Processing Claims for Employee Dishonesty (Fidelity Bond) Incidents

Type of Policy
Administrative
Policy No
8.12
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Insurance and Claims Management
Contact Name
Frederick Trotter
Contact Title
Director of Insurance & Assets
Contact Email
Frederick.trotter@business.gatech.edu
Reason for Policy

Overview
Claims may be filed for dishonest acts and lack of faithful performance of an employee.

Policy Statement

General Guidelines/Applicable Coverages
Public Employee Dishonesty and Lack of Faithful Performance Coverage. Covers wrongful taking of money, securities, and property other than money by an employee alone or in collusion with others. A crime insurance policy provided by a commercial insurance company with a deductible is maintained by the DOAS. The coverage deductible is retained by DOAS and does not apply to Georgia Tech.

Procedures
  1. Notice of loss must be given as soon as possible. Claimant or person having knowledge of loss shall initiate an Incident Report with the Campus Police.
    Note:
    The carrier may choose not to honor a Notice of Claim filed after 30 days or a Proof of Loss after 120 days.
  2. Upon completion of the investigation, Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management will review all pertinent documents.
  3. Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management shall receive and assemble all documents including: incident report(s) statements of witnesses, photographs, recordings, bills, estimates, and property documentation.
  4. Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management shall notify DOAS, who in turn will notify the state's crime insurance company of the loss.
  5. Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management shall prepare a Proof of Loss statement and Notice of Claim with the assistance of GT Internal Audits and/or Office of Legal Affairs
  6. Upon completion of the investigation by DOAS or the insurance company, Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management will be advised of the acceptance or rejection of the claim.
Policy History

 

Revision Date Author Description
March 2015 Insurance and Claims Management Minor language and contact information update

Processing Workers Compensation Claims

Type of Policy
Administrative
Policy No
8.11
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Insurance and Claims Management
Contact Name
Frederick Trotter
Contact Title
Director of Insurance & Assets
Contact Email
Frederick.trotter@business.gatech.edu
Reason for Policy

Claims may be filed against Workers Compensation.

Policy Statement

General Guidelines/Applicable Policies
Workers Compensation Claims are routinely handled through the Office of Human Resources.

Procedures
  1. Employee shall report injury to supervisor.
  2. Injury should be reported within 24 hours.
  3. Supervisor for Georgia based employee reports injury to DOAS workers' compensation toll free number: 1-877-656-7475.
  4. Supervisor for Ohio based employee reports injury to the 24 Hour Injury Report Line: 1-800-275-6463. Policy#: 1647912
  5. Supervisor for All Other Non-Georgia based employees report injury to Hartford Loss Connect Service: 1-800-327-3636. Policy#: 20 WB AT0511
  6. Only injuries requiring medical care or lost time should be reported.
  7. Injuries not requiring medical care (e.g. minor cut, scrape, burn, etc.) or involving lost time should be recorded on an “Incident Notice Only” form and kept with the employee’s personnel file.

 

Policy History
Revision DateAuthorDescription
March 2015Insurance and Claims ManagementUpdated Contact Information

Processing Liability Claims Against Georgia Tech

Type of Policy
Administrative
Policy No
8.10
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Insurance and Claims Management
Contact Name
Frederick Trotter
Contact Title
Director of Insurance & Assets
Contact Email
frederick.trotter@business.gatech.edu
Reason for Policy

Overview
Liability claims filed against Georgia Tech and/or Georgia Tech employees for allegedly causing bodily injury, personal injury or property damage to a third party are funded by the State Tort Claims Trust Fund.

Note:
These claims are handled by the Department of Administrative Services, Risk Management Services Division (DOAS/RMS).

Policy Statement

General Guidelines/Applicable Policies
At the conclusion of the investigation of an incident, Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management shall determine if the incident warrants forwarding to DOAS/RMS as a potential liability claim.

Policy Terms

DOAS
State of Georgia Department of Administrative Services.

Procedures
  1. Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management shall receive, assemble and review all documents including, but not limited to: incident report(s), statements of witnesses, photographs, recordings, bills, damage estimates, and property documentation.
  2. Depending on the type and amount of documents pertinent to the claim, they will be sent to DOAS/RMS by email or postal mail.
  3. Upon receipt of an Ante-Litem Notice or Lawsuit, the Board of Regents will copy the State Attorney General's Office who will assign an Assistant or Special Assistant Attorney General to the case and protect discovery through the Attorney Product Work Rule.
  4. In cases of impending litigation, the State Attorney General's Office in concert with the Liability Section of DOAS/RMS may assign a private investigator or adjuster to the case.
  5. DOAS/RMS or a private investigator or adjuster may contact Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management or the Office of Legal Affairs for assistance in processing the claim.

