Inventory Control Procedures

The Code of Laws of South Carolina states in part: “The head of each institution which employs more than one hundred permanent employees, shall be responsible for all personal property under his supervision...”. Although the Senior Vice President for Business Affairs is responsible for accounting for all College property, the day to day property management responsibility has been delegated to the Director of Business Services, Supply Manager, and Property Inventory Specialist. The location, custody and maintenance of all College property is the responsibility of the department for whom the property has been procured or to whom it has been assigned.The purpose of the property control program is to establish responsibility for property, provide for better utilization of property, facilitate the physical inventory of property, establish insurance requirements, and comply with State policy. The College uses an automated Property Inventory System to process property management activity. Each master item record contains; property tag number, department account number, item description, building and room location, purchase order and amount, date acquired, serial number, property code, and last inventory date. Each department will have one individual as the "Departmental Custodian." The Property Inventory Specialist will maintain a current listing of all departmental custodians.

The following are those items considered to be pilferable property (items costing less than $1,500) which requires close scrutiny and additional security. Departmental custodians should take all reasonable precautions to protect these items: Television Sets, Video Cassette Recorders (VCR's), Dictation Equipment, Cameras/Lens, Motorized Lawn Maintenance Equipment, Laboratory Scales and Balances, Microscopes, Hand Held Radios (walkie-talkies), Opaque Projectors, Slide Projectors, Overhead Projectors, Motion Picture Projectors, Cordless Telephones, Telephone Answering Machines, Power Tools, Hand Tools, Modems (External), Disk Drives (External).

College property is State property regardless of acquisition method. Property that is purchased with State funds is State property as well as property purchased by the College with non-State funds. Property donated or given as a gift to the College becomes College/State property as soon as it is accepted by the College. There is no dollar value used to determine if the property is College or State property. There is a dollar value used to determine whether the property is placed on property records or capitalized. "Property" as used in this procedure includes material or equipment classified as personal property, such as furniture, laboratory equipment, information technology equipment and similar items with a cost in excess of $1,500 and a useful life of five years or more. College/State property cannot be given away, thrown away, sold or converted for personal use. College/State property, regardless of acquisition cost, can only be disposed of through South Carolina Surplus Property Procedures.

State owned equipment is intended to be used primarily at the designated work place on the College campus, however, certain circumstances will occasionally warrant the use of this equipment at other sites. Such circumstances will most often relate to using equipment in an activity directly related to one's job duties (professor, administrator, activity director, chairman, etc.). The Senior Vice Presidents and Deans are the approval authority for off campus use of equipment and of personal computers. A copy of the approved use memorandum will be filed with the department's property records citing the property's location and temporary custodian and a copy sent to the College Property Inventory Specialist to update inventory records. The personal use of College property, even when approved as an exception to general policy, should be for very limited time periods. The College does not support the acquisition of equipment for at home use. In those cases where the equipment is being used for approved professional purposes, and proper approval has been obtained in advance, the College assumes responsibility if the equipment is lost, stolen, or damaged through no fault or negligence of the user. In those cases where the equipment is being used solely for approved personal purposes even if the user has obtained the approval of the appropriate approval authority, the individual assumes personal and financial responsibility for the equipment.

Basic control and identification of a College property item is usually accomplished through a serially numbered tag affixed to the property item. Some items will not have tags affixed because of the type of item; if possible, the number is etched or painted on these items. The Property Inventory Specialist is responsible for ensuring that all property items are tagged, when possible. A decal or other permanent marking is affixed directly to the piece of movable property and is used to identify the property throughout its lifetime. The decal should not be removed or the marking obliterated. The Property Inventory Specialist is responsible for affixing an appropriate metal tag, decal, or other marking as soon as possible after the item is acquired.

Department heads/chairs anticipating receipt of gifts of property, regardless of value, shall complete a Donated/Loaned Property Report (Appendix 20). As much information as possible should be included in the Donated Property Report, e.g., quantity, description of property. Any letter, deed of gift or transfer should be attached to the receipt. Donated property with an estimated fair market value of $1,500 or more will be assigned a Property number and capitalized on the Property Inventory System. Non State owned property loaned to the College will only be included in the Property Inventory system, if the Accountant for the College of Charleston Foundation, determines its loss will create a concomitant debt for the College. Should this occur a Property number will be assigned and the property capitalized at $1.00. If insurance is required the Donated/Loaned Property Report should be routed through the Director of Auxiliary Services. The Property Inventory Specialist will affix a property decal to the property, when appropriate. (Specific IRS forms may also be required to document donated property in some instances).

Section 10-1-140 of The Code of Laws of South Carolinamakes the President of the College accountable for the supervision, control, and inventory of all state-owned property in the custody of the College of Charleston and requires such property, except for expendables, be inventoried annually. Accountability for security to prevent misuse or loss of College plant property as well as the responsibility for the location, custody, and maintenance of such property, and communicating changes to Inventory Control has been delegated to the Deans, Department Heads and Directors of the area for whom it was procured or to whom it has been assigned regardless of funding source.

