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Travel

CSUSM Travel Guidelines

Last Updated: October 1, 2025 due to the CSU Systemwide Travel Policy updates.

CSUSM, CSUSM Corporation, and CSUSM Foundation, hereafter referred to as CSUSM (unless noted otherwise) follow the current California State University (CSU) Travel Policy as well as its Travel Procedures and Regulations. 

According to the CSU Travel Policy, CSU campuses can elect to apply more restrictive guidelines than those articulated in that document. CSUSM has elected to apply the following (more restrictive) additions to the CSU Travel Policy: 
 
  1. Travel must be authorized utilizing the Travel Request before the start date of travel, excluding service providers, candidates, and non-employee students. The approved Travel Request must be attached to the Travel Expense Report.
  2. Blanket Travel Requests may be requested for mileage, tolls, and parking for a specific fiscal year or less. Hotel and meals can be included for in-state trips that are reoccurring at the same location, with the same business purpose and scope.
  3. CSU Travel Policy states that a traveler can submit a travel expense report prior to the completion of travel for expenses incurred before the completion of travel. CSUSM only accepts supplemental claims for airfare. CSUSM has several mechanisms for assisting travelers in paying for travel costs, such as a ProCard for registration (use IFT when applicable), Concur Ghost Card, and Concur Travel Card.
  4. CSU Travel Policy states that designees of the campus president may authorize exceptions to its policies and procedures. CSUSM has elected to apply the following exceptions to the CSU Travel Procedures and Regulations: 
    1. The President's Administration Team (PAT) Members may approve exceptions to the nightly lodging cap of $333 with a valid business justification prior to booking and incurring travel expenses.
    2. All other CSU Travel Policy exceptions may only be granted by the Associate Vice President of Administration.  
  5. Airport parking beyond a period of five days is non-reimbursable unless the traveler requests and is pre-approved for an exception with specific business justification prior to incurring the expense.
  6. Utilizing broker sites such as CheapOAir, Expedia, Hotels.com, etc. is not advised. Itemized receipts are required, and often these sites do not provide adequate detail. In addition, these sites often charge upfront instead of at check-in.