Claims Filed Against the State Insurance Programs

Type of Policy
Administrative
Policy No
8.3
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Insurance and Claims Management
Contact Name
Frederick Trotter
Contact Title
Director of Insurance & Assets
Contact Email
Frederick.trotter@business.gatech.edu
Reason for Policy

Overview
Claims may be filed against the State Insurance & Hazard Reserve Fund (Building and Contents, Auto Physical Damage, Inland Marine and Money & Securities), the State Tort Claims Trust Fund (Bodily Injury & Property Damage to Others), the General Liability Agreement (e.g. Federal Civil Rights, Employment Liability) the Fidelity Bond (i.e. Employee Dishonesty & Faithful Performance) or the Workers Compensation Trust Fund. By far, the largest number of claims are filed against the Workers Compensation Trust Fund.

Policy Statement

General Guidelines / Applicable Policies
For a claim to be filed against the State Insurance and Hazard Reserve Fund, it must consist of a property loss falling under one of the "Covered Causes of Loss" described in the Department of Administrative Services issued "State Owned Building and Personal Property Agreement." Further, the loss or damage must involve State-owned property in the care, custody and control of the Institute. At the conclusion of the investigation of an incident, the Insurance and Claims Management Office shall make a determination if the claim is sufficiently valid (i.e. meeting the terms and conditions in the State Owned Building and Personal Property Agreement).

Policy Terms

DOAS
State of Georgia Department of Administrative Services

Procedures
  • The Insurance and Claims Management Office shall review all pertinent documents.
  • If it is determined that a claim does not warrant further action (property claims) the documentation shall be filled in the departmental section of the large horizontal filing cabinet under the appropriate department name.
  • The claim shall require initial approval from DOAS. This is usually provided by an email and indicates that certain guidelines have been met and the processing can proceed.
  • In viable property claims, the Insurance and Claims Management Office shall assign an insurance account number from the Grants and Contracts Accounting insurance accountant.
  • The Insurance and Claims Management Office shall receive and assemble all documents Including:
    • incident report(s)
    • statements of witnesses
    • correspondence
    • photographs
    • recordings
    • bills
    • estimates
    • property or vehicle documentation
    • claimant forms (if so required by DOAS)
    NOTE
    Rarely do initial estimates as provided by the claimant agree with the final outcome. Differences between the estimate of loss, the Purchase Request, and the final invoice occur for substantial and valid reasons. The Insurance and Claims Management Office is generally required to negotiate these differences with DOAS.
  • Checks are written by DOAS and sent to the Insurance and Claims Management Office for submittal to the Bursar's Office through Grants and Contracts Accounting.
Policy History
Revision Date Author Description
March 2015 Insurance and Claims Management Update to process language and contact information

Review of Incident Reports

Type of Policy
Administrative
Policy No
8.2
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Insurance and Claims Management
Contact Name
Frederick Trotter
Contact Title
Director of Insurance & Assets
Contact Email
frederick.trotter@business.gatech.edu
Policy Statement

Overview
The establishment of a claim requires written documentation. Such documentation is called an Incident Report. Acceptable reports include, but may not be limited to:
• Police Incident Report
• Accident Report (vehicles)
• Fire Marshall's Report
• Comparable reports by other official agencies and offices
• Written letters documented and notarized
• Witnessed reports written by a third party, documented and notarized.
General Guidelines/Applicable Policies
Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management shall receive all evidence of activity that relates to risk to the Institute, its inhabitants and others, as well as property owned by, or in the care of the Institute. Such documentation may be in the form of Incident Reports, but other documents may suffice.

Procedures
  1. Documentation will be reviewed by Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management.
  2. Incident Reports are numbered and certain ones will be filed by Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management. To qualify for filing a report must pertain to some activity of a serious enough nature to warrant investigation by Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management. Incident Reports that reveal some innocuous activity or to an activity outside the jurisdiction of Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management will not be processed.
  3. Incident reports that are filed will remain in the file until additional supporting information is received or until the Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management determines that an investigation shall commence. At that time the incident report shall be segregated as described in the next paragraph.
  4. Georgia Tech Insurance & Claims Management shall maintain said records in separate blue partitioned folders. An identification file number will be assigned and affixed to the top of the folder.
Policy History
Revision Date Author Description
March 2015 Insurance and Claims Management minor language and contact info update

Year-End Deficits and Division Carry Forwards

Type of Policy
Administrative
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Institute Budget Planning and Administration
Contact Name
Lisa Godfrey
Contact Title
Dir-Institute & Capital Plan Budget Mgt
Contact Email
lisa.godfrey@business.gatech.edu
Reason for Policy

 

This policy establishes procedures for handling year-end deficits or surpluses incurred by Georgia Tech divisions.  The policy pertains to Resident Instruction General Operations funds budgeted in the following fund numbers: 10010 (State Appropriations), 10015 (Indirect Cost Recovery), 10500 (Tuition), and 10600 (Other General).