Responsibility for performing annual inventory of plant property and maintaining inventory records is delegated to the Director of Procurement, Supply Manager, and the Inventory Control Officers. The detailed inventory records for the College are maintained within the Procurement and Supply Department. As new items are acquired, they will be tagged either at Central Receiving or by the receiving department dependent upon circumstances.

Plant property, for the purpose of inventory control, is defined as furniture, furnishings and equipment which have a value of $1500 or greater and a useful life of one year or more. All items meeting these criteria will be tagged and inventoried. Specific exceptions to the tagging policies may be made if Inventory Control determines that tagging an item is not practical.

Expendable property, which is any item which is consumed or becomes unidentifiable with use, is categorized as supplies. Property which is not expendable, but does not meet the criteria to be inventoried delineated in the preceding paragraph, is also categorized as supplies. Additionally, an item which becomes part of a building or facility, regardless of acquisition value, will not be classified as plant property. All employees have the responsibility for the prudent use, care and safeguarding of College property. The fact that a piece of property is valued at less than $1500 and is not recorded on the property records does not alter this responsibility.

Department Heads are delegated the responsibility of maintaining proper accountability and control of the property within their jurisdiction. Fulfillment of these responsibilities on behalf of the Department Head may be delegated but the ultimate responsibility remains with the Department Head. Specific responsibilities regarding College property are as follows:

• Know the location of all equipment in their inventory and assure that such equipment is reasonably secure from possible theft and other hazards. Report any changes in location to Inventory Control. This is critical for proper stewardship and essential for insurance management purposes.
• Assure that assigned equipment is being used in the best interest of the College.
• Provide assistance as needed to Inventory Control personnel who are taking inventory or placing identification tags on equipment.
• Review, verify and respond to an annual inventory report of the status of departmental inventory provided by Inventory Control and complete all required actions prompted by the findings of the annual inventory within fifteen (15) working days of receipt. Those actions include, but are not limited to, identifying any equipment not currently on inventory list, preparing a written request to Public Safety to investigate missing property, and preparing written documentation attesting to the disposition of any property due to loss, transfer, cannibalization, etc. In the event a response from the Department Head is not received regarding property that cannot be located within the allowed time, Inventory Control will report that property as missing with Public Safety for formal investigation.
• Discourage theft and loss of College property by fixing responsibility.
• Department Heads must assure that their faculty, staff and students are informed that property acquired for a specific individual’s use remains College-owned property after the individual’s position is terminated.

When accountability is changed, Inventory Control should be notified in writing, using the Accountability Form, within ten (10) days of the appointment. Notification should include the name and telephone number of the appointee.

Inventory Control receives a weekly Accounts Payable Asset Extraction report that lists all goods and equipment purchased for $1500 or more. Inventory Control personnel review each purchase order to verify and approve items requiring tags, and assigns a tag number. During this review Inventory Control personnel also determines which item(s) valued at $5000 or more should be capitalized. If plant property valued at $1500 or more is acquired through means other than purchase and delivered directly to a department, it is the Department Head’s responsibility to notify Inventory Control of the acquisition.

Inventory Control personnel or designated department representative will physically affix property tags within ten (10) working days of determination of requirement or notification.

Inventory Control personnel will perform an annual physical inventory in each department and will submit a weekly status report to the Director of Procurement. Inventory Control personnel must physically verify the location and tag number on all plant property listed on the plant property inventory list.

After completion of the physical inventory, Inventory Control personnel will report the findings to the Department Head for review and action if required. The Department Head has fifteen (15) working days to respond if necessary. Inventory Control will report all missing property to Public Safety for investigation if not previously reported by the department.

Upon receipt of a Change in Accountability Form, Inventory Control personnel will forward a copy to Auxiliary Services for insurance updating

The preceding policies and procedures for property accountability will also apply to property acquired with grant and contract funds from governmental agencies and all other external sources. This includes property acquired through grants and contracts received directly by the College as well as those initially awarded to another entity and subsequently transferred to the College.

Ownership rights to property acquired by the College with grant or contract funds vary by sponsor. In some cases, ownership vests with the College at the time of procurement of the property. In other cases, ownership is retained by the sponsor during the grant/contract period and then vests with the College upon termination of the grant/contract. Less frequently, a sponsor may retain ownership rights indefinitely but may allow the College to continue to maintain and use the property after the grant/contract has ended, sometimes with the restriction that such property be used for the same purpose for which it was acquired. Occasionally, some sponsors may require return of property to the sponsor at termination of the grant/contract.

Unless terms and conditions of the grant award or contract specifically give ownership rights to the individual investigator, the College is required to tag, inventory, and manage property purchased with grant and contract funds in the same manner as property purchased with College funds. The investigator may not permanently remove such property from the campus without approval of the Office of Research & Grants Administration (ORGA), the Procurement Office and, if applicable, the sponsor who holds title to the property. Departments not in compliance with these policies and procedures are subject to personal liability.

