51ÂÒÂ×

Authorized Purchases

The Purchasing Department continues to assist the campus community for their purchases of goods and services and would like to remind faculty, staff, and students of best practices and policies that the University have in place.

Reminder: GASB 87 - Lease Accounting

The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is the source of generally accepted accounting principles used by state and local governments in the United States. 51ÂÒÂ×, as a public institution, reports its financial statements using GASB. GASB has recently required the implementation of Statement 87 – Lease Accounting which has required changes in the way the University accounts for lease expenses and lease revenues. As a result of this change the following new object codes have been implemented:

Appalachia Ohio Zero Waste Initiative receives renewal funding from Sugar Bush Foundation

The Appalachia Ohio Zero Waste Initiative (AOZWI) will continue to foster initiatives and activities to contribute to the long term goal of a zero-waste economy during the 2020-21 fiscal year.

OBI Dashboard Updates

The following OBI Dashboard changes were deployed on the evening of July 21.   

Shred-It Update

As we continue to navigate through the new normal of the pandemic, here are some reminders about using Shred-It.

Contract Extension:

OHIO’s confidential shredding agreement through Shred-It has been extended through June 30, 2021.  This new agreement, effective July 1, 2020, will have an increase in price of 2% per pickup and a 7.5% recycling surcharge for University customers.  As the cost of doing business continues to rise, the OHIO Purchasing department continues to work with vendors to negotiate the best possible prices for our campus community.

Message from the Bursar

The Office of the Bursar will remain closed to in-person interactions until further notice due to COVID-19. However, all staff members are working remotely and available for business needs. A few staff members work in the office several days per week to process deposits and mailed payments.  Departments that interact with the Bursar may already be familiar with these processes, but we are sharing this with all customers as we move into our first ever remote fall term opening. These guidelines have been put into place to assist departments with daily processing. 

University Announces New Purchasing Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

As was communicated in the July Business Matters article, the University continues to work with each planning units point person to coordinate all COVID-19 PPE needs.

As a reminder, all planning unit requests for COVID-19 PPE supplies must be requested through the planning unit’s appointed individual. Individual departmental purchases for COVID-19 PPE must not be made by PCard or through any other purchasing tools (Payment Request, Reimbursement, or Requisition). 

Mileage Reimbursement Updates for Sponsored Awards from the State of Ohio

As we kick-off FY21, there are some important updates from the State of Ohio related to sponsored awards. The State of Ohio Office of Budget and Management has issued the .  The rate is being revised from $0.52 per mile to $0.45 per mile for grants that allow travel to be reimbursed.  This impacts funding received for travel on sponsored awards received from a State of Ohio agency including pass through funds.  Some examples of State of Ohio agencies include Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Development Services Agency, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Arts Council, Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, etc. 

A collaborative effort between 51ÂÒÂ× artists, researchers and community organizers will turn Sunday Creek’s AMD into paint pigments via an artistically inclined water-treatment facility breaking ground next year.

New Women’s Center courses available in Professional Development Pathways

More Women’s Center courses are now available as part of the PDP Program.  These courses will count towards badging in future certificates.