Following this past fall’s criticism of the their high travel spending, MSU trustees are now following a stricter set of rules aimed at cutting trip costs.
Under the revised policy, trustees will not generally be allowed to rent limousines, host donor dinners on the university’s dime or stay in expensive hotel suites. However, trustees still will be reimbursed for the travel and accommodations of one guest.
Prior to the directive, many of the board’s spending habits were neither authorized nor forbidden by university policy. The directive is intended to supplement the basic guidelines as outlined in MSU’s manual business procedures.
Trustees spent more than $100,000 in travel and entertainment between November 2012 and November 2013, including one overseas trip costing more than $20,000.
The original policy allowed for two international trips per trustee per four-year elected term. MSU spokesman Kent Cassella told The State News in a previous interview that some exceptions for trustees are appropriate if their travel includes university events.
Trustee Brian Mosallam said the policy revision could be a step in the right direction.
“(The spending issue) doesn’t affect me,” Mosallam said. “I’ve always been right fiscally and responsible…the revised policy is a good layer of checks and balances, even though those trips are not very common. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue in the future.”
According to the directive, travel is not permitted in the last three months of a trustee’s term in office. Travel documents released by the university in November show then-trustee Melanie Foster traveled to South Africa on MSU’s dime three weeks after she lost reelection.
Before booking an international trip, trustees are now required to meet with administrators and board chairman Joel Ferguson to discuss whether the trip is necessary.
The new policy encourages trustees to travel early in their term so that they may apply the knowledge gained from the trip throughout their remaining time in the position.
Under the new policy, MSU will pay for two airfare tickets intended for the trustee and the guest or spouse. At other ticketed events, trustees will be provided with two free tickets to donor functions and alumni events and four free tickets to sporting events.
Regarding travel once in the destination city, the new policy states that MSU will only reimburse a trustee for the price of one mid-size rental care where appropriate, or taxi fare when a rental car is not used.
“It is not appropriate to utilize a limousine … except when doing so it the only available mode of transportation to achieve the business purpose of the trip or would be less expensive than other options,” the document states.
For hotel rooms, MSU will reimburse trustees for the price of one standard hotel room. If trustees wish to upgrade to a suite or stay at a different hotel, trustees will be required to pay the difference.
Trustees will also not be reimbursed for meals on a per diem basis and will be expected to pay for meals that have a business purpose, like dining with donors.
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