Pre-approved Convergence College Network (CCN) and partner college individuals may be eligible for up to $1650 in travel reimbursement. Please review the following information prior to making travel arrangements. You are personally responsible for following the guidelines below.

Questions and concerns should be directed to Mark Dempsey at 972.377.1582 or mdempsey@collin.edu.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this level of reimbursement, you must meet the following criteria.

• Be a member of a “Level 1” CCN or a partner college (If you're unsure of your school's CCN Level, please contact Helen Sullivan - 972.377.1648, hsullivan@collin.edu or Mark Dempsey - 972.377.1582, mdempsey@collin.edu.
• Live one or more hours away from Collin College's Preston Ridge Campus in Frisco, TX
• Attend and present at the Sunday CCN meeting - July 7, 2013
• Attend all five days of the conference - Monday morning, July 8, 2013 - Friday afternoon, July 12, 2013
• Complete end-of-course online surveys and action plan for using knowledge obtained

Covered Expenses

The $1,650 in travel reimbursement can cover the following eight categories. Please click the link for detailed information about allowable expenses in each category. All are listed on the “Request for Travel Reimbursement ” form.

Expenses Not Covered

The following expenses are NOT reimbursable. Please see detailed travel categories below for specific exclusions.
* Shuttle/taxi services between hotel and campus will not be covered as they are provided free by suggested hotels
* Toll fees and gasoline purchases
* Travel agent fees or travel insurance
* Roadside assistance, LDW or similar rental car fees
* Airline upgrades and extra fees
* Hotel room upgrades, valet parking, and personal expenses

Please note also that Collin College will not reimburse for airline, hotel, and rental car bundles purchased through online travel sites (e.g. Travelocity Orbitz, Priceline, etc.) if an imemized airfare, hotel, and rental car receipt cannot be obtained by the traveler. That is, many of these sites charge one rate for airfare and hotel and often the hotel cannot provide the sort of itemized paid invoice that Collin requires for reimbursement.

Special Expenses Requiring Pre-approval

Pre-approval is required from the National Convergence Technology Center (CTC) for the following three situations. If you do not get these special expenses approved in advance by Monday, June 3, 2013, these expenses will not be reimbursed.
* You want to drive instead of fly*
* You want to rent a car
* You anticipate expenses above the $1650 cap

Important Info
* The National CTC will reimburse on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Your travel reimbursement eligibility will be confirmed via e-mail within 48 hours of your registration for the event.
* Reimbursement requests will not be processed until after the event ends and after you have provided all required paperwork and original receipts as described above.
* That paperwork is due no later than Friday, August 16, 2013. If you are not able to provide all required documentation by this date you waive your right to reimbursement
* The National CTC follows Collin College’s policy on travel reimbursements. All decisions of the Collin College Business Office regarding travel reimbursements will be final.
* All reimbursement submissions are subject to review and approval and may not be guaranteed.
* An important rule of thumb: always select the mode of travel that provides the lowest total cost to Collin College. To do otherwise risks the denial of your reimbursement request.

Documents:
Request for Travel Reimbursement form
2013_summer_wc_request_for_travel_reimb_ccn.pdf
Per Diem Worksheet - Excel Spreadsheet
summer_wc_per_diem_blank.xls
Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Exemption Certificate
texas_hotel_occupancy_tax_exemption_certificate.pdf
Travel Guidelines handout (hard copy version of this webpage)
summer_wc_travel_guidelines_ccn_handout.pdf

Checklist
* Complete and sign the “Request for Travel Reimbursement” form – a paper copy with an ink signature is required. (Please note that at the top, “Travel START Date & Time” refers to the day and time that you left your house and “Travel END Date & Time” refers to the day and time that you returned home.)
* Complete the Excel “Per Diem Worksheet” spreadsheet. (Please note that at the top, “Time Left” refers to the day and time that you left your house and “Time Returned” refers to the day and time that you returned home.)
* Provide original receipts and invoices – no copies, no faxes. Please tape all receipts to 8 ½ x 11 paper. DO NOT use staples. These will be attached to the “Request for Travel Reimbursement” form.
* If you are requesting mileage, provide a Google Maps or MapQuest print-out documenting miles traveled.

Completed travel reimbursement forms along with backup documentation should be mailed by Friday, August 16, 2013 to:

National Convergence Technology Center
Collin College
attn Mark Dempsey
9700 Wade Blvd. #J130
Frisco, TX 75035

Questions?
All questions regarding CCN Participant travel should be directed to: Mark Dempsey 972.377.1582

Reimbursable Expenditure Details

Car:
You must submit a print-out of your route documenting miles traveled, using either Google Maps or MapQuest.