Policy Statement

General Operations Funds
At the beginning of each fiscal year, an expense budget is established for General Operations funded projects. These budgets are funded by the following revenue streams: State Appropriations, Indirect Cost Recoveries, Tuition, and Other General. During the year the Institute may allocate additional budget authority to units, depending on need and funding availability. At year end budgets should equal expenditures plus encumbrances (total expenses). When a college or other division’s spending exceeds or is less than the final amended budget, either an adjustment must be made to balance the total Institute budget or a documented carry forward plan must be in place.

Departmental Sales Funds
Please refer to the DSS policy for DSS carry forward requirements and request forms; http://www.policylibrary.gatech.edu/business-finance/departmental-sales-and-services-dss  

Operating Deficits
Audit guidelines state that Institutions shall not overspend their Board of Regents approved budget authority, nor will expenses exceed revenues. When budgets are overspent or expenses exceed revenues, an operating deficit is created. Before the fiscal year can be closed, the operating deficits must be corrected. To help facilitate more effective management of the Institute’s budget as a whole, divisions will be responsible for any year end deficits that are not previously approved by the administration.

Surplus
A division may request the return of surplus funds at year-end for use in the next fiscal year, often referred to as a “carry forward of funds.” To meet the needs of the division, the Office of Institute Budget Planning and Administration (“Budget Office”) must manage the carry forward in the year of close and in the following year as well. Because of the restrictive state rules governing carrying forward funds and year-end closing, surplus/carry forward arrangements must be documented and reviewed to ensure proper accounting and budgeting methods have been followed. This policy establishes carry forward guidelines to ensure that all requirements are met.

Procedures

Rules and Guidelines
Division Deficits
If, during the fiscal year, a division becomes aware of a deficit situation, the Budget Office should be notified by the division head or chief division budget director as soon as possible. The Assistant Vice President, Institute Budget Planning and Administration will inform the administration of the situation. In some cases, operating deficits may be allowed by the administration due to special circumstances. After the fiscal year closes, the Budget Office will conduct an analysis of budget to actual total expenses. If any division has an unapproved net operating deficit, the division’s current fiscal year budget will be reduced on a one-time basis by the year-end deficit amount in the first budget amendment or an approved re-payment plan will be established.

Division Carry Forwards
If a surplus or excess budget is anticipated for year end, and the college or other division would like those funds returned in the next fiscal year, an online request form must be completed (http://status.budgets.gatech.edu/CarryForward/Index) on or before April 15th (or the next business day if the 15th falls on a weekend). In the request, the division should explain:

  • the explanation of the source of funding
  • the projected amount to be carried forward
  • an explanation of why the funds will be available, and
  • the purpose for which those funds will be used in the next fiscal year.

These will be reviewed by the Assistant Vice President, Institute Budget Planning and Administration, and where appropriate, by executive staff with a final decision to be communicated to the division by May 15th. Requests submitted by individual departments, programs, centers, or schools will not be accepted except for tuition differential or studies abroad 60/40 split of summer semester revenues.

If, prior to June 1st, the division’s estimate of the year-end surplus changes, the Carry Forward Request Editing form (http://status.budgets.gatech.edu/CarryForward/Index) must be used to update the request and notify the Budget Office.  No revisions to carry forward requests will be accepted after May 31st.

The division should keep in mind that expenses funded from carry forward funds are subject to audit. Documentation should be kept to verify that purchases were in accordance with the purpose originally stated.

Approval is subject to the Institute’s generation of an overall surplus of at least the approved amount. These are one-time funds that will not be built into the unit’s permanent base budget. If the unit’s net year-end balance for General Operations is less than the amount requested, only the year-end balance may be budgeted in the upcoming fiscal year. If the net year-end balance exceeds the amount requested, the maximum amount approved per the request may be budgeted in the upcoming fiscal year. The Budget Office will verify final carry-forward amounts with the units in the first budget amendment of the new fiscal year.

