In order to gain additional information on the impact of full reimbursement of transportation costs for staff professional and scholarly activities, the trial period of reimbursing full transportation costs will be extended for an additional six months, to the end of calendar year 2017.
Fondren Library encourages all library staff to attend professional and scholarly activities which enhance skills and knowledge. To facilitate maximum staff participation in scholarly activity, the Library will continue the trial period in which the FULL cost of a reasonable airfare will be covered for reimbursement. (Currently, the Travel and Development Guidelines for both participants and attendees provide reimbursement for half of a reasonable airfare.)
The definition of a reasonable airfare remains unchanged:
“The most economical and direct form of transportation should be used Economy class airfare should be used.”
(https://professor.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Professor/Finance/Controllers_Office/ACF78.pdf)
This trial does not change the maximum fiscal year limit of $2,100 for active participation (or the $850 limit for non-participation attendance). As usual, these limitations will be applied when requests for travel funds are submitted to the Library Travel, Training, and Development Committee.
After the trial period ends, a decision will be made on whether to make this trial change permanent.