The Business Office is a unit of SIPA’s Office of General & Financial Administration which serves as the liaison between the University’s Finance Division and SIPA’s students, faculty, staff and affiliated Institutes and Centers. We provide a broad range of financial support services. These services include but are not limited to the processing of non-salary invoices, check requests, purchase orders, and reimbursements for travel and business expenses.

We also provide guidance on budget preparation, revision, monitoring, and reconciliation to ensure alignment with Federal and University financial policy and procedure.

The office also serves as a primary financial resource for SIPA’s student organizations. We provide advice, guidance, and oversight for funds allocated to the various student groups. In general, student groups’ allocations are determined by SIPASA, the SIPA Student Association, which is the umbrella group for all student groups and it distributes and oversees student groups funding.

Please, direct questions and feedback to the SIPA Business Office.

Concur

Columbia University has introduced SAP Concur, a new travel and business expense management system, which is a web-based and mobile-enabled tool that has replaced paper-based forms.

Approved Vendors

Choosing one of these vendors shortens the approving time frame.

Donations and Contributions

Proof of the organization's 501(c) (3) status must be demonstrated, usually by providing a copy of the organization's letter of determination from the IRS. At this time, the University does not permit donations to international organizations not registered in the United States.

Foreign Student Payments & Tax Information

This section has information on eligibility for payments and/or what is considered taxable income for foreign students.

Forms Library

Find forms for full and part-time support staff, additional pay request forms, and more.

Payments

The Business Office staff will assist you in processing payment (s).

Events

Students groups are encouraged to hold events at venues outside Columbia University.

Procurement Documents And Policies

Contains documents and policies related to processing purchase orders.

Receiving Gifts and Awards

Columbia University is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt institution, categorized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) (3) organization.

Transferring Funds

For a group wishing to support another group’s event or contribute to an activity, the preferred method of payment is a direct charge.