 

Policy History
Revision Date Author Description
April 2015 Budget Office Clarification of language/added link to online form

Indirect Research Support Allocation

Type of Policy
Administrative
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Institute Budget Planning and Administration
Contact Name
Lisa Godfrey
Contact Title
Dir-Institute & Capital Plan Budget Mgt
Contact Email
lisa.godfrey@business.gatech.edu
Policy Statement

Georgia Tech allocates 30% of the Resident Instruction F&A (facilities and admin) indirect cost recoveries generated by academic units back to those units. This includes all colleges. Depending on actual performance, a unit may generate additional or reduced budget allocations each fiscal year. Incentive allocations are approved by executive staff, subject to availability of funds. The allocation is made to the college level (not the department level), and funds are distributed at the discretion of each dean.

Procedures

Original Budget Allocation
Each academic unit’s Original Budget for the next fiscal year contains an F&A base. This base is 30% of the Office of Grants and Contracts' revenue estimate for the current fiscal year as of March 30. The Institute Budget Planning and Administration Office provides estimates to the units of their allocations during the budget development process to permit them to plan their expenditures and budget accordingly.

Mid-Year Budget Allocation
Mid-year permanent budget allocations may be approved by executive staff based on changes to F&A recoveries during the fiscal year. If approved, the allocations will be based on the most current Office of Grants and Contracts' revenue estimates for current fiscal year.

Reconciliation
After the close of the fiscal year, the allocations will be re-computed based on actual earnings for the previous year. These funds will be distributed as permanent additional or reduced budget adjustments in the first budget amendment of the new fiscal year. This will make the units whole for recoveries from the prior fiscal year.

Mandatory Student Fee and Budget Review

Type of Policy
Administrative
Last Revised
Review Date
Policy Owner
Institute Budget Planning and Administration
Contact Name
Isabel Lynch
Contact Title
Budget Manager and Lead Analyst
Contact Email
isabel.lynch@business.gatech.edu
Reason for Policy

All mandatory fees (defined below) are annually approved by the Board of Regents (BOR), upon the recommendation of the President of Georgia Tech. This policy implements the following Board of Regents policy pertaining to mandatory student fees: Board of Regents Policy 7.3.2.1 – Mandatory Student Fees. The BOR policy requires that an advisory committee comprised of at least half students provide recommendations to the President on any new mandatory fee or any change to an existing mandatory fee. 

Policy Statement

The Georgia Institute of Technology Mandatory Student Fee Advisory Committee (“Committee”) is created to implement the provisions of Board of Regents Policy 7.3.2.1 and thereby to ensure student input on changes to mandatory student fees. The Committee shall make recommendations to the President on changes to existing mandatory student fees or on any new mandatory fees. Fees considered by the Committee shall exclude elective fees that are paid by the students who choose to receive specific services. “Mandatory student fees” are defined in the Board of Regents' Policy manual as follows: “… fees that are assessed to all students, all undergraduate students, or all full-time undergraduate students on one or more campuses of a USG institution.”

Committee Members

The Committee shall be composed of twelve voting members selected as follows:

  • Eight students appointed by the Graduate and Undergraduate Presidents of the Student Government Associations (SGA);
  • Two faculty members appointed by the Provost;
  • The Executive Director, Institute Budget Planning and Administration (IBPA), or his/her appointee (permanent member of Committee);
  • One additional staff member appointed by the Executive Vice President, Administration and Finance (EVP A&F).

The two faculty members and the second staff member shall serve two year terms. The Committee is co-chaired by one of the eight student members appointed by the SGA Presidents and by the Executive Director, IBPA or his/her appointee. The IBPA Office provides staff assistance to the Committee and submits the required documentation to the BOR in support of Georgia Tech’s fee recommendations.

In addition, there shall be non-voting, ex officio members of the Committee as follows, unless these individuals are appointed as part of the twelve voting members. The ex-officio student Committee members shall be the Presidents of the Graduate and Undergraduate Student Government Associations, the Editor of The Technique, the Vice President for Finance and Chair of the Joint Finance Committee, and any other students appointed by the Student Government Association Presidents. Ex-officio faculty and staff Committee members shall be the Vice President for Student Life, the Vice President for Campus Services, and up to two faculty or staff appointed by the Provost or Executive Vice President, Administration and Finance.  Ex-officio members may fully participate in all business of the Committee except that they shall not have voting privileges. 

Fees Reviewed by Committee

Below are the fees for which the Committee provides recommendations to the President, along with the organizations that provide recommendations to the Committee:

  • Technology Fee – Technology Fee Committee (for recommendations on total fee amount only and not on projects to be funded)
  • Transportation Fee – Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee
  • Student Health Fee – Student Health Advisory Committee
  • Student Activity Fee – Student Government Association
  • CRC (Campus Recreation Center) Operations Fee – CRC Advisory Committee
  • Student Center Operations Fee – Student Center Advisory Board
  • Athletic Fee – Georgia Tech Athletic Association
  • Recreation Fee – covers debt service on Campus Recreation Center (fixed fee for term of lease on CRC).

