By Donna Fowler

The President’s Cabinet has unanimously approved a new policy that entails reimbursement for MSU Denver-related business on personal cell phones, rather than the use of University-owned phones. The policy becomes effective Jan. 1, 2013.

According to Associate Vice President/Controller George Middlemist, the catalyst for the University’s new policy was a change in IRS policy that reimbursements are now nontaxable as long as several conditions are met.

“Most employees who have a business phone have a personal phone as well, so with the new IRS policy it makes sense,” Middlemist says. “This new policy should make it more efficient for employees.”

He adds that an analysis of 20 universities, both in-state and out-of-state, on their cell phone policies found that many were changing from providing cell phones to reimbursing charges on personal phones.

Currently there are about 65 MSU Denver-owned cell phones and the University spent approximately $55,000 on purchases and reimbursements during the past fiscal year, Middlemist says.

Participation in the reimbursement program will require that the president, provost or appropriate vice president has determined that the employee, typically at the director level or above, is required to be available at all times via his/her personal cell phone.

Reimbursement for University-related use of personal cell phones will be capped at $60 per month. This amount is not guaranteed but is the maximum reimbursement amount. Please see the policy for the procedure for obtaining cell phone reimbursements.

Based on University needs, the president may grant exceptions to this policy.

Tablets
Tablets will be treated like University-owned laptops, requiring the president, provost or appropriate vice president to authorize the purchase of a tablet from the Auraria Campus Bookstore. Certain limitations regarding connectivity will apply, with exceptions only granted when approved by the president, provost or vice president.