Travel & Expense Guidelines

Grand Valley State University

Travel and Expense Quick Guide

Updated January 2025

T&E Dept: [email protected]

Personal Vehicle Mileage: 70¢ per mile from campus or home, whichever is less. (Effective 1-1-2025)
Rental Cars: Lowest cost vehicle to meet University needs. Fuel and insurance cannot be added to rental bill.
Airfare: Lowest cost flight plus one bag allowed. No seat fees, extra baggage fees, bundles.
Taxi/Ride Share/Tolls/Parking/Tips: No receipt required if under $75.

Alcohol: Appropriate VP approval, itemized receipt and Alcohol Designation worktag is required.
Lodging: Itemized invoice attached within workday. Itemize all charges. May add taxes together for one line entry. May need to manually modify dollar amounts to adjust for deposits made. Itemize personal charges and mark those as personal.
Exceptions that require Vice President or Appointing Officer approval:
• Missing receipts
• Meals (including tip) that exceed per diem.
• Staff meals – AO approval and attendees as well as Business Reason required.
• Alcohol
• Other violations of policy may be denied and required to repay or may need AO or VP approval at the discretion of the Bus&Fin department.

Per Diem Effective October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026

 

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Full Day

Standard

$18

$20

$31

$69

US High Cost Cities

$22

$23

$36

$81

Int’l High Cost Countries

$15

$26

$41

$82

Note: Reimbursement for individual meals without an overnight stay will be taxable income and reported to payroll to add to your W-2.
Group Meals: If meal is for faculty/staff only; itemized receipt, all attendees and AO approval is required.
Group Meals: If 1+ guest or student: itemized receipt and attendee list required.

Travel Advances: Done in Workday using Create Spend Authorization (SA). Ensure you use the SA to create your Expense report upon return. Ensure you request at least 5 days in advance, that you are set up for Direct deposit and the request needs to be a minimum of $100. These must be reconciled, and excess funds returned within 15 days of return.
Returning Funds: Call Business and Finance at 1-2233 for Credit card payments. Send checks or money orders to 2015 JHZ Attn: Kim Wittkoski.  In both scenarios, you will need the Workday document number and worktags this needs to be applied to.
Relocation Expenses: Must be completed on a Paper T&E form with original itemized receipts, a copy of the approved offer letter with relocation noted. These will be reviewed as quickly as possible by Bus & Fin and then forwarded to Payroll who will apply the reimbursement and tax it appropriately on the next payroll.

Refer to the Travel and Expense Policy and Procedures for further information.


Updated 9/2/2025

Airfare Allowed by GVSU Policy

GVSU policy allows standard Main Cabin; standard Main Cabin refundable; standard Economy; standard Economy refundable; and Basic Economy airfares.

Seat upgrades and cabin upgrades are not allowed (for example: additional legroom, Comfort Plus, Economy Plus, Main Cabin Extra). If upgrades are desired, the
traveler must pay for those on their own with a personal credit card. To do that, reserve a fare in Lightning that allows upgrades (Main Cabin and some Basic
Economy with fee -- varies by airline) and then go to the airline website to purchase upgrades and pay with personal credit card.

Contact Kip Smalligan at 616-331-3211 for Airfare questions.

 

IN POLICY

   

American Airlines

Basic Economy

Main Cabin

Main Cabin

(Refundable)

Delta Airlines

Basic Economy

Main Cabin

Main Extra

(Refundable)

United Airlines

Basic Economy

Economy

Economy

(Refundable)

Southwest Airlines

Basic 

Choice   

 

Allegiant Airlines

Unbundled with purchased

carry on or checked bag

   
     

OUT OF POLICY

     

American Airlines

Main Cabin Extra

Premium Economy

Business (US)

First Class (US)

Flagship Business

(International)

Flagship First

(International)

Delta Airlines

Comfort Classic

Comfort Extra

First Classic

First Extra

Premium Select Classic

Premium Select Extra

United Airlines

Economy Plus

Premium Economy

Premium Plus

Business / First

   

Southwest Airlines

Choice Preferred

Choice Extra 

       

Allegiant Airlines

Basic Bundle

Bonus Bundle

Total Bundle

     

Refer to the Travel and Expense Policy and Procedures for further information.

Questions?  Email [email protected] or call 616-331-2203



Page last modified September 30, 2025