In addition to input from the advisory organizations listed, the SGA is encouraged to solicit input on mandatory fees from students through other means, including surveys and town hall meetings. Excluded from the Committee’s review are any “general purpose fees” approved by the BOR, as stated in BOR policy 7.3.2.1. Other offices or student organizations also may propose new fees to the Committee. It would be up to the Committee Co-Chairs and the SGA presidents whether such proposals are to be considered.

Committee Operations

The Committee is responsible for reviewing proposals for rate changes to current mandatory student fees and any newly proposed mandatory fees, and to review budgets funded from the fees. Following its review and votes on the fees, the Committee provides its recommendations to the Georgia Tech president, who submits the requests to the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia for review and final consideration by the Board of Regents. The Georgia Tech president’s recommendations to the Chancellor may differ from the Committee’s recommendations.

The following guidelines shall govern voting by the MSFAC:

  1. The Committee votes on all mandatory fees, whether changes are proposed or not, and on proposals to add any new fees or to reduce existing fees.
  2. Where a staff Committee member works in a program funded through a fee, he or she must recuse him/herself from the vote on that particular fee.
  3. When a Committee member is absent from a meeting, a substitute may be requested for that member, subject to approval of the co-chairs.
  4. In no case shall the number of voting student members at a meeting fall below one-half of the total voting Committee members.

The Committee meeting schedule must provide recommendations to the President in sufficient time for submission of proposals to the Chancellor in accordance with the BOR calendar. Accordingly, the Committee should strive to complete its review and prepare a preliminary recommendation prior to the end of the fall semester. The staff chair will coordinate with BOR staff to ensure that fee recommendations are made on a timely basis. Submitting organizations are responsible for preparing the forms required by the BOR and by Georgia Tech to support fee submissions, with the assistance of the Office of Institute Budget Planning and Administration.

For each mandatory fee program the submission shall include the following documents for review by the Committee.  These shall be available to the members in advance of committee meetings. 

  • Overview of the fee, including the following: (a) current and proposed fee levels, (b) the previous year’s revenue generated, (c) the fee review/advisory organization, and (d) the current uses of the revenue’
  • All required BOR forms, including the fee request form, financial data form, and detail of revenue projection’
  • Presentation that includes the following:
    • Detailed description of services provided, including utilization data
    • Budget summary for the current and following fiscal year
    • Fee increase request, if appropriate, with a description of how the students will benefit from the increase and the impact if the increase is not approved
    • If there was a fee increase for the current year, how the new funding is being used, compared to the proposal to the prior year’s Committee
    • How the program has either generated cost savings or additional revenue outside of the student fee and, if requested by the Committee, how the program would absorb a reduction in the student fee;
    • Evidence of students’ satisfaction in the services provided by the unit.
Scope

This policy applies to all schools, colleges, departments, and units of the Institute.

Housing Policies

The Department of Housing and Residence Life Policies are designed to assist in the physical, academic, emotional and financial protection of the members of our residential community. As part an academic community, all members share responsibility for its growth and general welfare. Other responsibilities include respecting others' rights to sleep and study, knowing and abiding by the code of conduct for Georgia Tech and Housing, and keeping residence halls safe. Along with these responsibilities come inherent rights that members of our community share. Among these are the right to freedom from discrimination, the opportunity to be heard and the right to fair and impartial treatment.

Residence Hall Community Policies:

The Georgia Tech Department of Housing Community and Services Guide, also known as Guide to Community Living, serves as the official publication of Housing's policies and rules. It is revised each year. Members of the Tech residential community are held to these standards and should become familiar with them.

Hazardous Materials Office

The safe and effective management, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials is vitally important for Georgia Tech to maintain a safe and regulatory compliant workplace . Numerous federal and state laws, good safety practice, and protection of the environment dictate that the Institute implement appropriate procedures for handling these materials. Hazardous Waste Policies and Procedures can be found online at www.ehs.gatech.edu/hazardous.

Training and Services Provided: Laboratory Waste Characterization, Pickups of Hazardous Waste, Handling/Disposal of Biological Wastes, Emergency (Spill) Response, Hazardous Waste Awareness Training, Fluorescent Lamp/Ballast Recycling, Battery Recycling, Underground and Above-Ground Fuel Storage Tank Training and Compliance.

Hazardous Materials Policies and Procedures: http://www.ehs.gatech.edu/hazardous/hazmat.pdf