No alcoholic beverages or liquor may be purchased with University managed funds. This includes beer, wine, or any other alcoholic drink that might be served with meals or other activities.
Grambling State University is exempt from all Louisiana State sales tax. Therefore, no Louisiana State sales tax shall be reimbursed to any employee or business providing goods and services to GSU.
It is a violation of the Code of Governmental Ethics for faculty and staff members to "sell" complimentary copies of books given to them by publishers because of their position. Also, it is a violation of the Code for anyone to "purchase" such a complimentary copy of a book.
No department, faculty, staff or student employee shall print or cause to be printed any bulletin, leaflet, Christmas card, personalized memorandum stationery, or other similar communication, circular, book, report or similar publication, except those required by law.
State law prohibits live Christmas trees in public buildings. However, state law does permit artificial flame-retardant trees in public buildings.
No former Grambling State University employee shall, for a period of two years following termination of his or her public employment, render, on a contractual basis to or for the department at Grambling State University with which he or she was formerly employed, any service which such former Grambling State University employee had rendered to the department during the term of his or her employment.
No current state employee will engage in the performance of a Personal, Professional, Consulting or Social Service contract ( LA R.S. 39:1624) except as provided for in LA R.S. 39:1626. The following state employees are exempt from this restriction:
The Louisiana Constitution under Article 7 Section 14 states:
Section 14.(A) Prohibited Uses. Except as otherwise provided by this constitution, the funds, credit, property, or things of value of the state or of any political subdivision shall not be loaned, pledged, or donated to or for any person, association, or corporation, public or private.
Food and drink are not permitted for purchase with University managed funds as follows:
Exceptions:
As permitted under the University of Louisiana System Policy. The University shall make adequate provisions within an appropriate expenditure category of its operating budget for funding campus-based activities and functions which the institution president is expected to host and furnish. Expenditures for these activities may encompass items such as food, beverages, flowers, decorations, and other entertainment-related expenses.
Approved departmental exceptions:
No faculty, staff or student employee shall receive anything of economic value, other than compensation and benefits from the University to which he is duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of his office or position. However, supplementary compensation or benefits provided to an employee of a public higher education institution, board, or system from funds or property accruing to the benefit of the institution, board, or system as approved by the appropriate policy or management board, through an alumni organization recognized by the management board of a college or university within the state or through a foundation organized by the alumni or other supportive individuals of a college or university within the state the charter of which specifically provides that the purpose of the foundation is to aid said college or university in a philanthropic manner shall be deemed as compensation and benefits from the University to which he is duly entitled.
"Thing of economic value" means money or any other thing having economic value, except promotional items having no substantial resale value; food, drink, or refreshments consumed by a public servant, including reasonable transportation and entertainment incidental thereto, while the personal guest of some person.
No faculty, staff or student employee shall receive any funds above the sale price of goods or services not charged or required by the business as a matter of policy or contract.
The following items are not permitted for purchase with University managed funds for departmental use:
Exception:
As permitted under University of Louisiana System Policy. The University shall make adequate provisions within an appropriate expenditure category of its operating budget for funding campus-based activities and functions which the institution president is expected to host and furnish. Expenditures for these activities may encompass items such as food, beverages, flowers, decorations, and other entertainment-related expenses.
Approved departmental exceptions:
All memberships, regardless of cost, must be institutional memberships of the University or in the name of a University department. The purchase of individual memberships with University managed funds will be permitted as follows:
There is no legal obligation for the University to pay for a department, faculty, staff or student employee to belong to a civic, local or similar type of organization.
In accordance with Attorney General Opinion No. 96-195, dated May 9, 1996.
No payment or reimbursement in whole or part shall be made to any faculty, staff, or student employee for motor vehicle licenses regardless of the requirements of their job.
There is no legal obligation for the University to give a plaque, trophy or other award to any student, faculty, staff, individual, organization, or entity, unless qualified under one of the following conditions:
Recipient qualifies under an approved rewards and recognitions program. Recipient is selected through an established selection criterion for the award.
Recipient contributes work or service to the University greater than the cost of the award, and the work or service is not a responsibility or duty of the recipient, and the recipient receives no other monetary or other form of compensation for the work or service rendered or donated for activity, event, department, organization, or University.
The University requires all outbound mail to be identified and metered through the Grambling State University Post Office, except as follows:
Department or other budget unit requiring individual postage stamps for a research return envelope or other special project. A statement in a memo or email must outline the name of project, the need for the individual postage stamps and how many. Memo will require signature by the next level supervisor or forward next level supervisor email approving in order to purchase stamps.
Department or other budget unit requiring individual postage stamps to be available for urgencies that may arise outside regular scheduled business hours. A statement in a memo or email must outline the need for the individual postage stamps. Approval will be limited up to 20 postage stamps.
If there is no legal obligation for the University to pay for a certification, credential, license or other fee to retain the same that can travel with the individual professionally and personally. These and similar requests shall not be approved for payment or reimbursement.
Examples: CPA, CPM, AIA, PE, MD, etc.
Meals are not permitted for purchase with University managed funds for the following:
Exception:
In accordance with Section VII-C of the Louisiana Travel Guide: The University President may authorize a special meal within allowable rates (PPM 49 limits) to be served in conjunction with a working meeting of the departmental staff.
Subscriptions and magazines may be purchased, when delivered to University addresses, if purchase of subscriptions or magazines are related to efficiently executing the functions and responsibilities of the department or employee's job.