In this April 2026 issue:
Effective July 1, 2025, the University system increased the equipment capitalization threshold from $5,000 to $10,000. Any new equipment received after June 30, 2025, will be recorded and tracked as an asset/capital equipment if it costs $10,000 or more. Capital equipment GL accounts (553XXX) should be used for any equipment costing $10,000 or more, and supplies GL accounts (53XXXX) should be used for equipment costing less than $10,000.
A special circumstance exists if a federal grant or federal pass-through grant is used to purchase equipment between $5,000 and $10,000. Please reach out to Ross Pierce when this occurs for additional guidance.
All existing assets/capital equipment between $5,000 and $10,000 will remain capitalized and continue to be tracked until disposal. Please contact Ross Pierce at 308-865-8007 or piercerl@unk.edu with any questions.
There will be two opportunities for you to attend a training session hosted by Lynn McAlpine, Teresa Howell and Karen Labenz to help you prepare for June 30, 2026, fiscal year end. Topics to be covered include budget encumbrances and balances carry forwards, accrual adjustments, payroll processing, cash receipts, confirmations, important dates, bids and contracts, purchase orders and goods receipt, direct pays, procurement card processing, and travel and non-travel reimbursements.
Advance registration is recommended—please register as soon as possible.
Thursday, April 30th 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Ockgina Auditorium
Friday, May 1st 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Calvin T Library Gallery 101
Please contact Karen Labenz at labenzk@unk.edu for any registration questions.
Departments that handle money in any form (cash, coin, checks, money orders, debit cards or credit cards) should review annually the Cash/Money Handling and Accounts Receivable Policy. During the review of this policy, the department needs to verify that they are following the procedures within this policy. For additional support please reference the Cash Handing and Accounts Receivable Presentation. For additional questions please contact Karen Labenz at 8785 or labenzk@unk.edu.
Allocation of tuition remission credits for the Summer and Fall 2026 semesters is now open. Final submission deadlines are June 5 for Summer and September 18 for Fall. Credits can be allocated in Firefly by going to Employee Self Service, then selecting the Employee & Dependent Scholarship tile.
For more information about the Employee and Dependent Scholarship Program, please see the link below: https://nebraska.edu/faculty-and-staff/resources/employee-dependent-scholarship-program
Employees received an email in mid-March outlining the new performance evaluation process in SuccessFactors. Evaluations will launch on April 1 and must be completed by May 1.
As part of the updated process, employees will now complete a self-evaluation within SuccessFactors. This includes reflecting on core competencies, acknowledging their job description, and confirming the Code of Ethics. Employees are encouraged to submit their self-evaluation by April 15 to allow supervisors time to complete their portion.
Additional comments and accomplishments can be entered directly in the system, so a separate employee report of activities form is no longer required.
The Payment Card Industry has strict regulations which dictate how payment card acceptance can be implemented on campus. Departments at the University of Nebraska Kearney may request the ability to accept payment cards (credit and/or debit) as a method of payment provided they meet UNK policy, state and federal laws, contractual obligations, and the rules of UNK’s banks and financial institutions.
Departments must obtain approval from the Finance Department prior to initiating or engaging in any activity where payment cards (credit and/or debit) are used. Only approved equipment, payment gateways, processes and vendors may be utilized. Please involve the Finance Department as soon as possible when considering the acceptance of payment cards as the approval process takes time. Contact Jill Purdy at 8421 or purdyj@unk.edu with questions.
In accordance with State of Nebraska Statue 84-710, all cash, checks and credit card receipts must be deposited with the State Treasury within 3 business days of receipt if >$500 and within 7 days of receipt if <$500. Note that the time begins when anyone at UNK receives the funds, not just when the department Office Associate or the Finance Office receives the funds. The Finance Office requests that all departments routinely deposit receipts twice weekly at a minimum to comply with the state statute; however daily depositing is recommended. Receipts should always be kept in a secure location until the deposit is made with the Finance Office. For further guidance on controls & procedures regarding receipt handling, refer to the Cash/Money Handling and Accounts Receivable Policy | Finance | University of Nebraska at Kearney or contact Karen Labenz at labenzk@unk.edu.
