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Purchasing support

Purchasing anything at the Cronkite School begins with your supervisor’s approval: Seek approval from your supervisor, who will authorize the purchase (or seek further authorization) before ordering or purchasing goods or services. Once your supervisor has approved a purchase, the Cronkite business and operations team decides whether purchasing will follow the procurement, reimbursement or purchasing card methods below. Employees may not select their own purchasing method, and they may not sign purchase orders, contracts or other agreements on behalf of the school. (The Cronkite School’s authorized signatory is Nazeef Ebrahim.) Review ASU’s complete purchasing and business policies at policies.asu.edu.

Procurement

Several purchase categories require procurement directly through the university. Contact your supervisor and the business team directly to explore purchases in the following areas:

  • Amazon.com items
  • High-dollar items, including furniture and promotional items
  • Software (Note: Software requires an additional central technology review)
  • Business supplies
  • Books
  • Services and event rentals
  • Printing and shipping

Reimbursement

Employees may be reimbursed for personal purchases only when authorized in advance by both a supervisor and the business office, and when the purchase serves a public purpose (see the ASU Public Purpose Guide); employees are responsible for unauthorized purchases. If a supervisor and the business office have pre-approved a personal purchase for reimbursement, submit an itemized receipt to the business office. Soon, you’ll receive a Workday email alert; follow the instructions to submit and receive your reimbursement.

Purchasing card

Purchasing cards—better known as “P-cards”—are ASU’s method for purchasing low-dollar goods and services that serve a public purpose. Once your spending has been approved by your supervisor, a member of the business team will share with you a temporary P-card with which to complete your purchase. (Some Cronkite School initiatives have dedicated P-cards to effectively manage spending.) Employees must follow the ASU guidelines below when using P-cards; employees will be held responsible for unauthorized purchases.