Conference/Meeting Agendas are required for all expense accounts when requesting reimbursements for meals. All meals provided by the conference/meeting will not be reimbursed on expense accounts unless a valid explanation as to why the meal provided was not consumed. This explanation must accompany the expense account form.
Effective June 1, 2022
Effective June 1, 2022, current standard per diem meal rates without receipts:
Meal |
Cost |
Percentage |
Breakfast |
$15.00 |
24% |
Lunch |
18.00 |
29% |
Dinner |
30.00 |
47% |
Total |
$63.00 |
100% |
To determine per diem reimbursement for high cost metropolitan areas, please use the link in the Domestic High Cost Metropolitan Areas dropdown (below). Include a printed copy of the rates and detailed receipts with your expense form.
Any representative of this university, on travel status, should not request reimbursement for any amount(s) not spent. Nor should any employee ask for reimbursement of a meal (s) not consumed or for any meal included with a registration fee. As noted above, conference/meeting agendas or travel itineraries must be submitted when requesting any meal reimbursements.
Foreign travel is reimbursed at actual cost with original receipts or at the applicable U.S. Department of State Meal and Incidental (M&IE) rate without receipts. The USM Board of Regents will review these rates biennially.
Please note: A partial day’s travel is eligible for the appropriate meal (s) consumed when travel time encompasses a period of two hours before and/or two hours after one’s normal work day. Under no circumstance will lunch be reimbursed on a one day trip unless the employee is traveling two hours before and 2 hours after one's normal work day. An employee would need to work a minimum of 12 hours plus a lunch period of at least 30 minutes to be eligible for lunch reimbursement. For example and assuming an hour lunch break and a normal 8am-5pm work day, an employee must start the travel by 6am and return at 7pm. These departure / arrival times must be clearly indicated on any expense account presented.
Institutional funds may not be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages or additional flight insurance.