The following notice should be clearly displayed by cash registers, payment windows/desks, and on forms in which payments are remitted to University of Nebraska at Kearney. "Electronic Check Re-presentment Policy – In the event that your check is returned unpaid for insufficient or uncollected funds, we may re-present your check electronically. In the ordinary course of business, your check will not be provided to you with your bank statement, but a copy can be retrieved by contacting your financial institution. "
Procedures for Check Acceptance
If you are new to the University or just need a refresher course on terminology, utilize this resource at UNK Accounting Terminology for a list and definitions of commonly used words related to accounting, budget, SAP, etc.
If you are a Financial Responsible Party, you are fiscally responsible for fund centers, and you are required to attend training on Financial Reports every three years. Join us for hands on training sessions focused on the financial reports recommended in the Fiscal Responsibility and Review of Financial Reports Policy. These sessions will help you:
Reporting Platform Covered
Location: UNK Library, Room LIBR 011
Date: Wednesday, April 22nd
Please register at least 24 hours before the class that fits your schedule.
Questions or unsure which session is right for you? We're happy to help! Reach out to discuss your needs and find the best fit. Karen Labenz at 308-865-8785 labenzk@unk.edu or Heather Foradori 308-865-8540 foradorih@unk.edu
In April, departments will receive a current listing of capital equipment assets for the department as recorded in the University’s fixed asset system. Capital equipment assets are items costing $5,000+ (before 7/1/25) or $10,000+ (7/1/25 and after) AND have a useful life of more than 1 year. Additionally, all licensed vehicles, regardless of price, are included on the capital equipment asset listing. Departments should confirm the list of items by physically inspecting the equipment, verifying the accuracy of the recorded information, and indicating the condition of the asset on the confirmation. If the department has any capital equipment assets that are not listed, please add them to the confirmation. Departments with no capital equipment assets recorded will need to confirm they do not have any.
Please assist in the physical inventory of UNK capital equipment assets by completing the confirmation and returning it to the Asset Records Manager by the due date indicated on the confirmation.
For more information regarding property and equipment, please see the UNK Property and Equipment Policy or contact Ross Pierce, Asset Records Manager, at piercerl@unk.edu or 308-865-8007.
In addition to a listing of capital equipment assets, departments will receive a separate list of sensitive equipment items that are recorded as objects on loan in their employees’ SAP HR profiles.
Departments should confirm the list of items by physically inspecting the equipment and verifying the accuracy of the recorded item information and employee assignment. If sensitive equipment items that should be on an individual’s objects on loan are not listed, please add them to the confirmation. If there are no objects on loan recorded for department employees, then the department will need to confirm that is still the case.
Please assist in the physical inventory of UNK sensitive equipment items listed as objects on loan by completing the confirmation and returning it to Heather Foradori in the Finance Office by the due date indicated on the confirmation.
For more information regarding sensitive equipment (objects on loan), please see the UNK Sensitive Equipment Policy or contact Heather Foradori at foradorih@unk.edu or 308-865-8540.
Employees can review items assigned to them in SAP objects on loan by navigating to Firefly > Employee Self Service > My Employment > On Loan.
Departments can review information for all employees in their department by running a report in SAP. See instructions at UNK SAP Objects on Loan Report Instructions (also located at Firefly > SAPPHIRE > UNK > Finance Office > Reference Guides > UNK SAP Objects on Loan Report Instructions). ·
Personal use of University property is prohibited, except where allowed by Board of Regents policy. University property includes any items purchased with University funds including grants, contracts, awards, gifts, and Foundation funds as well as donated items. If you have any questions, please contact Ross Pierce, Asset Records Manager, at piercerl@unk.edu or 308-865-8007.
If UNK property is taken off-campus by employees for work-related activities, the department must maintain written documentation showing the department head's authorization, the specific property involved (including serial number and asset tag number, if applicable), reason for taking the property off-campus, location, and dates taken off-campus and returned to campus. In the rare occasion that off-campus work-related use of UNK property is necessary and frequent in nature, a blanket authorization covering multiple off-campus locations and/or dates is allowed. Items recorded as objects on loan on an employee’s SAP HR profile, such as laptops, are exempt from this requirement. If you have any questions, please contact Ross Pierce, Asset Records Manager, at piercerl@unk.edu or 308-865-8007.
Employees and Departments/Groups of Employees can be nominated for different awards. The awards are presented monthly during the Staff Senate meetings.
Please consider nominating a staff member or group who has demonstrated excellence. It’s time to show our colleagues how much we appreciate what they do and why we’re so very proud to be Lopers!!
