Cell Phone and Internet Stipend Program For Employees (NEW PARTICIPANTS)

Stipend Program Steering Committee Towana Moore Associate VP of Business Services John Knight AVP, Finance Dale Hulvey AVP, Information Technology Jill Eckard Director, Payroll Services Michael Woolman Director, Telecommunications Norma Burkholder Telecommunications Roya Edelstein Telecommunications Kathy Pitts Telecommunications Susan Dean Telecommunications

Let’s talk about the Stipend Program... Because of business need, and in the course of carrying out job responsibilities, wireless phone and internet services are becoming a preferred method of carrying out business communications. Because of business need, and in the course of carrying out job responsibilities, wireless phone and internet services are becoming a preferred method of carrying out business communications. The Cell Phone and Internet Stipend Program is designed to compensate employees for the business use portion of their service. The Cell Phone and Internet Stipend Program is designed to compensate employees for the business use portion of their service.

How will the stipend be determined? A stipend amount will be carefully chosen from the list of pre-determined stipend amounts by management. Amounts will be based on business need. A stipend amount will be carefully chosen from the list of pre-determined stipend amounts by management. Amounts will be based on business need. The amount will be placed on the employee’s paycheck and will appear semi-monthly. The amount will be placed on the employee’s paycheck and will appear semi-monthly.

Reasons for Stipend Program To ensure that the university is in compliance with IRS substantiation requirements (see IRS Sections 274(d)(4) and 280F(d)(4) To ensure that the university is in compliance with IRS substantiation requirements (see IRS Sections 274(d)(4) and 280F(d)(4) To alleviate the significant administrative burden, on both employees and the university, of providing the extensive substantiation required to fulfill IRS reporting requirements To alleviate the significant administrative burden, on both employees and the university, of providing the extensive substantiation required to fulfill IRS reporting requirements

Reasons for New Policy The IRS is auditing higher education institutions, specifically for cell phone/PDA substantiation. The IRS is auditing higher education institutions, specifically for cell phone/PDA substantiation. -Several universities nationwide are currently being audited by the IRS. - Many universities across the nation have already implemented or are in the process of adopting similar stipend programs.

IRS Substantiation Requirements Under the current IRS regulations, the following information must be maintained for each and every call: Under the current IRS regulations, the following information must be maintained for each and every call: - Time and date of each call - Business purpose of each call - Explanation of business relationship with all participating parties on each call

Goals of the Stipend Program: To relieve employees and departments of the burden of strict IRS substantiation requirements To relieve employees and departments of the burden of strict IRS substantiation requirements To improve efficiencies throughout the university by processing employee stipends To improve efficiencies throughout the university by processing employee stipends To give employees more options when choosing service and equipment other than state contract To give employees more options when choosing service and equipment other than state contract

Why Stipends? Should the university continue with our current programs, departments would be required to maintain the documentation required by the IRS to meet substantiation rules on all university wireless phones. Should the university continue with our current programs, departments would be required to maintain the documentation required by the IRS to meet substantiation rules on all university wireless phones. To comply with current IRS rules, employees would need to meet monthly with supervisors to separate business and personal calls, along with documentation of time, date, and business relationship of each business call. To comply with current IRS rules, employees would need to meet monthly with supervisors to separate business and personal calls, along with documentation of time, date, and business relationship of each business call. The employee would be responsible for reimbursing the university the percentage of personal calls from their monthly bill plus any overages. The employee would be responsible for reimbursing the university the percentage of personal calls from their monthly bill plus any overages. The time and effort to process IRS documentation would be extremely cost prohibitive to the university. The time and effort to process IRS documentation would be extremely cost prohibitive to the university.

Stipend Program Stipend Program The stipend program is designed to pay the business use portion of your bill, given that wireless phones and internet services are currently being used for both business and personal use.

Advantages to Stipend Program: No IRS documentation required No IRS documentation required No need to distinguish between personal and business calls No need to distinguish between personal and business calls No need to carry two cell phones No need to carry two cell phones Employees may choose any vendor (no longer required to stay on state contract) Employees may choose any vendor (no longer required to stay on state contract) Stipends are paid through Payroll Services Stipends are paid through Payroll Services

Stipend Amounts Voice Plan Level 1$50.00 Voice Plan Level 1$50.00 Voice Plan Level 2$65.00 Voice Plan Level 2$65.00 Voice Plan Level 3$80.00 Voice Plan Level 3$80.00 Data Package$20.00 Data Package$20.00 Text Messaging$ 5.00 Text Messaging$ 5.00 Cell Other $(VP Approval Required) Cell Other $(VP Approval Required) Internet Package $55.00 Internet Package $55.00 Internet Other $(VP Approval Required) Internet Other $(VP Approval Required) Stipend rates will be periodically reviewed. Stipend rates will be periodically reviewed. Stipend will be considered taxable income to the employee. Stipend will be considered taxable income to the employee. Tax considerations have been taken into account when determining stipend levels. Tax considerations have been taken into account when determining stipend levels.

