The revision to Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, dated October 3, 1991, specified certain costs that are unallowable as either direct or indirect charges to federally sponsored projects. In response to this revision and the "Final Revision of Circular A-21" dated July 26, 1993, we are now required to comply with Federal Cost Accounting Standards. The accounting standards as embraced by Circular A-21 dictate that unallowable costs be identified in the accounting system. Accordingly, we have established a one character mandatory identifier 'A' for allowable or 'U' for unallowable in order to identify and account for allowable costs and any unallowable costs that may be appropriate and allowable for university expenditure but unallowable for facilities & administrative (formerly indirect cost) recovery. This identifier is added to the end of the account code key (ACK) on the various input forms.

F	UNIT	DEPT	OBJ	SOURCE	A/U
fill	fill	fill	fill	fill	fill

All costs must be identified when they occur and coded with the appropriate designator (A or U) effective July 1, 1994. The Allowable or Unallowable identifier must be used with all expense transactions (i.e. object codes 0900-0999 for unrestricted and restricted accounts).

A 'U' identifier should not be used on sponsored project accounts, dash 5-8, unless approved by the Office of Grant and Contract Accounting.

The following costs are generally unallowable for federal reimbursement and should be coded with the 'U', unallowable indentifier:

Advertising and Public Relations

1. "The term advertising costs means the costs of advertising media and corollary administrative costs. Advertising media include magazines, newspapers, radio and television programs, direct mail, exhibits, and the like."
2. "The term public relations includes community relations and means those activities dedicated to maintaining the image of the institution or maintaining or promoting understanding and favorable relations with the community or public at large or any segment of the public."
3. Unallowable advertising and public relations costs include the following:
   • Costs of convocations or other events related to instruction or other institutional activities including:
     • Costs of displays, demonstrations and exhibits.
     • Costs of meeting rooms and hospitality suites.
     • Costs of promotional items and memorabilia.

Alcohol

"Costs of alcoholic beverages are unallowable" for federal reimbursement. The cost of alcohol must be separated from other meal expenses. If the cost of alcohol can not be separated, the entire cost of the meal must be classified as unallowable.

Alumni Activities

"Costs incurred for, or in support of, alumni activities and similar services are unallowable" for federal reimbursement.

Commencement and Convocation Costs

"Costs incurred for commencements and convocations are unallowable" for federal reimbursement.

Commercial Air Travel

Airfare costs in excess of the lowest available commercial discount airfare or customary standard (coach or equivalent) airfare are unallowable except when such accommodations would require circuitous routing, excessively prolong travel, greatly increase the duration of the flight or require travel during unreasonable hours. In order for airfare costs in excess of the customary standard commercial airfare to be allowable, e.g. use of first-class airfare, the institution must justify and document on a case-by-case basis the applicable conditions.

Donations and Contributions

"Donations or contributions made by the institution, regardless of the recipient, are unallowable" for federal reimbursement.

Entertainment

"Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any costs directly associated with such costs (such as tickets to shows or sports events, meals, lodging, rentals, transportation, and gratuities) are unallowable" for federal reimbursement.

Goods or Services for Personal Use

"Costs of goods or services for personal use of the institution's employees are unallowable regardless of whether the cost is reported as taxable income to the employees." Flowers, gifts to employees, coffee and water service would be considered unallowable. Artwork or other decorative furnishings is considered unallowable.

Fines and Penalties

"Costs resulting from violations of, or failure of the institution to comply with federal, state, local or foreign laws and regulations are unallowable". A prime example would be a traffic violation ticket.

Limousines

The use of limousines by the institution has been considered to be an unallowable cost. However, if it can be demonstrated and documented that the use of limousine service in a particular instance is the most economical method of transportation, this would be allowable.

Memberships, Social and Civil

"Costs of membership in any civic or community organization are unallowable. Costs of membership in any country club or social or dining club or organization are unallowable.

[Institutional membership in business, technical and professional organizations is allowable. Costs of the institution's subscription to business, professional and technical periodicals are allowable. Costs of meetings and conferences, when the primary purpose is the dissemination of technical information, are allowable. This includes costs of meals (less any alcohol), transportation, rental of facilities and other items incidental to such meetings or conferences.]

QUESTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF THE A/U FIELD SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE AREA PROCESSING THE FORM CONTAINING THE A/U FIELD.

QUESTIONS REGARDING POLICY ISSUES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE MANAGER OF THE AREA PROCESSING THE FORM OR TO THE ASSISTANT COMPTROLLER FOR FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COST ANALYSIS FOR CLARIFICATION (617)353-8079.


Intra-fund/Inter-fund Transfers

Any transfers made within current funds (n.b., current funds are those accounts whose fund indicator = 0) will now be considered intra-fund transfers and the intra-fund transfer object codes (0884/0984) should be used. Alternatively, those transfers that are between funds are inter-fund transfers and the inter-fund transfer object codes (0885/0985) should be used.

In addition, any transfers from unrestricted (generally involving Unit 012) to a Dash-9 account no longer need to be recorded through the 0-0285-1200-0 and 0-0285-1300-0 control accounts. Due to enhancements to the general ledger system, these accounts are no longer needed to track transfers and have been eliminated.

The following are examples of transfers from unrestricted to a Dash-9 account:

Intra-fund transfers from unrestricted to a Dash-9 account may be made to either Unit 012 or to the Unit to which the journal entry applies. For example:

Debit	0-012-xxx-0984
Credit	0-xxx-xxx-0884-xxxx-9
or
Debit	0-0xx-xxx-0984
Credit	0-xxx-xxx-0884-xxxx-9

Inter-fund transfers should be prepared and processed only by the Office of General Accounting.


Any questions related to the proper use of the intra/inter fund object codes should be directed to the Assistant Comptroller, Office of General Accounting at (617)353-4266.


Income versus Expense Recovery

0835	SALES-EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENTS	Includes: receipts for sale of goods, such as course materials, to individuals, including Boston University students and employees and other companies/institutions. Excludes: reimbursement for sale of goods and services to any Boston University departments (excluding Auxiliary Units); reimbursement from faculty, staff and students for personal telephone calls and photocopying; insurance reimbursements. (See object code 0983).
0838	SALES-SERVICE DEPARTMENTS	Includes: receipts for sale of services, such as health related testing/screenings to individuals, including Boston University students and employees and other companies/institutions. Excludes: reimbursement for sale of goods and services to any Boston University departments (excluding Auxiliary Units); reimbursement from faculty, staff and students for personal telephone calls and photocopying; insurance reimbursements. (See object code 0983).
0983	OTHER EXPENSE RECOVERY	Includes: reimbursement for sale of goods and services to any Boston University departments (excluding Auxiliary Units); reimbursement from faculty, staff and students for personal telephone calls and photocopying. Includes: insurance reimbursements. Excludes: receipts for sale of goods and services to individuals, including Boston University students and employees and other companies/institutions. (See income object codes 0835 and 0838.)

Examples are as follows:	0983	08xx
Reimbursements from B.U. employees for personal phone calls	X	fill
Receipts from sale of course materials	fill	0835
Reimbursements from BU employees for photocopying	X	fill
Reimbursements from insurance claims	X	fill
Receipts from sale of services to non-employees of B.U.	fill	0838
Receipts from infrequent sales of supplies to another department	X	fill
Receipts from sale of services to employees of B.U.	fill	0838
Receipts from sale of services to departments within B.U.	X	fill