Travel Authorization

The University has developed this policy to ensure the appropriate level of review and approval for official university businessOfficial university businessAny activity that carries out the university's mission of instruction, research and service or that provides support to the university's instruction, research, and service activities.​ travel.

1. Authorization for official university business travel is required in advance of the trip.
2. The type of authorization depends on the trip destination and the type of traveler, as outlined below.
   1. In-State and Out-of-State University Business Travel
      • Department approval is required for all travelers.
   2. International University Business Travel
      • Department approval is required for all travelers.
      • Approval from the appropriate officer of the University (the designated international travel approver) is required for employeesEmployeesAn individual who currently holds a University employment appointment, whether full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal or hourly.​, studentsStudentAny individual who applies to, is accepted for admission, and enrolls for a course at the University of Colorado. This does not include an individual who has never attended or never enrolled at the institution.​, and regents (and for their immediate family membersImmediate family membersImmediate family is a spouse, domestic partners, civil union partner or dependent child.​, if those family members are also traveling on official university business).

Italicized terms are identified in the Policy Glossary.

1. Procedures
   • Procurement Service Center (PSC) Procedural Statement Travel
2. Other Resources (i.e., Training, Contact Information)
   1. Educational resources including guides, training notifications, and newsletters are announced and available on the Procurement Service Center web site.
   2. The Finance and Procurement Help Desk will respond to questions and provide guidance regarding interpretation of this policy. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Assistant Vice President/Chief Procurement Officer.

1. Revisions dated 7/20/2012
   • Corrects defined term officers (previously incorrectly italicized as officers of the University). The correction in italicization does not change any policy or procedural requirements.
2. Revisions dated 5/2/2011
   • With the implementation of the Concur Travel component of the Concur Travel & Expense System, the technical (system) requirement of TA numbers (Travel Authorization numbers) has been eliminated. This technicality does not change the requirements for obtaining approval to travel.
3. Revisions dated 1/1/2011
   • Expanded authority of APS from international travel authorization only, to authorization broadly for all university business travel (in-state, out-of-state, and international).
4. Revisions dated 10/1/2007
   • Updated references under Section III (Procedures, Forms, Guidelines, Resources)
5. Supersedes
   • International Travel Administrative Policy Statement dated 10/1/2007

travel, authorization, in-state, out-of-state, international