Equipment Employees entering the Stipend Program for the first time will need to acquire and maintain their own equipment. Employees entering the Stipend Program for the first time will need to acquire and maintain their own equipment. As before, cellular devices may not be purchased using the JMU Small Purchase Credit Card. As before, cellular devices may not be purchased using the JMU Small Purchase Credit Card.

Service Employees should consider choosing a plan that will incorporate the amount of minutes that will be used for business and personal calls. Employees should consider choosing a plan that will incorporate the amount of minutes that will be used for business and personal calls. Vendors will require credit checks on new accounts. Vendors will require credit checks on new accounts.

Departmental Provided Cell Phones There may be instances where a cell phone has multiple users and may be deemed a departmental phone. (Ex: On-call phone) There may be instances where a cell phone has multiple users and may be deemed a departmental phone. (Ex: On-call phone) A departmental phone must not be used by or assigned to a specific individual. A departmental phone must not be used by or assigned to a specific individual. The department is responsible to review monthly billing statements for departmental phones to confirm the usage charges are for business purposes. The department is responsible to review monthly billing statements for departmental phones to confirm the usage charges are for business purposes.

How will stipends be determined? Approval for a cell phone stipend will be granted in writing by the Senior Vice President. Approval for a cell phone stipend will be granted in writing by the Senior Vice President. Departments should use this opportunity to evaluate current use and level of business need. Departments should use this opportunity to evaluate current use and level of business need. The employee’s management will choose stipend amount from options listed; amount will be based on business need. The employee’s management will choose stipend amount from options listed; amount will be based on business need. Cell phone and internet stipends will be based on one or more of the following criteria: Cell phone and internet stipends will be based on one or more of the following criteria: - Safety - Required to be contacted on a regular basis - Required to be on-call - Essential personnel - Critical decision maker - Job function requires home or off-campus access to the Internet of university data services. - Other (please provide justification)

Termination of a Stipend If the employee resigns, is terminated, transfers departments, or no longer qualifies for a university stipend, a PAR Form must be submitted to Payroll Services to discontinue If the employee resigns, is terminated, transfers departments, or no longer qualifies for a university stipend, a PAR Form must be submitted to Payroll Services to discontinue the stipend. Because a stipend is based on primary job, VP approval and recertification is required if employee changes primary job. Because a stipend is based on primary job, VP approval and recertification is required if employee changes primary job.

How does the Cell Phone and Internet Stipend Program work?

STEP 1 When management determines that there is a business need for an employee to receive a cell phone or internet stipend, management will print and complete a Supervisor Worksheet & Employee Agreement and obtain signatures from the following: ● Dean, AVP or Director ● Vice President

STEP 2 Supervisor completes a PAR Form for the employee for the stipend amount. Once the stipend begins, employee will see ½ of their stipend amount on each semi-monthly paycheck.

STEP 3 Supervisor meets with employee. Supervisor meets with employee. Supervisor reviews stipend and dollar amount with employee and employee signs Supervisor Worksheet and Employee Agreement. Supervisor reviews stipend and dollar amount with employee and employee signs Supervisor Worksheet and Employee Agreement. By agreeing to the stipend, employees will agree that their wireless number may be distributed for business use. By agreeing to the stipend, employees will agree that their wireless number may be distributed for business use. Supervisor directs employee to contact JMU Telecommunications at (540) for additional details regarding JMU discounts on wireless equipment and service. Supervisor directs employee to contact JMU Telecommunications at (540) for additional details regarding JMU discounts on wireless equipment and service.

STEP 5 Supervisor submits a completed PAR Form and Supervisor Worksheet and Employee Agreement to Human Resources (MSC 7009).

Cell Phone /Internet Contacts: For additional information, questions, or comments, please contact JMU Telecommunications. We are here to help! Cell Phone Information Susan Dean, JMU Telecom, , Roya Edelstein, JMU Telecom, , Internet Information: Norma Burkholder, JMU Telecom, , Kathy Pitts, JMU Telecom, ,