2. STAR Query Tool to be Decommissioned
Since STAR (the now-defunct System for Travel and Reimbursement) was permanently shut down on June 30, 2001, there has been very little use of the STAR Query Tool that was made available to research past expense reports. Therefore, on May 15, 2002, the query tool will also be shut down permanently.

Departments who expect to need information from old STAR reports should access the STAR Query Tool prior to May 15 and print out reports for future reference.

To get summary-level information related to an old STAR report after May 15, you can run a detailed listing report in AWS2 or HUDINI. If you have any questions about how to interpret STAR data on the detailed listing, contact you local financial office or Stacy Clifton in the Travel and Reimbursement Office at 5-9308.

For more complete information about an old STAR report after May 15, you will need to contact the Imaging Department at 5-8930 and provide them with the name and HUID number of the reimbursee and the total amount of the STAR report in question (both of these can be obtained from the detailed listing). The Imaging Department will then provide you with a copy of the original reimbursement report. Please allow two weeks for this process.

Back to Top

 

3. American Express Updates
Please be advised that beginning May 1, 2002, American Express will increase the following fees:

Fee Type	Current	As of May 1, 2002
Delinquency Fees	Will be assessed on charges that are 60 or more days past due with a minimum balance greater than $50	Will be assessed on charges that are 60 or more days past due with a minimum balance greater than $35
	The fee will be 2.75% of the balance over 60 days	The fee will be 2.75% of the balance over 60 days
	The fee will be based on all cumulative balances past 60 days	The fee will be based on all cumulative balances past 60 days
Suspense Fee assessed on cards that have been suspended due to late payment (90 days past due)	$0	$25

All cardholders should have received a notice from American Express regarding the change in fees. Since that notice was sent out, American Express has advised us that Massachusetts state law prohibits them from charging the "flat fees." Therefore, the minimum $29 flat fee that was referred to in the letter you received will not apply.

American Express Website Features
A reminder that corporate cardholders can access statements online, allowing for a timely review and reconciliation of their monthly charges, even while on the road. This service is free.

Online management of your account is a convenient way to:

• access account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  
• track current charges and payments, and view statements for the past six months
  
• review statement closing date, spending limit information, total balance (includes unpaid billed balance and new charges), and the Open-to-Buy amount
  
• confirm Corporate Card payment
  
• manage your account profile, including updating addresses
  initiate charge inquiries and disputes, and
  
• view the US dollar equivalent of charges made in other currencies.

To enroll, visit http://www.americanexpress.com, click on Corporations, and then select Learn About & Enroll in Manage Your Card Account (under the Check Your Bill header).

Please contact the Travel and Reimbursement Office at 495-7760, or stop by 380 Holyoke Center if you have any questions or concerns.

Back to Top

 

4. Harvard Fact Book Available on the Web
The web version of the 2001-2002 Harvard University Fact Book, published each spring by the FAD Office of Budget and Financial Planning, is now available online. This handy reference tool collects a wealth of facts and figures about the University, and is organized into three general sections: Organization, People, and Resources.

The Organization section includes a flow chart that depicts the structure of Harvard's faculties and allied institutions. (A similar chart showing how Central Administration is organized, as well as a list of all of Harvard's research and academic centers, will be added soon.)

The People section provides statistical data about Harvard's student population and distributes it in several ways (for example, by discipline, school, nationality, gender, number of degrees conferred, etc.). This section also includes data on Harvard's faculty and staff populations (for example, how many people work in each faculty, allied institution, or Central Administration unit).

Finally, the Resources section provides information about Harvard's tuition and fees, income and expenses, number of holdings in each of Harvard's 90 libraries, buildings and land owned, endowment information, and much more.

A few of the 2001-2002 Fact Book entries are still being compiled, and they will be added to the web site as the information becomes available. However, previous editions of the Fact Book are complete and archived on the site for your review.

You can read the Fact Book at the following location: http://vpf-web.harvard.edu/factbook/

Back to Top