Purchasing Violations
An unauthorized purchase is a purchase made without following the authorized procurement
processes.
An after-the-fact purchase occurs when a University employee places an order without
first completing a requisition and receiving a purchase order.
After-the-fact and unauthorized purchases are violations of University policy and
can create significant problems for the University. In many cases, these violations:
- Result in duplicate payments to the vendor, for which the department is responsible.
- Result in higher costs for goods and services than might have been paid through standard
purchasing methods or by utilizing contracted vendors.
- Result in unauthorized supplier contracts with unfavorable terms and conditions signed
by University personnel who are not authorized agents for the University.
- Lead to significant vendor payment issues that can result in problems for other departments
on campus.
- Violate the University’s purchasing policies.
- Bypass the appropriate approval process.
- Place the University at financial risk and create potential personal liability.
- Create additional, often unnecessary, work for administrative support staff.