The allowable mileage between two points is the shortest route between those two points. Mileage is currently reimbursed at 56c/mile and paid to the driver only.

Driving instead of flying must be pre-approved by Monday, June 3. In the event you choose to drive rather than fly to North Texas and are approved to do so, you will only be reimbursed the cost of the less expensive mode of travel. For instance, if it costs $150 to fly round trip to North Texas, and $250 for mileage, you would only be reimbursed the $150.

Toll fees will not be reimbursed. Gasoline purchases will not be reimbursed.

Local mileage, including mileage between the event venue and your Frisco hotel, will not be reimbursed. It is expected that you will pick a hotel that is either within walking distance to the event venue or offers complimentary transportation to the event venue. All hotels suggested on this wiki website have made assurances that free shuttle service is available.

If you rent a car, you may not also request mileage reimbursement.

Airfare:
You must submit a receipt with passenger name, total amount paid, form of payment, and itinerary.

The National CTC will pay for a basic coach seat and one checked bag each direction. A 21-day advance purchase is required for all airline tickets. Specifically, if you buy a ticket after Friday, June 14, you will only be reimbursed for the amount the ticket would have been had it been purchased 21 days in advance. For instance, if you buy a ticket on June 15 for $500 and Collin College determines that the ticket would have cost $300 on June 14, you will only be reimbursed the $300.

Flight insurance, seat upgrades, early check-in or early boarding, preferred seating (unless there is proof no other seating category is available), or extra-leg room (unless a medical necessity as described by a doctor), and similar fees will not be reimbursed.

Again, if you want to drive rather than fly to a destination, you must be pre-approved by the National CTC by Monday, June 3. You will only be reimbursed for the less expensive mode of travel.

List any applicable bag-check fees under “Other” on the “Request for Travel Reimbursement” form.

Shuttle/taxi:
You must submit original receipts of expenditures. Blank taxi receipts will not be accepted – the receipt must include taxi company name, service date, and pick-up/drop-off locations.

Mode of transportation from DFW airport to your Frisco hotel (via taxi, shuttle, or rental car) should be the mode most economical to Collin College.

Local transportation (via taxi or shuttle) from your event city hotel to the event venue will not be reimbursed. It is expected that you will pick a hotel that is either within walking distance to the event venue or offers complimentary transportation to the event venue. All hotels suggested on this wiki website have made assurances that free shuttle service is available.

Car rental:
You must submit a paid invoice, which you will not receive until after return your car to the agency.

The use of rental cars is limited and must be pre-approved by the National CTC for reimbursement by Monday, June 3. Approval is contingent in part on you arranging to carpool with at least one other event attendee. If you rent a car, you may not also request mileage reimbursement.

LDW (Loss Damage Waivers) and Roadside Assistance fees will not be reimbursed.

Toll fees and gasoline purchases (whether pre-paid with the rental agency or purchased on the road) will not be reimbursed.

Parking:
You must submit original receipts of expenditures at your home city airport. Only reasonable, economical parking fees will be reimbursed. No valet parking accepted.

Lodging:
You must submit an itemized paid invoice showing payee, check-in/check-out times, method of payment, and zero balance.
It is up to the individual to book a hotel room.

Collin College will not reimburse a room costing more than $140/night including taxes.

Valet parking, room upgrades, movies, alcohol, or any other similar personal expenses will not be reimbursed.

Texas educators are encouraged to complete and submit the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Exemption Certificate to their hotel to be exempt from state taxes. Collin College will not reimburse state occupancy taxes for Texas educators.

Meals:
You must submit a completed Excel “Per Diem Worksheet” spreadsheet.

Meals are reimbursed on a per diem basis and do not require receipts.

For this event, the rates are set at $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, and $21 for dinner.

Per diem for meals will be paid based on Collin College’s standard workday of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm:
* Breakfast will be reimbursed if you leave home for the trip prior to 7:00am or return home after 1:00pm.
* Lunch will be reimbursed if you are away from home anytime between 11:00am and 1:00pm.
* Dinner will be reimbursed if you leave home for the trip after 5:00pm or return home after 6:00pm.

You are not eligible for per diem reimbursement for any meals provided as a part of the National CTC event you’re attending. The Excel “Per Diem Worksheet” spreadsheet will show which meals were provided by the event. If you elect not to eat these event-provided meals, you will not be reimbursed for your meal expense unless you provide documentation that shows you were not medically allowed to eat the food provided at the event.

Baggage Check:
You must submit an original receipt. Only one bag fee per trip leg will be reimbursed.

Driving Vs. Flying
Driving instead of flying must be pre-approved by Monday, June 3, 2013. Should you choose to drive rather than fly, you will only be eligible for the following reimbursement expenses. Also, only the cost of the less expensive mode of travel will be reimbursed.