If a principal investigator with a current grant or contract leaves the College and transfers the grant or contract to his/her new institution or agency, he/she should contact the ORGA to determine sponsor requirements for property disposition. In many cases, sponsors require transfer of property to the new institution as part of the grant or contract transfer, with the new institution assuming responsibility for shipping charges. If the sponsor normally requires transfer of the property to the investigator’s new institution but the property is difficult or costly to move, the new institution does not need the property, and the College has a continuing use for the property, ORGA will negotiate an agreement with the sponsor and the new institution to retain the property and reimburse the sponsor or the new institution for the property at fair market value. If the sponsor does not require transfer of the property to the investigators’ new institution, the investigator’s Department Head will determine if the department or any other College unit has continuing need for the property. If there is a continuing need, the College will retain the property. If there is no continuing need, the property will be disposed of as surplus in accordance with the South Carolina Procurement Code. Regardless of resolution, it is incumbent upon the responsible Department Head to make the appropriate notifications to the Inventory Control Officer, the Grants Accounting Office, and the Office of Research & Grants Administration.

Property purchased on an expired grant or contract for which ownership has vested with the College in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award may not be transferred to another institution or agency if the investigator leaves the College. Such property, if no longer needed by the department or any other College unit, shall be disposed of as surplus in accordance with the South Carolina Procurement Code.

When property is transferred as part of a grant or contract transfer to the College from another institution or agency, it is the responsibility of the Department Head to which the property is assigned to ensure the Inventory Control Officer, Grants Accounting Office, and Office of Research & Grants Administration receive a detailed list of the property, including item description (model and serial numbers), value, building and room number, College grant account number, and a copy of the documents which transferred the property to the College. The Inventory Control Officer will then tag the property and add it to the inventory records

Definition of Employee Responsibility

College employees using College property, whether specifically assigned to them or not, are responsible for that equipment. Employees should be diligent in caring for equipment in their possession and provide reasonable safeguards to secure it. If College property is lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged due to an employee’s neglect or carelessness, they may be required to reimburse the College.

Determining Liability and Reimbursement

In general, the procedures for determining responsibility for liability and reimbursement for missing property are:

College property may be temporarily removed from the College premises without written permission from the appropriate Department Head, Dean or Director when it is integral to a person’s role for which they have been hired or aids them in accomplishing their primary mission (e.g. teaching in the field, performing research off campus, attending meetings off-site.) When there is a unique or special task or circumstance, outside of a person’s regular duties, and it is determined that the temporary removal of property will advance College programs or activities, written permission may be granted by the appropriate Department Head, Dean or Director. Permission should include a description of the equipment, condition, any serial number, and the College Property tag number and should be recorded using a Change in Accountability Form, the original to be forwarded to Inventory Controlwith a copy kept on file by the department. The person or official representative of the entity to which the property is temporarily assigned must utilize the property for College- related business or activities, and agree to assume responsibility for the property during the time it is removed.

Furthermore, the person or entity to which property is assigned, specifically for a task, or peripherally in their role, may be liable for any losses, damage or destruction, or impairment of function or useful life of the equipment that may result due to negligence or carelessness.

If property is discovered missing, an immediate request should be made of Public Safety to have the loss investigated. A Change in Accountability Form shall be sent to the Inventory Control Officer by the Administrative department experiencing the loss, as well as a copy of the Public Safety Officer’s report. Departments should check with Auxiliary Services/ Insurance to see if there is coverage for their loss. The Inventory Control Officer will file a request to remove the property from the Inventory Control List with copies of the "Change in Accountability Form" and the report from Public Safety.

The releasing Department Head, with the approval of the Provost or administrative officer, will complete a Change in Accountability Form, including obtaining the necessary approvals from the receiving Department Head and Provost or administrative officer. Each department will keep a copy and the releasing unit will send the original to the Inventory Officer. If necessary, departments should request assistance from Physical Plant, in moving the equipment.

The Department Head responsible for the equipment should complete a Change in Accountability Form indicating the new location of the property and send the original to the Property Office and retain a copy for the department file.

Before a department may cannibalize, or dismantle, property for parts, approval of the Department Head is required using a Change in Accountability Form with a description of where the parts will be used. The Change in Accountability Form should be forwarded to Inventory Control and a copy maintained by the Department.

Salvage property items are those that are irreparable or whose present value is less than their cost of repair. Surplus property is usable or repairable at a cost less than the present value of the item, but is no longer needed by the department. After properly indicating whether the property is surplus or salvage, the Department Head responsible for the property should fill out a Change in Accountability Form and send it to Inventory Control. The form should indicate when the property can be picked up.

The "Other" classification on the Change in Accountability Form  may be used to report property traded (reference should be made to the purchase order number on which the trade is indicated) and other unspecified changes in accountability. An example of "other changes" would be returning tagged property to a vendor for replacement. The type of transaction should be indicated and the original should be sent to the Inventory Control Officer. A copy should be kept in the files of the accountable department.