dispute is completed and closed.
• After verifying the charges and account numbers online, the "Supervisor Reviewed" box should be checked for each reviewed transaction.
• Indicate your approval of the cardholder statement by signing the "Expense Report" and forward it to Accounting with all the supporting documentation attached.

Contact List

P-Card Coordinator (Willamette University):

Jan Kenitzer
Accounting Assistant and P-Card Coordinator
503-370-6104
503-370-6633 fax
jlkenitz@willamette.edu

JP Morgan Chase:

Customer Service:
1-800-316-6056

To Report Lost or Stolen Cards:
1-800-316-6056

Smart Data Online:

To view and reconcile credit card charges and statement online:
https://sdol.jpmorganchase.com/

Forms

All Purchasing Card forms are available online at http://www.willamette.edu/local/forms/.

P-Card Application
P-Card User Agreement
P-Card Dispute Charge Form
P-Card Missing Receipt Form

Smart Data Online (JP Morgan Chase)

To view and reconcile your credit card charges and statement online:
https://sdol.jpmorganchase.com/.